• Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant

Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)

Speculations sparked that Kobe Bryant is trying to recruit soon-to-be free agent Kevin Durant to Los Angeles after the two were spotted having a dinner in Oklahoma City.

The LA Lakers' 40-point loss against the OKC Thunders was not the only story on Saturday night.

Bryant, who is set to retire from basketball at the end of the 2015-2016 NBA regular season, was caught having dinner with Durant, which started rumors about the "Black Mamba" possibly luring "Durantula" to be LA's next superstar.  

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There is a chance the passing of torch is not just for the basketball greatness in the NBA, but also the legacy of being the next superstar who could bring the Lakers' franchise back to its glorious days.

Bryant and Durant were vague in talking about their dinner date, with both insisting they talked about general things, reports ESPN.

However, Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times opened the possibility that Bryant could possibly be recruiting Durant to sign with LA next year when the latter becomes a free agent.

"He [Bryant] created time Friday night to dine with Durant, a photo of them quickly circulating on social media," Bresnahan disclosed. "Was Bryant more of a talker or a listener? Or maybe, you know, a recruiter? Durant will be a free agent next July."

According to Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation, the Lakers may have a good chance of signing Durant next summer if the two-time scoring champion is convinced he can turn things around for the struggling franchise.  

"With Durant becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer, the Lakers are expected to make him their top priority in free agency," Ward noted. "Los Angeles will have the cap space along with the promising young talent going into the pitch meeting with the one-time NBA MVP."

It is also worth noting that Bryant have an influential relationship with Durant and could be the factor for the latter's decision to sign up with LA next year.

Durant has always marveled Bryant's career in Los Angeles and revealed he often seek advice from the five-time NBA champion.

The Lakers also have a significantly spacious salary-cap ready for the market, with Bryant's expiring contract coming off the books.

However, it might take more than a connection between the two superstars for the Lakers to land KD.

According to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, Los Angeles would need to develop their young core of players to get a better chance of landing Durant.

"We have to develop our core players," Kupchak said, reports Mark Medina of LA Daily News.

"When you're recruiting a veteran free agent, especially a free agent that may have to take less money to come to your city, they want to know who they're going to play with."

Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and D'Angelo Russell are expected to represent LA's long-term future, but their development could also be the key to sign top talented players when the free market opens.

The Lakers face another doomed season, but the future looks bright, especially with Durant available in 2016.