With the internet, social media and everyone being equipped with camera phones, a simple photo can ignite the rumor mill.
A photo of Kobe Bryant having dinner with Kevin Durant during the latter's LA visit sparked talk of "passing the torch." Kobe Bryant will retire at the end of the season, and Kevin Durant will become a free agent.
The Lakers are far from the only team mounting a chase for the former MVP, and despite their dismal record, Bleacher Report gave the team more than a fair chance of landing Durant in their evaluation.
"It's entirely possible, if not likely, that they scrape together two max-contract slots, enabling them to rely on more than their historical clout," BR's Dan Favale said. "But Durant will be nearing his 28th birthday next summer and (probably) won't jump at the chance to be the Lakers' lone offseason whale."
The only caveat is that no other free agent in 2016 can likely match the level of Russell Westbrook, unless LeBron James leaves Cleveland which is impossible. This was discussed in ESPN by LA beat writer Baxter Holmes and Oklahoma beat writer Royce Young, two journalists who cover the teams extensively, thus making them possible experts.
Holmes admits that he doesn't "envision Durant wearing purple and gold next year. At this point, the most the Lakers can probably do -- as many around the league have stressed to me -- is develop their young players, hope you land Ben Simmons and build a better culture/environment."
From the OKC side, Young says "there's no Dwyane Wade and Chris Boshfor someone to add alongside Durant in free agency, so a Miami Heat 2010 scenario is off the table. It's going to have to be a team that is ready-made without having to gut itself to get him."
The Lakers are just too late in the game to compete with Durant unless KD has an improbably change in priorities. Right now, it's very clear that he wants nothing but a title, and the Lakers would not be the team to give it to him.