1. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder (Unrestricted)
If an NBA team has the room under the salary cap this offseason to offer Kevin Durant the money to come to their city, that team is going to offer the money. That includes the Los Angeles Lakers and a slew of other teams that rightfully have Durant on the top of their list of targets in 2016 NBA free agency. Even with LeBron James potentially opting out (or even leaving), it’s all about Durant when it comes to free agency this summer.
One year removed from major foot surgery that cost him all of last season, Durant fully recovered to have a phenomenal season. In the 72 games that he played in the regular season, he put up 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, five assists. 1.2 blocks, and one steal per game while shooting 50.5 percent from the floor and 38.6 percent from three.
Any team would be lucky to have Durant on their team considering what he’s capable of and the fact that he’s only 27 years old. However, the real question is whether or not the Lakers actually have a shot.
Next: Lakers: 5 Mid-Tier Free Agency Options
In all honesty, it’s hard to say what’s going to happen with Durant, so you’d have to say that the Lakers have as much of a chance as any big-market team with the cap space to sign him. Regardless, it’ll be a furious fight to sign the best of the NBA free agents in 2016.