Since word broke this afternoon that Nets star Kevin Durant has requested a trade out of Brooklyn, more than half of the teams in the NBA have called to inquire about the former MVP, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN said during an appearance on NBA Today this afternoon (video link via Malika Andrews).
The Suns and Heat have been mentioned as two of Durant’s preferred landing spots, but the Nets are expected to take the best deal available to them rather than focusing on sending the veteran forward to a specific destination.
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Warriors are probably the only team that can be ruled out as a landing spot for Durant. I’d also be shocked if the Nets were willing to send him to the cross-town Knicks.
Early indications are that the Nets aren’t especially inclined to acquire Deandre Ayton via sign-and-trade as the centerpiece of a Durant deal, Fischer writes, adding that – from Brooklyn’s perspective – any deal with Phoenix or Miami would likely have to start with Devin Booker or Bam Adebayo. However, both of those players are on designated rookie extensions, prohibiting the Nets from acquiring either one unless they move Ben Simmons.
[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Designated Rookies]
Given that the Rockets control the Nets’ draft picks (either outright or via swap rights) for the next several years, don’t expect Brooklyn to pivot to a full-fledged rebuild as part of a Durant trade, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during the same episode of NBA Today (video link)
Windhorst isn’t sure if the Nets will get a superstar in return, but expects them to target selfless, team-first players, citing Suns forward Mikal Bridges as an example. As Windhorst observes, those are the types of players GM Sean Marks spoke about wanting during his end-of-season media session in May.
“We’re looking for guys that want to come in here and be part of something bigger than themselves, play selfless, play team basketball, and be available,” Marks said at the time.
[RELATED: Nets To Acquire Royce O’Neale From Jazz]
Windhorst also says his phone is “blowing up” with executives wondering where Kyrie Irving is going to end up. There has been no indication that Irving has requested a trade, but he seems far less likely to remain in Brooklyn for the final year of his contract if Durant is traded.
“If Kevin Durant is on the first train out, Kyrie Irving will be on the caboose as far as the Nets are concerned,” Windhorst said.
According to Fischer, league sources “continue to whisper” about Irving’s desire to join the Lakers and reunite with LeBron James. However, a trade between L.A. and Brooklyn would be challenging, since the Nets reportedly have no interest in Russell Westbrook.
Raptors:
OG, Freddy, Banton, 4 FRPs, 3 swaps.
Sub in either Pascal or Gary Trent Jr for Freddy
KD for AD & that 2027 1st pick, why not ?
Because KD prefers to go to a winner.
AD is not near kd’s level and the 27 pick is too far down the road. They would have to get THT or Nunn as well
lakers would do that in a heart beat because Durant is somebody you could count on while AD is a walking injury report.
Count on Durant. He’s played 90 games in the past 3 years.
Lol
If the Knicks acquire Durant or Irving, I’m seriously done. That would be the final straw. Been a Knicks fan since 1984. I have endured a lot. This would be the final straw. I would probably just be done with the NBA as a whole. When they started passing up open layups for 3-point shots, I started checking out a little as a fan. When low-post play ceased to be a thing, I was out a little. The first time I saw Brooke Lopez shoot a 3, I was out a little more. They took a beautiful sport and wrecked it. Now my fav sport is soccer. The “player-empowerment” movement has slowly worn on me as well. I’m ready to be finished watching these athletic prima-donnas. Durant and Irving are the perfect personification of what bothers me about the league. Sorry, I know this was all over the place but my fingers just kept typing.
Well, Bye
Kkkkkk
He’d change his mind if the Knicks acquired Durant to pair with Brunson and Barrett and the Knicks brought home a championship.
Brunson, Barrett and KD does not sound like a championship team to me.
Me either honestly, just sayin
No sir, no I wouldn’t. And actually, I am done as of right now. Take care.
The irony of Decius decrying the player empowerment movement in the same post where he says he has “endured a lot” as a fan and provides the criteria to which the Knicks must adhere in order to retain his fandom is rich. Good grief. So dramatic.
Then go find another sport to watch ya old curmudgeon
Bulls have the assets to do this.
No they don’t. LaVine, P Williams, and a 1st isn’t as good as what Phoenix and New Orleans can offer. Not really close.
It would be foolish for the bulls to even consider this trade, and the nets to not accept if given the opportunity. Not a knock on durant’s deserved praise, but this would set the bulls back incredibly especially with an unfortunate injury to an aging Durant
‘from Brooklyn’s perspective – any deal with Phoenix or Miami would likely have to start with Devin Booker or Bam Adebayo’
And Suns would say ‘later!’ the point is to pair KD with Book, not switch them out.
Did San Antonio inquire? Yeah, they’re tanking. But if they weren’t, they have the asset base (now) to get this done quickly.
What assets? They just traded the only one they had. Nets aren’t going to look for late protected first round picks. Technically they still have Irving and Simmons as well.
Two are unprotected Atlanta. So they could be good. Will Murray do much more than Bogdan?— he’s not a shooter.
GMs that didn’t make a call need a head check. Only tankers need not apply.
It will never happen. But, can you imagine Durant on the Pelicans? They have tons of picks. Or, they could just offer Zion. No way the Nets get anything better than Zion. Durant thrived in a small town setting in OKC. The Pels would be a serious championship contender. Go big or go home!!
Offering up Zion for KD would be big game hunting. Griffin isn’t up to it. Marks has had to deal with a lot of insufferable types this past year; he deserves better.
Durant and Ingram would rain fire together for NOLA. It may actually be what they need to get back on the map, and extend a couple of years on Griffin’s job.
Tough place for the Nets, ofcourse you want Bam or Booker but both aren’t happening.
With the Kyrie situation still in full swing aswell it might just be best to accept and try move off quickly.
I’d be aiming for Bulls Zach LaVine plus either Pat Williams and a first or Zach plus 4 firsts.
As for Kyrie, I’d be aiming for Myles Turner somehow via a third team.
Somehow get a new core of LaVine Simmons and Turner. With guys like Curry Harris Pat Will etc as role players around these guys. Try squeeze in getting some picks aswell.
Selfless players makes me think that a Beverly,Beasley and d.russell package might be enough. Probably not but I can dream.
Youre high
You would have to come up with selfless players.
Phoenix can offer Ayton and Bridges. New Orleans can offer Zion and salary filler.
If Zion doesn’t object to playing with Kyrie, Zion will likely ask his agent to nudge New Orleans to offer him.
Zion, Kyrie, Harris, Curry, Royce O’Neal, and MAYBE Simmons and whoever else from NO as part of the trade still has a CHANCE to be a really good team if they get a vet minimum big or buyout big. They don’t HAVE to blow it up with that route.
Ayton or Bridges not both.
Could (and should) be both, with the Nets sending another player along with Durant. Clayton for example.
Can’t due to S&T rules
You want picks and a young potential allstar player for KD. If you’re trading for KD that player has to be expendable i.e. you’ve got other elite talent. And you’re a player away and you have picks left.
1a/b Maxey and Herro based on when they’d get paid and talent level.
2nd tier is Zion, Brown, MPJ, Ayton, and Wiseman due to Age, Contract length or Injuries.
Porter is not a bad thought. I would leap at the chance if I were Denver. I’d also make sure Porter didn’t leap otherwise he’d be out for the year again.
Apparently they’d have to find a home for Ben Simmons as well can’t have two rookie max players via trade, new one for me bc this rarely happens.
Simmons to the Kings or Indy works. Solves the issue of trading MPJ
LeBron for KD. Biggest trade ever. Works on a few levels (and no doubt a stupid idea on many others – just can’t shake the idea of LBJ joining Ben and Kyrie).
“ Starting with BOOKER” bahahaha that’s why the Nets are like the other NY NBA TEAM. Haven’t won in 50 years and NEVER WON.
At 34 We Don’t Want KD ……
He’s got three good yrs left. He needs to go to a legit contender. Back to Warriors BYE
To All the Haters in the Media. That to this day. Say, print. KD and Kyrie couldn’t be signed by Knicks. That Knicks missed out again …….. Bunch of Clowns.
You don’t know Ball. And you don’t know the Knicks. You o Lu use them cause we have the biggest and most loyal fan base in the World. Now Swallow …..
Go back to Warriors …….
Love to see Wiseman and Kuminga in NY.
Surprised he wouldn’t consider the Mavs,
Rockets or New Orleans
Cavs get: KD and Joe Harris
Nets get: Sexton (s&t), Allen, okoro, Osman, and three 1st rounds
Lowry, Herro, Strus, 2-3 1sts, and pick swaps for Kevin Durant? Heat bring back Dragic in that scenario, keep Oladipo, and give Caleb Martin $6-7 million of the midlevel, sign Paul Millsap, and sign another wing shooter. Bam isnt going anywhere. Throw in Jovic if you have to. Dont think they’d be able to really add anything else to that
His asking places are Phoenix and the Heat, but would Phoenix give up Mikail Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, Dario Saric, 3 1st round picks for KD? What would he be even coming to at that point? He and Chris Paul would be on an island alone defensively. You could try to add pieces around that with what’s left out there, but there isnt that much without getting creative…
If anything, I think I there are a few other spots that make more sense/have arguably more than the Heat to give up. Okc is an obvious one, Spurs, even though they just over Dejonte Murray, who could have been part of this, New Orleans, Golden State, and Toronto all have really interesting offers they could make. For me, I think the Heat actually have a legit shot at this…
That being said, if I’m Brooklyn, I have him for 4 years. I’m not trading him anyway. They’re building a pretty good roster around Durant and Simmons, and obviously its possible Steve Nash just screws it up again, but I still think staying healthy, they theoretically have things they can do, and as an organization, how are we under pressure to trade someone b/c they asked, after FA already has started
The deals you could get for him are for sure a lot, and you could still put together a really strong roster, but I’m not just taking anything. It has to be a lot, like the 2 types of deals I mentioned