Recent free-agency rumors have emerged that the Los Angeles Lakers is the third choice squad of upcoming free agent superstar Kevin Durant this summer behind his current team Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets.

The 2014 NBA MVP is in the final year of his five-year, $89.1 million deal with the Thunder this season, which will make him an unrestricted free agent in the summer when the league's salary cap is going to balloon to an unprecedented amount following a multi-billion TV deal that the NBA had recently acquired.

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While there are surely many teams interested in snagging the 27-year-old forward from the hands of OKC, Lakers Nation reported that the Hollywood team could be one of the top three landing spots for the seven-time All-Star as the Lakers are also said to be keen on giving him a "lucrative long-term contract".

With Kobe Bryant and his $25 million salary gone at the end of this season, the Lakers are more than able to afford Durant's wage demands plus possibly signing another big-name free agent in the summer without breaking their current young core of Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, and D'Angelo Russell, which could be quite attractive to the five-time All-NBA First Teamer.

The report also mentioned the Houston Rockets as the second choice of Durant if he decides not to stay with the Thunder as he allegedly wants to team up with former teammate James Harden.

However, one Rockets official reportedly said that Durant will reside in Los Angeles "if he leaves Oklahoma City and doesn't choose Houston", which means the Lakers or Clippers could be one of his primary considerations during this free-agency shopping this offseason.

Meanwhile, The Big Lead's Jason McIntyre indicated that Harden is personally going to recruit Durant to play with him in Houston, as they are said to be not only former teammates but also close friends.

McIntyre also mentioned Durant's college stint with the University of Texas Longhorns as another factor that he will consider a move to the Rockets this summer.

TagsNBA Free-Agency Rumors, NBA Free-Agency Rumors 2016, NBA Free Agency, Lakers free-agency rumors, Lakers Free-Agency Rumors 2016, Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder