Asked today about reports that he and James Harden have talked about teaming up in Brooklyn, Nets forward Kevin Durant dismissed the idea that such a plan has been in the works, as Adam Zagoria of Forbes.com writes.
“I don’t know where you making these stories up that me and James talked about any of this at a workout,” Durant said on a conference call with reporters. “I don’t know where that came from. James is a friend of mine, but I let the front office handle all of that stuff.
“I was just so focused on working out,” he continued. “I heard all the noise and I heard that James potentially wanted to come to the Nets but anybody could make up stories. Anybody can write a story and it gets some traction so nothing’s ever set in stone until it’s set in stone.”
While the Nets have been frequently linked to Harden in recent weeks, it doesn’t sound like they ever made any real progress on a trade for the Rockets star. Shams Charania of The Athletic suggested during an appearance on Complex’s Load Management podcast that Brooklyn doesn’t have the sort of young star that would appeal to Houston as the centerpiece of a package for Harden.
Here’s more on the Nets:
- Charania also said on the Load Management podcast that the Nets were unwilling to include Caris LeVert in their trade offer for Jrue Holiday last month, as NetsDaily relays. According to Charania, Durant and Kyrie Irving view LeVert as “a very significant part of this team.”
- Durant spoke to reporters today about the challenges of recovering from an Achilles tear, writes Scott Thompson of SNY.tv. “Those milestones of learning how to walk, learning how to run, jump again and getting used to certain movements again, I think that’s underestimated,” Durant said. “People don’t realize that the Achilles ligament is one of the strongest ligaments in your body. So for that to pop, you gotta build that up and that takes a while.”
- Asked today about whether Durant and Irving will be load-managed during the 2020/21 season, Nets head coach Steve Nash acknowledged that the two stars likely won’t play all 72 games, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. However, Nash didn’t suggest there’s any set plan in place for resting those returning All-Stars.
- Nash said today that he plans on having Mike D’Antoni lead the Nets’ offense and Jacque Vaughn lead the team’s defense, but his entire staff of assistants will provide input on both sides of the ball (Twitter link via Ian Begley of SNY.tv).
- In case you missed it, Brooklyn announced its initial 20-man training camp roster earlier this afternoon.
According to Shams
Warriors have inquired about Harden trade
Wiseman, Wolves and young players
Edit
Wolves first round pick
How the hell is that supposed to work. W’s are WAY over the cap. Would have to mean Rockets absorbing Wiggins.
76ers are not willing to offer Simmons, Green and 2 future Firsts for Harden
Celtics are not willing to offer Brown Smart and picks for Harden
There is limited market for Harden
Harden can walk away for nothing in two years
The Warriors can only wish they will ever have a player as good as Harden.
Durant gets so offended yet the track record of Woj etc is pretty reliable
Like I highly doubt Woj or Charania or Lowe just flat out MADE UP Harden wanting to go to Brkln
And it seems nearly impossible to believe that if Harden wanted to go to BK that Durant would be “too busy working out” to know anything about it
Just say no comment dude
to not* know anything about it
The media always exaggerates and just look at the response by most of the posters here. They all ate it up acting like the Rockets were going to blow up the team just like OKC did. But unlike the Thunder, who have no chance of winning anything anytime soon, Houston will continue competing for titles every single year for the rest of the decade.
Joe Harris is 29
Dinwindie is 27
LaVert is 26
Not good enough and too old to rebuild
But we have the technology. Bigger… stronger… faster
The forty-seven million dollar men!
Just like it was made up about him and Irving talking about teaming up. Come one KD give me a break
KD definitely demanded it, and was exposed on one of his burner accounts. That big 3 wouldn’t work. The third option of a big 3 has to be extremely unselfish and free of ego. All 3 of them (KD,Harden & Kyrie) all have an ego. Harden & Kyrie have huge egos, KD can play within any offense (as shown with Golden State).
The notion that ego will get in the way is ridiculous. Some of the greatest combinations in history have been ego loaded – Jordan, Pippen and Rodman come to mind immediately. These are grown men and superstar talents – ego is part of the territory.
Just say you want to see Harden team up. You know players that lacked ego and sacrificed to make things work? Wade & Bosh with Bron, Klay became the third string when KD signed and Steph took a step back too. 3 stars without a depth still won’t win a darn thing. Ask the 2008 wizards, 2011 heat, 2013 nets…
Also Jordan was a scorer, Pippen a passer,rebounder,defend the best player and Rodman did the dirty work. That’s not 3 guys they do the same thing. KD needs the ball but can play off the ball both Harden & Kyrie demand the ball and iso 90% of the time! The other players may get maybe 4 touches a game, everything would be stagnant watching 3 guys go your turn,my turn,his turn!
Nets don’t need Harden. They need to play and build up chemistry. Allen and Dinwiddie can probably bring back a nice player. If not they are a deep team. Plus I think Beal is better for them. Harden is a ball hog. Why would anyone want to play with him.
The Nets are going to lose in the first round of the playoffs.
Your interest is in supporting a previous and overstated opinion absent of facts… like the plans including Harden’s who was supposedly robbed of titles. sad Houston minion
My facts speak for themselves, like always.
LeVert will be the glue to this Nets team.
Imo, he’ll actually be more valuable than Kyrie.
Irving tries to carve or mark his territory with his mouth via the media, but HE’S the 3rd star – not LeVert.
The hate is real. Can’t wait till the season starts.