Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook (Photo : Getty Images)
There are rumors flying around the league that Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook plan to join the Los Angeles Lakers in the near future.
The Lakers may have no intentions to engage heavily in trade talks this season, but the 16-time NBA champions could just be waiting to strike for a blockbuster deal in this summer's free agency.
Stephen A Smith, who revealed four months ago via Larry Brown Sports that the Lakers is on Durant's radar come free agency, told ESPN 710's Mason and Ireland on Friday that the there is a "big possibility" the OKC superstars play together for the Purple and Gold.
"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," Smith said.
"Make no doubt about it, Russell Westbrook doesn't have a problem being in L.A. They love each other, and they love being on the same team with one another. And if it so happens to be in the L.A. market, all the better."
The Lakers are in great position to turn this rumor into reality once the free agency market hits the league. But LA needs more than just young talents and a pick that could potentially land them LSU Tigers basketball phenom Ben Simmons to bring them back hunting NBA titles.
According to ESPN's March Stein, the Lakers are making their veterans available this season, which is possibly an attempt to clear cap room for signing the likes of Durant and Westbrook in July.
With Kobe Bryant set to retire once the 2015-2016 NBA regular season ends, the Lakers are in need of someone who could take over the Black Mamba's thrown as the face of the franchise. While the Lakers have young talents, they do not consider them yet as superstars who could bring LA back to its glorious days.
