A brand new staff has joined the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, and it’s the identical staff that pried away the Nets’ final famous person.
After buying James Harden in a Ben Simmons swap final season, the Philadelphia 76ers have joined the pursuit of the 12-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP, based on SNY’s Ian Begley, who reported there are “high-ranking members of the Sixers who’ve felt strongly about participating with Brooklyn on a Durant commerce.”
The SNY report, nevertheless, famous the Boston Celtics as Durant’s present most well-liked commerce vacation spot and added a further tidbit: Durant needs to play with reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months Marcus Sensible if he’s moved to Boston. The Nets reportedly rejected Boston’s commerce provide of All-Star wing Jaylen Brown, reserve guard Derrick White and a first-round choose, then countered, asking the Celtics to incorporate Sensible, a further rotation participant and extra draft compensation.
Philadelphia’s curiosity in a Durant deal is smart given Tobias Harris’ giant wage and lack of star-level manufacturing. Harris averaged 17 factors, seven rebounds and three.5 assists per sport final season — about on par together with his profession averages — however by no means eclipsed 14 factors in any of the Sixers’ remaining 4 playoff video games of their second-round playoff loss to the Miami Warmth.
It’s unclear whether or not or not the Nets would need Harris, 30, in any Durant deal, and assuming MVP runner-up Joel Embiid is untouchable, budding younger guard Tyrese Maxey can be the spotlight of any deal carried out with Philadelphia. The Celtics can provide a surefire All-Star in Brown, one or each of ahead Grant Williams and middle Robert Williams, a first-round choose in 2025 and the lesser of their first-round picks in 2028, when the Spurs personal swap rights on Boston’s choose.
The Every day Information not too long ago reported the New Orleans Pelicans’ curiosity in buying Durant and will make a suggestion highlighted by one-time All-Star Brandon Ingram, younger position gamers and important draft compensation.
Elsewhere, there doesn’t seem like a lot traction on a Durant deal, although the Los Angeles Lakers at the moment are reportedly prepared to incorporate each 2027 and 2029 first-round draft picks in a deal for Kyrie Irving. Earlier within the offseason, the Nets had been unwilling to take again Russell Westbrook in any Irving deal. It's unclear if their stance stays unchanged or might change relying on what's acquired in a possible Durant deal.
A cope with the Phoenix Suns, Durant’s first most well-liked commerce vacation spot, was shut down when Deandre Ayton signed a suggestion sheet with the Indiana Pacers. The Suns matched Ayton’s provide sheet — the most important in NBA historical past at 4 years, $133 million — and now can not commerce him to the Pacers for a 12 months or to any staff with out his consent. The trail to a Durant commerce to Phoenix would have wanted to incorporate a sign-and-trade with Ayton.
That largely leaves the Celtics and 76ers, based on SNY, and the Sixers don’t have engaging sufficient property to get a deal carried out. They'll’t commerce P.J. Tucker, Danuel Home or De’Anthony Melton till Jan. 15 as a result of all of them only recently signed contracts when free company started. Brooklyn’s asking worth has remained constant: They need an All-Star, impression gamers and draft compensation to half methods with a top-five participant within the NBA and one of many extra gifted scorers in NBA historical past. After the Jazz acquired 5 draft picks, 4 rotation gamers and a rookie within the Rudy Gobert deal, no staff has been in a position to meet Brooklyn’s asking worth.
If the Nets are unable to strike a deal quickly, nevertheless, they may run the danger of muddying coaching camp waters and tanking one more season earlier than it begins. Durant has already created an virtually unattainable atmosphere in Brooklyn, delivering Nets governor Joe Tsai an ultimatum over the weekend: Both commerce me or hearth each GM Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash. As soon as the stories of the assembly broke on social media, Tsai responded on Twitter, vouching for these Durant needed out.
“Our entrance workplace and training employees have my assist,” he tweeted. “We'll make selections in the very best curiosity of the Brooklyn Nets.”
The choice greatest for the Brooklyn Nets would have been bringing a contented Durant — and Irving — into coaching camp with a wholesome Simmons, however happiness in Brooklyn has lengthy gone for the self-proclaimed Straightforward Cash Sniper. The Information reported Durant reporting to camp isn't a foregone conclusion if a deal doesn't get carried out.
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