Did LeBron James Text Kevin Durant About Teaming Up On The Los Angeles Lakers?

LeBron James could sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, and the four-time Most Valuable Player wants to bring another superstar with him in Hollywood.

James, who will become a free agent on July 1, will be the biggest name on the market. While there are several teams who will make a run at him in free agency, the 14-time All-Star will likely choose between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Lakers.

The three-time NBA champion has made it no secret that he wants to continue competing for a title in the final years of his career. This means that James, who played in the NBA Finals in the last eight seasons, will pick the team that has the best chance of winning a title.

LeBron James Wants To Play With Another Superstar

Both the Cavaliers and Lakers need more pieces to at least become a serious threat to the Golden State Warriors. James is reportedly doing his due diligence, trying to recruit other superstars to join forces with him. In fact, Stephen Smith of ESPN claimed that James texted rival Kevin Durant about the possibility of playing together next season.

Durant will also become a free agent this summer after he opted out of his contract with the Warriors. Smith said that James reached out to Durant about his interest in signing with the Lakers. Los Angeles is in a good position to sign both James and Durant if they decide to team up because they have cap room for two max-level players.

"LeBron James reached out to Kevin Durant via text, from what I'm told, about coming to Los Angeles," Smith said. "I don't know what Kevin Durant's response to him was."

LeBron James Not Talking To KD

While fans are interested to know the response of Durant, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com quickly refuted Smith's report. Vardon said that sources close to the 33-year-old superstar insisted that James did not text Durant about joining the Lakers.

There is a prevailing speculation that James would wait for the Lakers to acquire a superstar or two before making his decision. The Lakers are also eyeing free-agent forward Paul George, and are also linked to a possible trade for San Antonio Spurs superstar Kawhi Leonard.

However, Sean Deveney of Sporting News had the same take as Vardon, saying that James might still sign with the Lakers regardless of how the George and Leonard situation will pan out. One general manager said that James could move to Los Angeles even before the Lakers make big roster moves in the next several months.

As for Durant, the 29-year-old superstar is expected to sign a new deal with Golden State. Warriors general manager Bob Myers previously said that the two-time NBA Finals MVP will get the contract that he wants this summer after helping Golden State win back-to-back titles.