Kevin Durant's free agency is one of the most highly anticipated moments coming up for the NBA in the near future. Durant hasn't talked about it much during this season, but other people certainly have, and the rumors of where he might end up keep swirling. The Los Angeles Lakers have become a popular potential destination being brought up, but now it seems that there is a possibility that Durant could team up with Russell Westbrook in L.A., according to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN.
This report definitely needs to be taken with a grain of salt, as Smith isn't exactly known for his accurate reporting, but he does typically have his finger on the pulse of the NBA. Smith had previously reported that Durant had the Lakers high on his list of free agent destinations, to which Durant replied by calling Smith a liar. Durant was pretty angered at Smith's report and said that neither he nor anybody close to him had ever talked to the ESPN NBA analyst.
In this instance, Smith was on ESPN 710's "Mason and Ireland" radio show when he said that it is a "big possibility" that Durant and Russell Westbrook could team up in L.A.
"Keep in mind this, one of the biggest reasons I'm told, that Kevin Durant may have the Lakers at the top of his list, is because the Lakers have been led to believe, by whom specifically I do not know, but the Lakers have been led to believe that it is a very good chance that the following year Russell Westbrook is coming," said Smith.
It is unclear if there is anything to this rumor, but this one may make some sense as Westbrook is from Long Beach, Calif., and attended UCLA. Westbrook reportedly loves L.A. and the idea of playing there, so it isn't too far fetched an idea that he could be a Laker. Westbrook, however, is under contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder through next season, which means he won't be a free agent until 2017 while Durant hits free agency this summer.
There has been talk that Durant might take a one-year deal this summer so that he can become a free agent again in 2017 when the cap is expected to hit its peak. If Durant does go that route, he and Westbrook could then decide to team up and play elsewhere or stay with the Thunder where they have had plenty of success.
As of now these are nothing more than rumors, but they are definitely interesting to think about. Durant is one of the most highly anticipated free agents in NBA history, and almost every team wants to get their hands on him, so these rumors likely won't stop until he signs a new contract.
