The Los Angeles Lakers have not yet secured a meeting with Kevin Durant, but they remain confident that they will get their opportunity.
A Lakers source reportedly told ESPN’s Chris Broussard that the team has no plans of giving up on recruiting Durant when free agency officially begins on Friday.
“I can’t imagine Durant wouldn’t talk to us,” the source said. “That would shock me.”
The Lakers have been horrible the past three seasons, but they typically at least get free agents to listen. They’re one of the most storied franchises in sports and can also offer endorsement opportunities that other markets can’t. Although, Durant has said he will make his decision strictly based on basketball.
L.A. can offer that too, at least according to Broussard’s source. The Lakers plan to sell Durant on the fact that they can easily clear about $60 million in salary cap space, meaning they have the option of signing K.D. and another top free agent.
“We want to pitch guys on combinations, as opposed to just one guy,” the source said. “We’ll say to a guy, ‘Who do you want to play with? We’ve got the room to go get him.'”
The Boston Celtics can pitch the same to Durant, only they won 48 games last season and made the playoffs. They are also reportedly on the list of six teams Durant is said to be choosing from, and the Lakers are not.
Durant probably doesn’t want to join a total rebuilding project in L.A., nor does he want to play in Kobe Bryant’s shadow. Based on what we have heard this week, you have to wonder if Broussard’s source was this top Lakers executive.
