The Los Angeles Lakers have lost some of their edge in attracting top level free agents, but that can surely shift back in the next few years.

Shaquille O'Neal famously signed with the Lakers in 1996.

"It came down to the aura of Los Angeles," said Magic executive Pat Williams, according to the book "The Show: The Inside Story of the Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers."

"They don't have the same pull, but they do have the city, weather and off-the-court appeal," one executive said. "Also, Kobe is only there for a short time, then you can be the face of the team."

Said another executive: "The Lakers will always be a huge draw. They will be fine regardless. While losing Howard was not planned, they will still be in on anyone."

And said another executive: "They just need one big guy to go there, and the rest will follow. I expect [Russell] Westbrook and [James] Harden to join forces there when they become free. It definitely still has allure. It's still L.A., and they are still the Lakers. No free agent can question whether or not they will spend the money to win titles."

Westbrook is not eligible to become a free agent until 2016, while Harden isn't a free agent until 2018.

Both Westbrook and Harden were born and raised in the Los Angeles area.

Enes Kanter — the Oklahoma City Thunder’s top free agent — has plans to meet with the franchise in Chicago on July 1, the two sides targeting an early contract completion, league sources told RealGM.

The Thunder and Kanter are expected to discuss three- and four-year contract sheets that could reach maximum-level money with incentives, sources told RealGM.

For the organization and Kanter, a restricted free agent, there will be an early window in free agency to reach an agreement before one of the top five available big men pursues larger offers elsewhere.

Oklahoma City has made clear that its main priority in July will be Kanter, a skilled, 6-foot-11 center who averaged 18.7 points, 11 rebounds and 55 percent shooting from the field in 26 games for the Thunder last season. At 23, Kanter gives the Thunder an agile offensive player with the ability to finish inside, hit jumpers and free throws and develop alongside Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka.

Nevertheless, several NBA teams will pursue Kanter, including potentially the Dallas Mavericks, sources said. The Milwaukee Bucks' developing, potential interest in Kanter will be interesting to follow, given their needs and his averages against their franchise over the past three seasons: 19.2 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Kanter has spent the offseason training in Chicago.

The third overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, Kanter played his first three-plus season with the Utah Jazz, averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds before his trade to the Thunder.

Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA), Daniel Leroux of RealGM (@DannyLeroux) preview the upcoming offseason for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets.

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Kevin Durant could earn $40 million in additional salary if he signs a one-year deal in 2016 to reenter free agency in 2017.

Durant will be one season short of qualifying for the 35 percent max available to players with 10 years of experience. With nine years of experience next summer when Durant becomes a free agent, he will be eligible for a 30 percent max contract.

Durant could become a free agent again in 2017 when the cap jumps to $108 million.

The Toronto Raptors have acquired Luke Ridnour from the Oklahoma City Thunder to create a $2.85 million trade exception.

The Thunder also acquire the draft rights of Tomislav Zubcic.

Ridnour has also been traded this offseason by the Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Hornets.

The breakout star of NBA Draft week, Cameron Payne, found himself in a unique position when the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the 14th pick on Thursday night. He was taken by a team that should contend for a championship next season despite missing the playoffs altogether this spring, but may not get much of a chance to showcase his playmaking skills early on.

“I was shocked they picked me,” Payne said. “I was thinking I was going to go earlier, but man, God put me in the perfect fit. Everything happened for a reason.”

Payne told RealGM on Wednesday that he loves to play with the ball in his hands.

"I feel my best attribute and the best way for me make my teammates better is me having the ball," Payne said a day before being drafted. "I put people in the perfect position to score; I mean the perfect position. People like playing with me because I can do that and not a lot of people can do that. With the ball, I can set up guys.”

If he spends time on the court alongside Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, Payne is going to have to find another way to make a difference.

“I can be a combo guard. I can be a shooting guard,” Payne said when asked what he’ll bring to the Thunder. “On my team at Murray [State] I really had to score the ball, I was down there on the ball. But anything coach needs me to do, Cameron Payne is going to do it. There’s no way I’m going to be a selfish guy. I’m a point guard, I’m the most unselfish player on the court. If I’m needed to play the two, if I’m need to play the five, I’m going to do it."

Jeremy Lamb has been traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Charlotte Hornets for Luke Ridnour and a second round pick.

Ridnour has been previously traded by the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies this offseason. Ridnour has a non-guaranteed contract.

Lamb was a lottery pick in 2012 out of UConn.

The Charlotte Hornets will acquire Jeremy Lamb from the Oklahoma City Thunder involving the contract of Matt Barnes.

Barnes will not end up with the Thunder as part of the deal.

Lamb was the 12th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft out of UConn, coming to the Thunder as part of the James Harden trade.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have made Perry Jones, Jeremy Lamb and Steve Novak available in trade talks.

While the Thunder are financially motivated in their attempts to move a combination of those players, they are also looking for a draft pick.

Jones and Lamb are former first rounders that were unable to find a place in Scott Brooks' regular rotation.

Maurice Cheeks has emerged as an assistant coaching candidate for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Cheeks has a good relationship with Russell Westbrook from his previous tenure as an assistant with the Thunder.

Cheeks has been off the sidelines since his brief stint as head coach of the Detroit Pistons in 13-14.