Reporting from the Las Vegas Summer League, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype says there’s skepticism among league insiders that a Kevin Durant trade will happen anytime soon, and a sense that the situation could linger into training camp.
According to Scotto, five executives he spoke to in Vegas felt as if Minnesota overpaid to acquire Rudy Gobert and increased the Nets‘ asking price for Durant in the process, creating a larger gap between what Brooklyn wants and what potential suitors are willing to give up. One GM told Scotto that he believes Durant is worth “a James Harden-type package.” It’s unclear if that’s a reference to the price paid for Harden by the Nets or the 76ers.
Scotto suggests it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Nets hang onto Durant for a while and wait for a “Godfather offer.” If that offer doesn’t come, the Nets may hope the former MVP changes his mind about wanting a trade and is satisfied to remain in Brooklyn at least for the time being.
Here’s more on the Durant market from Scotto:
- The Raptors are still “hesitant” to include Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes in any offer for Durant, league sources tell HoopsHype. Scotto speculates that a package centered around Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent Jr. could be Toronto’s starting point, but notes that the Nets would want more. Scotto is unsure how willing the Raptors are to put OG Anunoby in a package for Durant.
- According to Scotto, multiple executives are skeptical that the Pelicans will make a strong push for Durant instead of seeing how a healthy Zion Williamson meshes with the promising roster that made the playoffs in 2021/22. Scotto adds that some execs also believe Durant wouldn’t want to be dealt to New Orleans.
- The Warriors wouldn’t be inclined to give up all of their promising young players – Jordan Poole, James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody – in a trade for Durant, says Scotto.
- According to Scotto, some rival executives think the Spurs and Pacers are preserving their remaining cap room to see if they can be a salary-dumping ground in a multi-team Durant trade, netting draft assets in the process.
Suns likely will have the best offer unless Toronto includes Barnes. Might as well take it now and end this mess, rather than drag it out and risk the Suns making a different move and taking themselves out of the Durant sweepstakes.
The Raptors offer the best package even without Barnes.
Pascal and Gary is > Ayton and Bridges….I’m sure at least 4 picks from each team
True, assuming Masai would part with all his picks and better players.
The Nets are waiting for a high price for Kevin Durant, but teams are going to withdraw their offers after time and the Nets will be screwed.
More likely make other moves at prices they are more comfortable with. That’s what Sacramento and Portland did when Morey wouldn’t lower his Simmons price.
@Guest
KD is under contract for 4 years. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy that would sit out, fake an injury or be a verbal distraction if not traded. Now Kyrie needs to be moved before training camp. They can afford to wait on KD offers. Even if until the trade deadline. They just have to pray he doesn’t get hurt.
I doubt KD would go the Harden route, either. If Brooklyn holds onto him, he’ll show up and he’ll play.
That said, if they can’t get what they want now, holding him doesn’t really improve the Nets chances to do so later. KD isn’t a young player anymore. You also can’t ignore the injury risk with him. For all the drama around Kyrie, he’s actually been on the court about as much -if not more than- KD the past few seasons.
Actually, they won’t. KD isn’t going to sit out. Kyrie will probably stay and play if KD isn’t traded. I don’t see the Nets trading Kyrie before KD. Their best opportunity to do what they originally signed up for is in Brooklyn this coming year.
It would have to be a multi-team deal with the Suns if Ayton is involved, because if the Nets acquired him via sign and trade they’d be hardcapped.
If it’s Pascal, Gary and picks sure.
But if it’s Pascal, Gary, OG and picks, that’s way to much, they’d be unable to compete with what’s left.
Pascal, Scottie and one pick should get it done.
Scotty doesn’t need to be included, Raps have the most to offer without him and know it. If someone offers that grandfather offer, you back off and let them gut their roster.
I’d rather have siakem and Trent for the next 8 years then KD at 35
I can’t see the Nets saying no to Siakam and Gary plus picks. I think it is likely OG and Gary plus picks, and the Nets hope Pascal is swapped in. Zero chance it is all three, the Raptors would be left with no depth and no realistic path to title.
More meaningless speculation. Ofc “executives” think the Twolves gave up too much for Gobert, duh.
I wonder if Nets are just trying to appear like they are trying to accommodate KD and just hope he eventually relents.
None of these teams have good packages. Siakam and Gary is trash as is all the warriors players. Best thing to do for Nets is to keep him, Ben , and Kyrie and try to win. That will change all these losers’ attitudes.
Sick of gutless owners caving to the players demands. Call their bluff for once. Guarantee they won’t sit out the whole season or retire
Yeah Pascal is trash. 3rd team all-nba, 23/9/5, 49/34/75, 20 PER. Good length, versatile, switchable.
For Durant?! Yeah he’s trash. Durant can single handedly take a team farther than. pascal and 3 other good players. This isn’t a a video game. Nobody is worth Durant at this point
I wouldn’t trade Siakam for Durant straight up, Siakam is on the rise, Durant is losing his momentum and all this trade talk dampens his game even more. Being a part of drama like this takes a toll on your spirit for the game. That spirit is part of what makes you a great player. If you lose it even a little your on the slide towards retirement.
Durant’s value isnt close to what the Nets think it is, or maybe their is a team that will think otherwise but they’ll be getting the bad end of the deal.
Like the Gobert trade, Gobert is a great player but Walker Kessler was the NCAA defensive player of the year and Gobert is the fourth option on offense. They had a guy in the five that could take pressure off KAT, Kessler is younger with more to prove, terrible trade for the Twolves even if Gobert gives them one or two good seasons.
The only situations I can see across the league that works for Durant other than his current situation is in San Antonio, or with the Lakers. He’d play well under Pop, and the LA thing that’s a Kyrie / KD for Westbrook / AD trade.
“Durant can single handedly take a team farther than pascal and 3 other good players”.
Evidenced by their sweep at hands of Celtics?
They lost to the Eastern Conference champions. Who beat the Raptors?
For Durant?! Yeah he’s trash. Durant can single handedly take a team farther than. pascal and 3 other good players.
This take is so trash
And how well did the “a James Harden-type package.”go? Hope these teams wise up.
If you’re a fan of X team, just honestly ask yourself after the dust settles are KD plus the remaining pieces enough to win in the next 4 years? Bc likely all you can add are vet mins.
So is FVV, Scottie, and KD enough? If you give up picks, OG, Siakam and Trent? Even if the Raptors cant win with their current squad another less expensive trade could come to fruition that puts them over the top. I said in another post the cost for Kawhi was NOT a lot. A 1st, DeRozan and Poetl. Really it was just a 1 for 1 swap where you upgraded that main guy bc Poetl was not a factor on that Raptors squad.
Is it much different than Lowry Jimmy and KD?
GSW, Nuggets, or Sixers probably have the best squads after a trade. Nuggets may have more depth than all 3 tho at the end of the day.
Agreed, but would add the Suns as one of the 4 contenders that would still likely be good enough post-KD trade. Pelicans too, if they only gave up Ingram, matching salaries and picks.
This is a 100% why this deal will be difficult to do if the Nets don’t come down off their asking price. I honestly think the Pelicans and Warriors are the only teams that can both meet the ask and still compete after a KD trade.
The Warriors deliberately set up a long term timeline plan for Wiseman, Kuminga, Poole, Moody and Baldwin, they aren’t moving any of them.
Andrew Wiggins on the other hand, just had a breakout, all-star starter, ring-winning season and isn’t a part of the original 2015 team or the young brigade – he’s the best trade piece any team has tbh, and KD shouldnt bring back much more.
Wiggins ain’t it. Dude is a 4th star on a title team
This isn’t 27 yr old Durant in his prime. He still one of the top players in the league but approaching 35 and not the focal point of an offense considering he’s dealt with injuries as well. The Nets, understandably are seeking a premium, but Durant may only appeal to a club like hmmm OKC with a plethora of picks, who needs a marketable face of a franchise player vs. a contender trading half the team for a game or two improvement and a round 2 exit.
Exactly, a huge multi-teamer where GSW gives up Wiggins and tons of picks and gets back KD is actually very feasible. KD can actually be had for less than the Rudy package.
I think every team is giving up on him and tired of this long drawn out situation. Mayb the nets will keep them both and work around them, he’s only one person nobody is going to give up all there good players just for him.
Please Warriors, don’t do it, don’t even think about it, just hang up the phone – keep the young core and in the direction you’re going.
Please Warriors, put Wiggins and lots of draft picks on the table to get KD in a huge multi-teamer – but only that package. Keep all the young great talents – Wiggs isnt in either timeline, KD > Wiggs all day.
“KD > Wiggs all day.”
Tatum disagrees,
The multi daily rumors about Durant and Irving is now just annoying. The price is too high for either so they will not get traded. can we just move on from all these stupid trade rumors that is only for clicks.
Nets will eventually cave and lighten up on their demands. Don’t get me wrong, their asking price is reasonable considering KD is still one of the top 3-5 players in the league but teams like the Suns are not giving up Devin Booker for KD. It defeats the purpose of trading for KD in the first place if you’re moving your best player.
Pelicans probably don’t want to get into a bidding war and the Heat don’t have appealing enough pieces to move out unless they’re moving Bam. The Nets don’t seem to be interested in Ayton or Bridges too much meaning a deal with the Suns probably doesn’t happen unless they’re able to pull an additional team[s] into it. Imo I don’t think the Warriors are a legit spot due to them probably not wanting to move off of more than two of Poole, Moody, Kuminga, and Wiseman (in addition to Wiggins who would have to be moved for salary purposes). Plus I don’t think KD is going to go back there with the Warriors fresh off a championship. While it would clearly be the best spot for him to win another chip, there’s no shot he wants to deal with all the backlash of him going back to GS after they just won it all without him and he left Brooklyn with nothing.
Raptors probably have the best “stay competitive now” offer but the Nets are probably trying to hold out for Scottie Barnes (who I don’t think they should move). Remember, it’s important that the Nets stay at least a little competitive even if building a championship contender is not realistic after a KD trade. They’ve moved most of their future firsts already so it doesn’t benefit them to dive head first into a full scale rebuild even though that’s probably what needs to happen.
How many Titles Kuminga, Wiseman, Moody, Poole get you and when ??? GSW should push the trade button and win 2 more championship with Durant. Then rebuild or retool … WIN NOW !!!
The Warriors don’t need Durant to win, keeping those guys will help the Warriors next season.
I agree !!
Durant is a big baby, just like LeBron !!! To overpaid ball hogs.
@talking
Disrespectful GSW fans. Let’s get this straight. GSW never beat a healthy Cavs team with all 3 of LBJ, Irving and Love on the floor and when the Cavs sent that 73 win team home the contingency of Curry, Klay, Dray and Iggy flew to KD to recruit HIM to hello get them over the top. He brought the Bay area titles 2 and 3. Somehow the narrative changed that KD wanted to lead his own team. We all know that’s not his style. Kyries, Kyrie, Romney KD. KD just wants to hoop. It was Draymond’s aggressive personality calling him a b%^$% on national TV that made KD want to leave that environment and now he’s worthy of being hated on? Leash your pitbull and tell him to tone it down and maybe KD would’ve never left.
ppl also forget that weeks before free agency it was KD who risked his career and tried to play THRU a serious injury to try and save them in the playoffs. How many players do that nowadays?
4 rings baby!
Lol again with the “recruit” thing. And I’ll say this again, nobody forced KD to join the Warriors. At the end of the day, it was his decision to join the Warriors. He easily could have refused them but he didn’t.
And not beating a “healthy” Cavs team without KD? Do you have a crystal ball which shows the outcome of 2017 and 2018 without KD? What makes you think it would have been a repeat of 2016? More hypothetical nonsense. Keep crying about it. Cavs have been a joke since James left.
The Cavs aren’t winning another title for a very long time.
And what exactly has KD done since leaving the Warriors? Injuries and nothing else. Got swept by the Celtics in the first round and got owned by Giannis.
Whereas the Warriors have added another title and are dominant again. It’s pretty evident who needed whom more.
@ KnicksfanCavsFan:
Well, the Cavs never beat GSW without massive help from the league.
Durant left GSW because he didn’t like being on Curry’s team. So a unhappy Durant doesn’t make them better. Best to use what you have.
Durant left GSW because he wanted to be #1 top dog on his team, nothing to do with Curry personally – he won rings with Curry, he loves him.
Lol, as if KD would agree to go there?
What the hell kind of comment is this? Kuminga, Moody and Poole literally just won GSW a title, and Wiseman looks elite too! They ALREADY ARE winning!!!
GSW should and hopefully will trade Wiggins and picks for KD in a massive multi-teamer where BK flips over most of its roster.
Even though I’ve been mentioning New Orleans as a strong possible spot, next to Toronto, GS, the Heat, OKC, SA, and if Phoenix wants to give up all their wings/4s, I forgot Ingram is on a rookie max deal, making that package I mentioned that would normally possibly work, a moot point…
That being said, of the teams, I think New Orleans might have the best chance of getting a 3rd team involved to be willing to facilitate a KD trade where that team doesnt get KD, b/c they would end up with Ingram in that scenario
Toronto shouldnt offer Barnes or OG, especially b/c it would take more than that just to match salaries. That’s why I’ve been saying their best offer is probably Siakam, Trent, Achiuwa, picks and swaps for KD and Curry to match salaries, and the whole point in trading for KD would be to pair him with Barnes and OG
Had Moses Mody in NBA 2K, he was a sneaky under the radar type player for our squad. After admitingly “juicing” his attributes a bit he went from being a rotation guy to becoming league MVP and leading our squad to their first NBA championship in 3 years. It was a contract year for Mooses and unfortunately do to prior commitments to some veteran players I was unable to sign him and he left our squad for greener pastures. Ironically it gave room for a free agent signee who had just been a glue locker room guy (Chuck Savert) for the past few years to get his shot and ultimately become a 15 PPG starter. Thinking of trying to do an deadline deal and bring Moses’s back to our squad, even thinking about including Chuck Savert in the offer. I’ll keep you posted as things develop. Still 2 weeks away from deadline day.
Dont care about your video games, they dont mean anything to us. So instead, take it from me, as someone who knows ball:
Moses Moody has a Kawhi Leonard ceiling.
Who said you “know ball”?
Andrew Wiggins and 5 picks in a multi-teamer for KD, where Brooklyn basically flips most of its roster… lets get this over with.
So teams that have room would rather Durant go elsewhere and they can pick up some pieces.
Durant will stay— he has a contract, and the Nets are used to drama. To move, he can only use free agency, years away, until his value goes down and he becomes tradable.
Ha ha he’s stuck in “dark mode”. The bad guy routine will not be enough; he must decline to force a trade!
I agree with @x%sure –
I don’t know if any team wants to (or should) meet BKN’s asking price for KD. But I do know that BKN has no reason to deal him unless they get the package they want. Right now, regardless of what happened last year, or how much drama there would be with both guys on the roster this coming year, BKN is still a contender. Almost any KD trade, is a trade out of that; so BKN shouldn’t do it to avoid two players who screwed them from being unhappy. Who cares? Regardless of how upset KD might be at BKN for not agreeing to a trade, he’s signed for the balance of his prime, and is too concerned with his legacy to sit out or pull a Harden (give no effort).
If KD plays, then KI pretty much has to as well or further hurt his FA value after the season. In any event, KI doesn’t matter to BKN as a trade asset, since he has little trade value. I mean they’ll trade KI at salvage value if KD is dealt. But there’s no trade package for KI out there that’s good for BKN while KD is on the roster.
No way the Raptors would or should trade Siakam for KD.
The Raptors package would be OG + Gary Trent Jr + 3 to 4 1st round picks, which is still better than any offer the Suns or anybody else other than G state could table for Durant.