As the NBA finals focus on the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors, the rest of the league is looking into the changes of their respective teams and the free agents who become available. According to a report from Silver Screen and Roll, the Los Angeles Lakers may be looking into recruiting Kevin Durant.
Durant is still contracted under the Oklahoma City Thunder but the team was recently eliminated from the post-season games leading to the finals. Durant is also scheduled to become a free agent this summer and it now appears that several teams, including the Lakers, are hoping to take him in if he does not sign a new deal with Oklahoma City.
However, ESPN's Marc Stein has explained via Twitter that while there are several teams aiming to recruit Durant, there is a very high likelihood of the player staying with Oklahoma City. According to Stein, there is a possibility of Durant signing a two-year contract that has the option for him to leave after the first year.
Durant will need to make a decision come July 1, when the original deal with Oklahoma City expires and he becomes enlisted as a free agent. The report from Silver Screen and Roll also points out that should Durant sign a new deal he will become one of the highest paid superstars, with a likely salary of $27 to $36 million for the 2017-2018 season.
The Lakers are aiming to pull in not just Durant, however, as a report from Yibada reveals that they may also attempt to bring in Toronto Raptor's DeMar DeRozan. Like Durant, DeRozan will become a free agent this summer and it is undetermined if he will sign another deal to remain with the Raptors.
It is likely the Lakers will be pursuing either player excessively now that the team no longer has their two-decade superstar Kobe Bryant, who recently retired from the NBA.
