Lakers Rumors: Kevin Durant to join LA, but do the Lakers need him?

(Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images)
3 of 8
Los Angeles Lakers Rumors
Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James, Lakers Rumors (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

2. Can Kevin Durant deal with playing in the shadow LeBron James brings?

Lake Show Life has gone into detail on the possible challenges of the Lakers getting a second max-level free agent to join LeBron James in a Lakers uniform…

It delves into Paul George who decided to stay in OKC without as much as a meeting with the Lakers. It goes into Kawhi Leonard’s reported desires to play for Los Angeles’ other team, the Clippers. With that max cap space ready for Durant or some other deserving player…

Should Kevin Durant be the undisputed best choice for that spot? There should be something that needs to be looked at very closely.

Kevin Durant wants to be the man of the NBA. If you pay close attention to social media, Durant tends to bristle when he’s compared to LeBron James in the debate of being the best player in the NBA.

Here’s an example, folks. ESPN had a double-header on Wednesday night. The Lakers played the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road and the second game featured the NBA champion Golden State Warriors against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

As you see, the marquee game on the schedule was…

https://twitter.com/NBALakersNation/status/1065259029428002816

Was the game entertaining overall? No. It’s the Cleveland Cavaliers. No disrespect, but most basketball fans would rather watch Zion Williamson and the Duke Blue Devils than the Cavs without LeBron James.

But a game with a Russell Westbrook led Thunder team coming in with the storyline of having another Durant/Westbrook chapter in the history book, was not enough to take top headlines. It was more about how the Cleveland crowd would react to LeBron making his return after leaving for the second time to go to Los Angeles.

As for the comparisons to LeBron James? Durant tends to struggle with the occasional comparisons and debates. How do you think he’ll deal with the DAILY stories linking him to James?

Food for thought!