The Los Angeles Lakers are beginning to think of life without Kobe Bryant. The veteran announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season via a letter on the Players Tribune. While many expected this could happen, Bryant confirmed that this would be his last season meaning the Lakers must now begin to think of rebuilding without their face of the franchise. With another top draft pick looking like a real possibility for the Lakers, could their favored free agent target be Kevin Durant?
Filling Bryant's shoes is nearly impossible, but if there is one person that could succeed it is Durant. The Lakers have been linked to the Oklahoma City Thunder star prior to Bryant announcing his retirement as everyone prepares for Durant to hit the free agent market this summer. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reported prior to the season starting that Durant was more interest in signing with the Lakers than anywhere else. For what it is worth, Durant denied the idea and has since said he has not given any thought to free agency. That does not mean the Lakers are out of the mix as many expect they could be a team to make a serious run at the star.
The good news for the Lakers is that they have promising young talent to help move past the Bryant era. D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle are the future of the franchise. Getting one or two bigger names into the mix will put the Lakers back on the map where they want to be. While the trio has been developing slower than expected, there is no doubt that they can easily be a solid group to build upon for the future.
Durant is not the only player the Lakers will chase in 2016 considering their group of veterans with Roy Hibbert, Brandon Bass and Lou Williams are not expected to hang around for the long term. Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond and Al Horford are all players the Lakers could eye outside of Durant. Pairing one or two of those names with a top-three draft pick and the Lakers could be all set.
It is all speculation on what the Lakers will do once Bryant's tenure is over. Head coach Byron Scott is not speaking on the future right now, focused on trying to get wins this year. Scott has made it very clear the Lakers are not tanking this season, but with the way things are going, climbing out of the bottom of the rankings will be tough.