Perhaps the only thing besides the Kobe Bryant farewell tour that is getting Lakers fans past this season is the possibility of adding a big piece or two this summer. The team has done well in the past few years in drafting promising talent, but the franchise will definitely try to make a big splash in the free agency market this summer.
Kevin Durant has been a name associated with the Lakers for quite some time, and the team will surely go after him this off-season. There have been rumors that Durant may look at the Wizards, Warriors and perhaps the Lakers if he decides to the leave the Thunder.
Durant’s former teammate, Kendrick Perkins, recently spoke to the media about where he thinks Durant might end up. Perkins confirmed that he has spoken to Durant about free agency and says he is looking at a “few teams,” via CBS Sports:
“But he did shoot some teams out there that he made me sign a confidentiality form that I couldn’t tell nobody. He’s got a few teams that he will be looking at.”
Perkins believes that how the Thunder fare this postseason will play a major role in where he ends up come October. It is not clear what teams Durant is thinking about, but the chances of him joining the Lakers are slim.
Durant wants to win championships and the Lakers are currently going through a rebuilding process. Even though Los Angeles has a lot of young talent, that may not be enough to convince Durant to sign there.
The Lakers still have a lot of work to do before they become a top destination for free agents. The team is making steps in the right direction to get there, but barring some major moves, it could still be several seasons before they become title contenders.