Kevin Durant is staying put despite an opportunity to play with LeBron James. It appears that James is working on recruiting players to possibly join him in Los Angeles. According to Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic, Durant turned down an invitation to join James on the Lakers. The two-time NBA Finals MVP is staying with Golden State and he's doing some of his own recruiting as well.

Thompson is also reporting that Durant tried to recruit DeAndre Jordan before the former Clipper signed a one year deal with Dallas. Durant is currently recruiting NBA veteran Jamal Crawford to join him. Crawford would be an excellent addition to an already dominant Warriors team. His scoring ability off the bench would be critical for the team's second unit.

Turning down LeBron James shows Durant's commitment to Golden State. A James-Durant duo would massively shift the power balance in the NBA. Had he taken up James on his offer, the Lakers would have become a heavy favorite in the Western Conference.

Players recruiting other players has become a key element of NBA free agency. The superstars of the league wield their power to try and build super teams. That's how Durant ended up on the Warriors a few years ago. Despite LeBron's best efforts, Durant won't be jumping ship like he did to Oklahoma City.

It appears as though LeBron will be heading to Los Angeles, but it's still unclear if another superstar will be joining him. Durant rejected him in favor of remaining on the dynastic Warriors.