Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant (Photo : Harry How | Getty Images Sport)
The Los Angeles Lakers are not going to win games but the team will get their money's worth from Kobe Bryant.
Kobe Bryant is the highest paid player in the NBA cashing in with $ 25 million. While it's unlikely that the Black Mamba will win games for them, but his farewell tour might win some free agents.
While it has been explained before by Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak in this LA Times interview, it's worth pointing out.
"To me, a big part of Kobe's contribution next year is if we can improve this team during the off-season," Kupchak said.
While he was referring to the 2015 off-season where the Lakers missed out on LaMarcus Aldridge among others, the main selling point of the Lakers will be Kobe's departure.
In an era where even Michael Jordan did not even stay in Chicago, spending 20 seasons with only one team speaks volumes-and the farewell tour makes sure that the message is sent. Whether it will resonate with the free agents is another matter, but the Lakers are correct in making an effort.
One player whom the Lakers want to impress is Kevin Durant. The Lakers are not even considered a dark horse to land Durant, except only Stephen A. Smith's controversial statement.
However, is it really an unlikely scenario?
Prior to Kobe's retirement, critics wrote off the Lakers because of the uncertainty. But now, the legend is gone and the Lakers will hand over the keys to Hollywood's team to someone else.
The Lakers will have 65 million in salary cap space. They can even free up some more if they trade Nick Young and Lou Williams. It would reduce their roster to their young core of Julius Randle, D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson.
Most articles that sought to rank the contenders for Durant place the Lakers on the lowest tier, except for Dan Favale of Bleacher Report who classified them as "Tell Me More" contenders. By placing them in this category, Favale believes the Lakers have a better chance than teams like the Spurs, Celtics, Hawks, Bulls and Mavericks-all of which are better teams than the Lakers.
Bottom line is that the Lakers have the most flexibility in the entire league, they have three young pieces and despite the sentiment that the "Big Market" factor is gone, the Lakers, or any other team for that matter have never been in a position to totally re-invent themselves.
It doesn't even have to be three free agents. The Lakers can swing deals for stars on contract, if the situation presents itself,
The lure of Laker lore is passé, but the Lakers as a franchise with a solid worldwide fan base is real. Kevin Durant, as a person, may not be mindful of that, but he is handled by Jay Z's Roc Nation-who would love to have the new King of LA in their fold.
