Lakers Free Agency: Why Striking Out With Kevin Durant Is a Blessing In Disguise
Here’s a few quick reasons why not get a meeting with Kevin Durant may be a blessing in disguise for the Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have missed out on the top free agents available for the past few years, and with reports almost certain that the Lakers will not even secure a meeting with Kevin Durant, that trend is likely to continue.
However, the time saved by not meeting with KD could ultimately be a major difference maker in how free agency plays out for the team. While it may seem that the Lakers are going in the wrong direction, moving farther away from securing a star free agent, that actually may not be the case at all.
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In two consecutive years, the Lakers spent most of the free agency period waiting on the decisions of two players they had no real chance at signing. Carmelo Anthony and LaMarcus Aldridge both met with the Lakers during free agency, but clearly had priorities that all but eliminated the struggling Lakers from contention.
The outcome of this was that the Lakers missed out on some very valuable, and far more attainable players, including some of their own free agents.
Players like Isaiah Thomas, Ed Davis, and Kent Bazemore (who some think the Lakers should pursue this season) all would have counted among the team’s best players last season, and could have been secured on affordable contracts had the organization made signing them a priority.
the team will be able to focus on players whom they have a real shot at obtaining
This season, with Durant refusing to meet with the Lakers, the team will be able to focus on players whom they have a real shot at obtaining including but not limited to Nicolas Batum, Chandler Parsons and Hassan Whiteside.
Whiteside has already been rumored to be the team’s top target, and could foreseeably be swayed by the aggressive pursuit of an organization like the Lakers.
The Lakers will presumably start free agency with a max offer to Whiteside, rather than a sit-down with Durant, and that may make all the difference. While Durant was never going to truly consider the Lakers whether he met with them or not, Whiteside’s decision may be affected by his status as the Lakers’ top priority.
If the Lakers land Whiteside, who has the potential to be a franchise center for years to come, they may have Kevin Durant to thank.
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While not being able to secure a meeting with a top free agent stings for now, it could ultimately prove to be the Lakers’ saving grace this free agency period.