For the Nets, buying and selling Kevin Durant accurately is much more essential than doing it shortly.
League personnel who spoke to The Submit stated Nets common supervisor Sean Marks — and by default workforce proprietor Joe Tsai as properly — are adamant about getting again All-Star caliber expertise in return for Durant. And with their disgruntled star having 4 years left on his contract, the Nets are in no rush to deal.
The Nets clearly can’t get like-for-like worth for Durant, or deliver an MVP again to Brooklyn. However the Nets are aiming excessive — reportedly eying the likes of Karl-Anthony Cities or Anthony Edwards — so that they’ve informed opposing GMs to loop third and even fourth groups into the combo to cobble collectively the items they need.
Up to now, league sources have stated nothing is imminent, and even on the superior stage.
Durant has expressed a choice for Phoenix and Miami, with Marks and Tsai no less than considerably prepared to work with Durant and enterprise companion Wealthy Kleiman. However seemingly each contender has touched base on Durant, with some even displaying tepid curiosity in Kyrie Irving. Philadelphia spoke with the Nets, though a supply informed The Submit “nothing occurred there.”
League executives who spoke with The Submit stated Toronto was not solely well-positioned, however assured of with the ability to put collectively the perfect package deal. The Raptors have balked on the notion of placing Rookie of the 12 months Scottie Barnes in any deal, though those self same executives opined that may very well be a negotiating ploy by savvy Masai Ujiri, who has a historical past of pulling off large trades.
Even just lately topped NBA champion Golden State has proven curiosity in bringing Durant again to the Bay Space for a Warriors reunion, in accordance with ESPN.
Legion Hoops claimed that the Nets had follow-up conversations with the Raptors, Boston, Dallas and Memphis.
It appears clear the Warmth and Suns don’t have the items to entice Marks, though Phoenix may need the property to get them; ie, reroute Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, a trove of first-round draft picks and swaps, and a sign-and-trade for heart Deandre Ayton.
That would imply sending most of that package deal to Utah and having younger Jazz star guard Donovan Mitchell — a New York native — find yourself in Brooklyn. Former Nets GM Bobby Marks — now an ESPN entrance workplace insider — opined about separating that aforementioned Suns package deal, with Ayton heading to Indiana whereas Pacers heart Myles Turner joined Johnson, Bridges and a bunch of picks in Brooklyn.
Wherever Durant finally ends up, this course of will seemingly grind free company to a crawl, the identical manner the Kawhi Leonard saga did three summers in the past. When Leonard agreed to affix the Clippers on the situation they added Oklahoma Metropolis ahead Paul George, L.A. needed to ship property to the Thunder.
An analogous situation may very well be enjoying out now, with the complete league watching to see the intersection of Durant’s needs and Brooklyn’s wants.
In the meantime, Irving could must patiently wait out the method. The Nets are much less inclined to work with the purpose guard as they're with Durant, along with his market extra tepid and the return much less essential.
Irving has constantly broadcast his intent to finish up with the Lakers, be it by way of commerce or signing subsequent offseason. That has tanked his worth even additional.
Whereas league chatter of an Irving-Russell Westbrook swap has been incessant for the previous week, the Pacers’ Turner may very well be included in a three-way deal there as properly. Creativity goes to be the important thing to this.
The 76ers — who're at present negotiating with James Harden — are maintaining a tally of Irving, a supply informed The Submit. And with former Nets level guard Goran Dragic spurning Dallas to ink a one-year take care of Chicago — in accordance with Boardroom, which is owned by Durant — The Athletic reported that the Mavericks are additionally displaying curiosity in Irving.
The Nets’ teaching workers has lastly been up to date on the workforce’s web site. Apart from the anticipated departures (Jordan Ott, Amar’e Stoudemire, David Vanterpool and Adam Harrington, the latter departure hitting Durant arduous), the workers in any other case stayed the identical. Jacque Vaughn, Royal Ivey, Brian Keefe and Ryan Forehan-Kelly are all again, though incoming coach Igor Kokoskov was not listed.
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