Kevin Durant’s boundless love for basketball shouldn't be a cause to consider he’ll present up for coaching camp if the Nets don’t acknowledge his commerce request.
That has been the prevailing perception — that Durant, a 12-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP, is above the thought of holding out of camp as a result of he's a grasp of his craft and a lover of the sport. A supply, nevertheless, pushed again on the concept Durant will present as much as coaching camp in September if his request goes unfulfilled.
Durant first made a commerce request on to Nets proprietor Joe Tsai on June 30, however after greater than a month handed by with a number of affords made and none accepted, Durant and Tsai met a second time, this time in London, over the weekend.
Durant doubled down on his request and advised Tsai he has misplaced religion within the route of the group and that Tsai should select between the famous person ahead and the pair of normal supervisor Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash, in keeping with The Athletic.
Tsai responded to the report with a tweet: “Our entrance workplace and training workers have my assist. We are going to make choices in one of the best curiosity of the Brooklyn Nets.”
The Nets have acquired various affords, together with a package deal from the Boston Celtics that included star ahead Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and a first-round choose, however the asking value has been too steep. For instance, the Nets countered the Celtics and mentioned they have to embrace reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months Marcus Good, one other rotation participant and extra draft compensation in any deal that features Brown for Durant.
The New Orleans Pelicans stay serious about a deal for Durant, in keeping with a supply, and might put collectively a compelling package deal round All-Star ahead Brandon Ingram, position gamers like Herbert Jones, Devonte Graham and Jose Alvarado, and the remaining draft compensation they acquired from each the Los Angeles Lakers within the Anthony Davis commerce and the Milwaukee Bucks within the Jrue Vacation commerce.
The Nets asking value in any Durant deal has been steep: an All-Star degree participant, rotation gamers and important draft compensation. The Pelicans, who even have CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson on the roster, are one in every of few groups who may intestine their depth to amass Durant and nonetheless have the infrastructure wanted to compete for a deep playoff run.
It stays unclear whether or not the Nets would transfer on to commerce Kyrie Irving in the event that they strike a deal for Durant. Irving, in keeping with a number of reviews, has made it clear to Nets brass that he needs to remain in Brooklyn even when the staff strikes on from Durant. The Lakers have been the one celebration in Irving’s providers, in keeping with a number of reviews, and the Nets haven't been open to buying Russell Westbrook in an Irving deal, which suggests they must purchase gamers from a 3rd staff, presumably gamers like Myles Turner and Buddy Hield from the Indiana Pacers.
It's unclear whether or not or not the Nets would relatively simply hold Irving, a famous person expertise on a one-year deal, than commerce him for pennies on the greenback.
And as a lot because the Nets wish to hold Durant on the roster as he walks into the primary 12 months of a four-year, $198 million max contract extension, they run the danger of taking this charade into coaching camp, the place it isn't a certainty the famous person ahead will present up.
NOT ONE TO CHAT
The Each day Information can't affirm a report from Fox Sports activities’ Ric Bucher saying Ben Simmons left a staff group chat after Recreation 3 of the Nets’ first-round playoff collection in opposition to the Boston Celtics. Bucher mentioned Simmons left the staff group chat after Nets gamers requested him if he would swimsuit up and make his season debut in an elimination Recreation 4. Simmons by no means practiced five-on-five after arriving in Brooklyn as a part of the James Harden commerce, damage his again whereas ramping up, wanted an epidural to assist take care of the ache in his decrease again and finally underwent again surgical procedure this summer season. Simmons, nevertheless, didn't present as much as Recreation 4 to assist his teammates on the bench.
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