The Brooklyn Nets and Kevin Durant have both expressed a public desire for a change in circumstances. Outwardly, at least, both parties seem agreeable to a trade that would send him elsewhere.
That said, finding a suitable deal has been difficult up to this point.
Durant is a two-time NBA Finals MVP, two-time champ, regular season MVP winner and 12-time All-Star. The Nets want a lot in return for him – more than opposing squads have been willing to give up.
This week, details of what precisely Brooklyn wants emerged.
“Among the executives with whom I spoke, a Boston deal with Jaylen Brown as the centerpiece appears to be the unofficial front-runner here,” Sam Amick of The Athletic reported.
“In general terms, sources say the Nets are using the fact that the Celtics (and perhaps other teams) have made their second-best player available as a baseline of sorts in negotiations.”
That seems to be a position that the Nets are refusing to budge off.
“Translation: If you’re still trying to discuss a Durant deal without putting your second-best talent on the table, then just stop wasting everyone’s time and bow out of this race,” Amick wrote.
A number of teams have stepped forward to inquire about Durant, but none have been able to put together a worthwhile package.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ top bid for Durant is known. Same goes for the Boston Celtics’. And the Portland Trail Blazers’. The New Orleans Pelicans turned down the Nets’ Durant trade offer to them. And one roadblock continues to hold up negotations between the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn.
One team appears to be the frontrunner for Durant’s services at the moment. Another has been described by ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski as the most ‘determined’ to land Durant.
But it doesn’t seem like anything is close to getting done.
At least Christian McCaffrey is healthy enough for this. https://t.co/MIf5Zxi9Ir
— Game 7 (@game7__) August 16, 2022
The relationship between Durant and the Nets seems to be souring by the day. It’s hard to see how both sides will work together as the season approaches.
That being said, if Brooklyn’s asking price at this point starts at the other team’s second-best player – the front office may be waiting for a while for a bid that actually suits them.
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
