YITE|Durant rejected the Warriors and Timberwolves and was determined to join the Lakers.
· YITE | Custom Team Wear · Basketball

In the NBA, a stage full of variables, the flow of players always affects the hearts of fans. Recently, a piece of news shocked the entire basketball world - Kevin Durant officially rejected the invitations of the Warriors and Timberwolves, and publicly stated that he only wanted to join the Lakers in the entire league. This decision instantly became the focus of the United States, triggering countless discussions and speculations. ​
What is the reason behind the rejection? ​
In the past three days, Durant has become a hot commodity in the transfer market, and as many as 7 teams have extended olive branches to him. After all, everyone knows that getting Durant is equivalent to adding a heavy guarantee to the team's championship trophy next season. However, facing the heavy joining conditions given by the Warriors and Timberwolves, Durant was unmoved. ​
For rejecting the Warriors, the reasons are quite complicated. When Durant joined the Warriors, although he won two championship trophies and two FMVPs, he was also questioned by the outside world and accused of "holding thighs". It was not easy to calm the voices of the outside world with strength, but the contradictions within the team quietly intensified. In 2019, Durant's contract year, he had a conflict with Green and Thompson over the renewal of their contracts. Green even openly denounced Durant as an "outsider". Later in the finals, Durant returned with an injury at the instigation of Green and the management, resulting in a ruptured Achilles tendon. However, the management was unwilling to offer a long-term maximum salary because they were worried that his condition would decline after his return. This series of events made Durant leave the Warriors with a sense of humiliation. Now, even if the Warriors management tried to invite him through Curry and even planned a multi-party trade to welcome him back, the pain of the past is still vivid. Durant decisively refused and was unwilling to repeat the same mistake. ​
For the Timberwolves, perhaps the overall atmosphere, tactical system and championship prospects of the team failed to meet Durant's expectations. In contrast, the Lakers have a special place in his heart. ​
The charm of the Lakers is unique​
Durant made no secret of the fact that the Lakers are the team he most wants to play for in his career because there is his idol, LeBron James. Being able to fight side by side with his idol and hit the championship before retiring is his biggest wish in his career. Imagine how terrifying this offensive combination will be when Durant, James and Doncic gather in the Lakers. The scoring ability of the three is at the top level in the league. Whether it is singles or cooperation, it is enough to make the opponent's defense lose sight of one thing. ​
The Lakers were also very excited after learning of Durant's intentions. The team's general manager Pelinka acted quickly and officially opened trade negotiations with the Suns, and stated firmly that as long as they can get Durant, except for James and Doncic, all other players in the team will be left to the Suns to choose. The Lakers' determination is enough to show their importance to Durant and their desire to form a super team to hit the championship. ​
From the perspective of lineup matching, Durant's joining will perfectly fill the gap in the Lakers' scoring ability on the front line. His mid-range and long-range shooting and strong singles ability can stand up when the team is in a scoring drought. At the same time, James and Doncic's excellent organizational skills can create more easy scoring opportunities for Durant, and the chemistry between the three is full of expectations.

The road ahead is long and challenges remain ​Although the news of Durant joining the Lakers has made fans excited, it is not easy to finally reach this deal. The Suns' asking price for Durant is quite high. According to reports, they hope to get at least three first-round draft picks, which is a big challenge for the Lakers. In order to meet the Suns' requirements, the Lakers may need to bring in a third-party team for a three-way trade. In terms of weighing the chips in the trade and coordinating the interests of all parties, Pelinka needs to show superb negotiation skills. ​
In addition, even if Durant successfully joins the Lakers, the team will need time to run in. How the three superstars distribute the ball and how to form a tacit understanding on the defensive end are urgent issues to be solved. Moreover, injuries on the NBA court are also factors that cannot be ignored. Keeping the core players healthy is crucial for the Lakers to hit the championship.​
But in any case, Durant's public statement that he only wants to join the Lakers has injected a shot of confidence into the transfer market this offseason. For Lakers fans, they have more reasons to look forward to it. Let us pay attention to the follow-up progress of this transaction and look forward to seeing Durant wearing a purple and gold jersey in the new season, fighting with James and Doncic for another championship trophy for the Lakers! ​