Stephen A Smith - Kevin Durant favors the Lakers if he leaves OKC

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by ElginTheGreat, Sep 29, 2015.

  1. YoungThundercat

    YoungThundercat - Rookie -

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2014
    Messages:
    355
    Likes Received:
    819
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Cincinnati
    Offline
    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
    ..................
    Premature?
     
  2. fabfourlakers

    fabfourlakers - Lakers Starter -

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2014
    Messages:
    3,602
    Likes Received:
    8,202
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I think the reason why KD would consider us is that he knows we would have the ability to go after 2 other star players while maintaining our young core....and possibly re-signing Kobe to vet's minimum for one last run....that's the attraction with the Lakers next summer is they will have THE most cap space out of any team next summer.

    With that being said, I don't see why he would leave OKC....they are loaded. They should be contenders this year and if things finally go right health wise for them, I expect them to be in the finals. But they west top 4 teams are all capable of winning it all this year ... (Spurs, Warriors, Clippers UGH, and THunder).

    I don't really see the appeal of playing in Washington TBH....the wizards have Wall and Beal...after that, it's not a very good roster.
     
  3. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    36,718
    Likes Received:
    61,049
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Online
    "But they west top 4 teams are all capable of winning it all this year ... (Spurs, Warriors, Clippers UGH, and Thunder)."

    I know I know ..... once again they seem loaded, but had to come with this in memory of Doc.

    :Haaaaaa:
     
  4. fabfourlakers

    fabfourlakers - Lakers Starter -

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2014
    Messages:
    3,602
    Likes Received:
    8,202
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Man...I hope the Clippers just crash and burn like we did when we came in with a stacked squad in 2012....that would probably make my year. I hate that team so much...I wish them nothing but failure and injuries galore....I never thought I'd see so many players I hate on ONE team....

    But they do have a deep squad:

    DJ
    BG/J-Smoove
    Pierce/Stephenson
    Redick/J-Crawford
    Cp3/Rivers

    actually they are still a bit thin up front...but I suppose they'll probably go small too with DJ or BG at 5, Pierce at 4, Stephenson at 3, Crawford or Redick at 2, and Cp3 at 1...god this team really annoys the crap out of me. Just lose please.
     
    LaVarBallsDad likes this.
  5. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    18,725
    Likes Received:
    75,986
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Anaheim
    Offline
    The Clippers are good, but I read a tweet today that Wes Johnson is practicing with their first squad, Pierce with the bench. Lance is a SG, not SF. It's the same old Clippers, they aren't winning jack, and if Wes is their starting SF, they're idiots from not learning from watching us.
     
  6. LALakersFan4Life

    LALakersFan4Life - Rookie -

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2014
    Messages:
    546
    Likes Received:
    848
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Offline
    First Kevin Durant says he loves the Lakers jerseys and then picks Kobe, Magic and Shaq as part of his all time starting 5? I'd say he's a Laker fan at heart who wants to be a Laker
    :contract:
     
  7. Kenzo

    Kenzo - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    7,632
    Likes Received:
    15,960
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Poland
    Offline
    Sure SAS, sure...Durant is always injured anyways ;) Let's wait and see how he looks this season...
     
  8. lakerjones

    lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    10,782
    Likes Received:
    32,108
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    La La land
    Offline
    If KD can stay healthy, he's absolutely the superstar that I want to reload the team. He's the guy.
     
    Barnstable likes this.
  9. Chillbongo

    Chillbongo - Lakers 6th Man -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    1,103
    Likes Received:
    1,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Offline
    Why would Durant come to the Lakers to play with a bunch of 20 year olds?

    I want this as much as anyone but as it stands if you think this is happening you're wearing the rose-tinted's.
     
    LaVarBallsDad likes this.
  10. pound4pound

    pound4pound - Lakers Starter -

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2014
    Messages:
    2,022
    Likes Received:
    4,836
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
  11. revgen

    revgen - Lakers 6th Man -

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2014
    Messages:
    1,833
    Likes Received:
    4,203
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I think it depends upon whether the Lakers make the playoffs this year or not.

    If they do, they become an attractive destination for Durant because young players typically earn less $$, which means the Lakers can afford to pay Durant's max salary without shedding too much talent. With Durant, a first-round playoff team becomes a possible contender.
     
  12. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    16,172
    Likes Received:
    31,056
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Agreed. I don't see it happening. I'll gladly eat crow if it happens, though . I think we have a better chance at Westbrook than Durant.
     
    Chillbongo likes this.
  13. lakerjones

    lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    10,782
    Likes Received:
    32,108
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    La La land
    Offline
    It's not just 20 year olds on the roster. I think the additions we made of Hibbert particularly as well as Lou make this a much better situation for KD than we've had before. If Hibbert can come back to form as the defensive monster he is down low, then he will be a piece moving forward that will be very helpful. I know Bass can play, as well, I just don't know if he figures into our plans for the future. But he might. And Clarkson looks like he might be our more under control and less selfish version of Westbrook. Now if Russell and Randle can develop as we expect, too, that's a really nice core. Lots of talent and a decent mix of young and old with Durant. Kobe might be an X factor, as well. We just don't know what he'll bring.
     
    revgen, ElginTheGreat and therealdeal like this.
  14. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2014
    Messages:
    11,014
    Likes Received:
    30,587
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline

    Well, that's two big media guys...lol
     
  15. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    36,718
    Likes Received:
    61,049
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Online
    Over what we have? Rose colored glasses and flame suit on .....with the players we already have, and the more safe types of lower from the rim or SMOOTHER types of game ....vs (hello injury .... hell yeah, come on in.... "let's party") ..... do not want. Spend those HUGE dollars elsewhere.
     
    LaVarBallsDad likes this.
  16. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,061
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Yeah there's more here than just 20 year olds. Bass has a PO for next season, Young is no young kid, Williams is a reigning 6th Man of the Year, and assuming HIbbert sticks around he's right in his prime.

    If we signed Durant to a max deal (with 9 years on his career he gets 30% of the cap), we'd still have probably 10-15 million to spend on another piece AND a team built already. That 10-15 million could go back to Kobe or we could try to find Durant another running mate he wants. That's assuming we don't find a way to move on from Young.

    Russell/Huertas
    Clarkson/Williams
    ______/Young/A. Brown
    Randle/Bass/Nance Jr.
    ______/Black/Upshaw

    With over 57 million to spend. Take away Durant's 26.7 million starting salary and we've still got 30 million. Give Hibbert 15 or so million and we've STILL got room to add pieces. Assuming Kobe retires, there's a handful of players we could try to get at 15 or so million.

    Wade, Afflalo, Crawford, Derozan, Noah, Mozgov, Batum, etc. There's just so many ways we could go even AFTER adding Durant. If Randle and Clarkson continue their trajectory, this report gets a lot more believable.
     
  17. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    16,172
    Likes Received:
    31,056
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Well, I worry about Russell's knees, too. Bear in mind, though, if we strike out on KD , Westbrook provided continues to be as productive as he has been, will be on the Lakers radar.
     
  18. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    16,172
    Likes Received:
    31,056
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Two guys I wouldn't trust.
     
  19. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,061
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    If we strike out on Durant, I think we're going hard after Derozan. We have over 50 million dollars to spend next summer. The Lakers will certainly make a move at one of those SFs out there. They really HAVE to and I think they will. The blitz they throw at Durant is going to be something I think people (even myself) are underestimating. Durant has shown love to Kobe and the Lakes a LOT over the years. I think we really are on his radar. I agree it's unlikely, but I think he sees us out of the corner of his eye.

    I still think we end up "settling" on Derozan or Batum or Harrison Barnes.
     
    LTLakerFan likes this.
  20. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    36,718
    Likes Received:
    61,049
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Online
    Sure, they have to have him (Westbrook) there, high on their list. It's who they are and how they operate..... big name above everything else. (paraphrasing, "You're silly if you think the Lakers wouldn't give up Julius Randle or any of our other young studs in a Boogie Cousins trade") Reference ....... "Bonk" who didn't even like Boogie. Yeah well sucks for you chump when it turns out Randle was THE one guy they wouldn't even discuss. Take a long walk off a short pier. See what I did / suggested there..... [​IMG]
     

Share This Page