Both Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (appearing on NBA Today) and Shams Charania of The Athletic (appearing on The Pat McAfee Show) stressed on Tuesday that the Nets‘ trade of Kevin Durant could take some time, with the team in no rush to make a deal.
While Wojnarowski observed that being able to have face-to-face conversations with other teams at the Las Vegas Summer League starting this week could help the Nets gather some momentum toward an agreement, he and Charania both noted that many past superstar trades – such as James Harden to Brooklyn or Anthony Davis to Los Angeles – have taken several months to come together.
There has been no indication that Durant will rescind his trade request and happily report to Brooklyn in the fall if the Nets have trouble finding a deal they like, says Charania. However, the Nets have been telling teams that until their asking price (All-Star caliber players and a “boatload” of draft picks) is met, they won’t move the former MVP, according to Charania.
Here’s more on Durant and his teammate and fellow trade candidate Kyrie Irving:
- Wojnarowski said on NBA Today that he views the Raptors as the most “seamless” one-on-one trade partner for the Nets with Durant, since other suitors like the Suns and Heat would probably require a third team to get anything done. Wojnarowski said that “people should be watching” the Raptors, while ESPN’s Bobby Marks said during an NBA Today appearance of his own (video link) that he considers Toronto the “leader in the clubhouse.”
- Appearing on Sportsnet The Fan’s Morning Show in Toronto (audio link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst expressed some skepticism that the Raptors will be willing to put Scottie Barnes into an offer for Durant.
- Wojnarowski views the Nets’ Tuesday deals with T.J. Warren and Edmond Sumner as another signal that they aren’t looking to rebuild and will want “good players” in any Durant trade. Marks, meanwhile, believes those agreements are a sign that no Durant deal is imminent and the Nets recognized they needed to start filling out their roster rather than waiting for a 5-for-1 type trade to materialize.
- Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer makes a case for why he views New Orleans as the most logical landing spot for Durant and why he thinks the Pelicans have more than enough assets to get a deal done.
- According to Wojnarowski, the Nets and Lakers are engaged in a “dance” over the Irving negotiations and don’t appear to have made serious inroads toward a deal. On The Pat McAfee Show (video link), Charania agreed, suggesting that it’s not a lock Kyrie will end up in L.A. “There’s no traction on any type of a Lakers deal for Kyrie Irving,” Charania said. “There’s nothing new on that. I’m not quite sure we’re going to see that take place.
“The latest” = nothing new, but we’ll speculate about it anyway to fill time.
And comment on it for the same reason.
We are our own worst enemies in virtually every facet of life.
On the bright side, we get to hate on Kyrie and KD some more! /s
Comment policeman OrienGreene back at work.
‘To protect and serve blowhard journalists since 2015’
These trades will trigger many other domino trades for several teams. Which means any speculation is interesting and we should expect this type of update from this type of site multiple times a day. I don’t know what you are expecting…
If I’m the Nets I’m holding firm. I don’t believe KD is a bad person nor wants to be seen as such. However he’s following the script he’s seen work for other bad actors. If I don’t get the return I need then I’m going to make him wait. If he acts silly and pulls a Ben Simmons then that tarnishes his career and I can’t see him doing that. I bet he reports to camp even if it’s with the Nets. But Kyrie?? Wouldn’t want him and KD together in camp. He could make things worse. They still need to try and get Simmons on thr floor too.
I think he gets moved, maybe they don’t get this historic offer they’re after, but the haul will still be impressive. It’s a holding position to see if someone pushes in that extra piece to seperate them from the pack.
It will be interesting to see how long this drags on. I cannot imagine the Nets allowing KD into camp risking injury ahead of a potential trade. Nor allow Kyrie into camp because he is, well, toxic. It would probably be in their best interest to sit them both even well into the season. This would likely drive KD crazy as he loves to hoop and cares about his legacy.
KD besides ruining the Nets he is ruining the off season with all this nonsense trade rumors. If KD wants to prove he is as great as he thinks he is he stays on the Nets and let the GM build a team around him.
Actually he’s propping up the off season, otherwise all we’d have is the Gobert trade to hold our interest.
At this point, there isnt much to add that hasnt already been said
I do still think its between all the same teams I’ve been saying
For Toronto, I think Siakam, Trent, Achiuwa, 3 picks and swaps for KD and Curry would be a strong offer, among the teams I’ve talked about as the best fits/most to offer, in my opinion. Those teams, again, being Toronto, New Orleans, GS, the Heat, OKC, and the Spurs, and Phoenix if they want to get rid of most of their roster at the 3/4 spots for some reason
Drop Curry and Precious and it looks better.
Curry is there for salary matching, and also to replace Trent as a catch and shoot shooter, but mostly the salary matching. I dont see Siakam and Trent as enough, and Toronto can afford to move Achiuwa anyway
Is weed legal in Toronto? If not no chance Durant plays there
It’s legal everywhere in Canada my dude.
Someone please explain to me why the Nets have to do anything with either of them. They signed these contracts, they’re obligated to honor them. If they don’t, they don’t get paid. If they tank on the court, their open market value diminishes.
I’m sick and tired of athletes being pandered to. You sign a deal, you honor the deal. It’s not that hard. They need to quit being babies and owners need to quit caving to their demands to the detriment of the team’s success.
It’s not ok to ask for a trade yet it’s perfectly ok for ownership to uproot you and your family on a whim and trade you?
Yay, go Owners!!!
Yes that’s exactly how it is. If there are certain teams you won’t go to, you get a no trade clause. Otherwise you play for the team that signed you for the ungodly amount of money and deal with it.
I hear you tacocat and I’m with you. But there’s also this to think about…
If my boss said that with my salary, which is astronomical, they’re transferring me to Toledo or Boise or somewhere else far away from home, I would still go ahead and do it.
For an NBA guy, they’re still in the NBA and they still get 4 months off per year and so even though it sounds bad it really is a favorable situation for the player no matter where he calls his home team.
I think realistically the best player the Nets can land is Pascal Siakam. I think that’s what is holding up progress from the Raptors/Nets perspective.
Scottie Barnes makes no sense from a salary, timeline or risk standpoint for the Raptors.
I doubt the Raptors want to move Siakam in this deal, but might not be able to land KD with OG/Trent and picks.
I have a hard time believing Toronto guts their team to acquire a an injury prone 34 year old with a terrible attitude. Masai isn’t anywhere close to being that stupid. Just because they have the assets to make a deal, doesn’t mean they want to deal.
He was willing to do what you said for an injury prone 27 year old with an alleged “terrible” attitude.
Huge difference between Kawhi and KD. Kawhi wasn’t under contract until he’s 38.
GMs dream of adding a top 15 ever talent within reasonable proximity of their prime.
lol
I wouldnt want to move Barnes or OG. I’d want to pair KD with those guys
I honestly still don’t understand the logic of any team meeting the Nets demands. You’re supposed to give up multiple all-star caliber players and a boatload of draft picks for… one all-star caliber player?
This is why I dont see Phoenix giving up Bridges, Cam Johnson, Crowder/Craig, Saroc, picks and swaps just for KD. Theyd be left with very little to build the rest of the roster…but there are teams that can make really strong offers, and still have good depth, like Toronto, New Orleans, GS, Heat, OKC, and the Spurs
While I understand your point, Durant is a 25+ PER player. There aren’t many of those in the league, and certainly zero coming back in any trade for the Nets. There is a difference between Allstar and all NBA first team talent.
What we’re waiting for is a team to look at their own roster and the players they have and say,
Well it looks like we’re not going to get very far with this squad. We better make a move and Durant’s available so let’s do it.
Until a team comes to that realization.., that they’re not good enough as they sit, Durant’s going nowhere.