Last week, ESPN reporter and noted rumor creator Stephen A. Smith created a new wave of speculation by stating that Kevin Durant’s first choice in free agency will be the Los Angeles Lakers. Durant, whose contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder is up after this season, took to the media to vehemently deny those rumors, via Thunder beat writer Anthony Slater.
My full interaction with Kevin Durant on the Stephen A Smith rumors pic.twitter.com/83n89hKIvl
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 2, 2015
It may be safe to say that Durant is not a dear, dear friend of Smith.
As the biggest fish in a free agency class characterized by the wealth of cap space throughout the league, Durant will have plenty of rumors and speculation surrounding him. For his part, the superstar has stated that he will keep his thoughts on the matter between himself and a small circle of trusted confidants, which probably do not include Smith.
Meanwhile, Smith continues to stir the pot, having recently made the rounds by claiming Kobe Bryant, along with Durant, may join the New York Knicks. Whether he comes up with these ideas off the top of his own head or from a bevy of uninformed sources is unclear, but it does seem likely that none of them have any basis in facts. With nine months left until free agency, it seems more likely that the actual players, namely Durant, have no idea about their future, much less reporters who have no connection to said players. Meanwhile, speculation will continue to circulate.
