I’m going to suggest you take such a report with a grain of salt, considering the source, but Stephen A. Smith of ESPN is reporting that Kevin Durant wants to play for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Durant has mostly been linked to rumors suggesting he would prefer to play for the Washington Wizards, assuming he is to the leave the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency, though the Lakers are a new locale.
Stephen A. Smith made the headlines on ESPN’s First Take on Tuesday morning, suggesting sources close to the situation say Durant’s preferred free agent destination is Southern California to become next Lakers superstar.
Smith also suggested that Durant could go to New York to team with Carmelo Anthony if Kobe Bryant does not retire.
If you’re a free agent to be, there’s really no reason not to leak the idea of playing for the Lakers or New York Knicks given the amount of publicity both basketball franchises would bring you, so this could very well be a power move on behalf of Kevin Durant‘s agent.
Playing for such a massive market in LA doesn’t seem to really fit with Kevin Durant’s vibe or style, though, he’s also not the same player who broke into the NBA a few years back as a member of the Sonics either.
So perhaps he’s had a change of heart and wouldn’t mind the bright lights? Either way, this isn’t going to be the last NBA team Durant is linked to before he actually hits the market – assuming he does.
