LAS VEGAS — As new reports the Warriors are interested in trading for Kevin Durant pick up, so will speculation about Ben Simmons’ place on the Nets.

A Warriors package posited by ESPN included not just Jonathan Kuminga, Jordan Poole, James Wiseman and a trove of first-round draft picks, but also Andrew Wiggins. And that’s where it gets problematic.

The Nets have made it known around league circles that they want not only a host of picks (the Jazz essentially getting five first-rounders for Rudy Gobert has reset the market and devalued that draft capital), but also young players and an All-Star .

So far, they haven’t been offered a package to their liking. And after reportedly asking the Timberwolves for both Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, according to Yahoo Sports, it’s easy to see why.

But with Durant eyeing Miami and Phoenix, and the cleanest packages offered potentially by Toronto or New Orleans, the Warriors could offer everything the Nets want — with Wiggins and Simmons being the only rub.

The Nets obviously traded James Harden for Simmons, who’d inked a designated rookie max extension with the 76ers. Wiggins is on a similar deal, and while teams are permitted to have two such players on their roster, only one may be acquired via trade.

That means the Nets either would have to loop a third team into the deal, and ship Wiggins there for some sort of return, or they would have to move off Simmons.

Privately, Nets sources have intimated the latter option is unlikely. And when asked if Simmons had gotten assurances he was in the Nets’ long-term plans and would not be traded, a source close to the young All-Star told The Post simply that “Ben is good.”

Of course, the Nets might not have much choice in the matter. Simmons didn’t play at all last season, citing first mental health and then back issues. While he did have surgery and is on schedule to be ready for training camp, according to a source, one league source said there was no chatter about the Nets actively shopping Simmons, while two said there was little market for him.

But while Durant has reportedly gone dark and not talked to other NBA stars, he’s believed to have spoken to the Golden State standouts. If Brooklyn wanted to reunite him with his former Warriors teammates, rerouting Wiggins for a hefty return would make sense.

.

<p>The post Nets trade of Kevin Durant to Warriors would be complicated first appeared on harchi90.</p>

The drama we saw at the beginning of free agency in Brooklyn seems to have subsided a bit and been pushed to the backburner for the time being. Just over a week ago, it appeared that Kyrie Irving and BFF Kevin Durant were destined to be shipped out of town as soon as possible. While Durant has multiple suitorsIrving cannot say the same.

Leading the pack in terms of landing Kyrie is the Los Angeles Lakers. Irving purchasing a mansion in LA last week only added to the speculation. A trade to the Lakers would reunite Irving and LeBron James, plus rid the Lakers of Russell Westbrook, most likely.

Reports surfaced this week that the Lakers haven’t been “aggressive” in pursuing Irving via trade. It doesn’t look like everyone in the Lakers organization is onboard with bringing Kyrie to SoCal. James is probably the biggest advocate and could be the only one that wants to trade for Irving.

Before Kyrie opted into the last year of his deal with Brooklyn, it was reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Irving had a list of preferred teams he’d like to be considered as trade partners. that list included the Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Mavericks, Heat, and 76ers. Since then, it’s come out that the Sixers and Mavs have no interest in trading for the All-Star guard.

Where the other teams are concerned, I’ll believe Miami is truly interested after that trade is finalized. Pat Riley would be ready to fight Kyrie over his approach to being a professional. I just don’t see how that works out for even a month. The Knicks are the Knicks and recently cashed out Jalen Brunson, so they’re out.

The Lakers’ situation is outlined above, and the Clippers picked up John Wall in free agency. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t trade for Irving, but they don’t have a ton of draft picks. Should Irving to the Clippers happen, it still wouldn’t solve their main issue, which is on-court leadership. Kyrie wants to lead, but others aren’t too keen on following other than his buddy Durant.

Irving quickly discovered that he’s not as hot of a commodity as he thought. Teams aren’t exactly falling over themselves, jumping in line, making offers. All his quirks and unpredictability have come back to kick him in the ass. Maybe this is good for Kyrie. He’s a great player that no team wants to invest in long-term. And certainly not the team he currently plays for alongside KD for now.

The fact of the matter is Irving dug the hole he’s standing in. He spent the last two years digging it and now finally realizes (hopefully) how deep it runs. Disappearing after the Jan 6, 2021, incident in the nation’s capital, deciding not to get vaccinated after apparently making the team think he would, his crazy quotes, like the dismissal of the Sixers needing a coach when Steve Nash was hired.

There’s always something with Irving that takes the focus away from what he does on the court. An NBA team would have to be foolish to go all-in with Kyrie after what he’s shown the world about his personality.

We could see Irving wait quite a while before he’s traded. Neither the team nor the rest of the NBA seem to be in a hurry. And with all this coming back to haunt Irving, he doesn’t have the self-awareness to recognize what’s going on and change. And even if Kyrie sees what’s happening (which he should), he’ll likely continue with business as usual.

I don’t see Kyrie committing to that level of self-reflection under the circumstances. It sucks to say, but he probably hasn’t learned much from any of this.

.

<p>The post Is Kyrie Irving finally getting a dose of reality? first appeared on harchi90.</p>

the Celtics had an open offer out to Thomas Bryant to fill the backup center spot in the rotation, team sources tell Jared Weiss of The Athletic, but Bryant opted to join the Lakers on a one-year, minimum-salary deal because he has a chance to become the starting center. Other teams that were interested in Bryant’s services included the Raptors, Bucks and Jazz, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, who reported that Bryant was signing with Los Angeles.

Weiss writes that Bryant was taking a wait-and-see approach to how the Kevin Durant situation might play out in case another opportunity arose, but he decided to accept the Lakers’ offer before it disappeared. As Weiss relays, with Bryant off the board and the free agent center options either aging or relatively unproven, it remains to be seen which player Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens might find to fill the backup role.

Here are a few more notes from Weiss about Boston’s plans for the rest of the roster:

• The Celtics are still considering ways to use the $17,142,857 traded player exception (created by the Evan Fournier sign-and-trade to New York last summer) that expires on July 18, as our tracker shows. However, Weiss reports that the team is unlikely to use it on a high-salary player due to luxury tax concerns. According to Danny Leroux of The Athletic, Boston is $20.2MM over the tax line with 12 players on the standard roster, which amounts to a $45.8MM tax bill. If the team used the full $17.1MM trade exception, that bill would nearly triple, per The Athletic.
• The backup center spot will be important for next season because the Celtics plan to limit Al Horford‘s minutes in the regular season, including sitting out “most” back-to-backs, team sources tell Weiss. Horford turned 36 last month and appeared in 92 games last season (regular season and postseason combined), so ensuring that he’s as spry as he was in the playoffs in 2021/22 is certainly a logical move for a team that hopes to compete for a title again next season.
• JD Davisonwhom the Celtics selected 53rd in the draft a couple of weeks ago, will sign a two-way deal with Boston, but sources tell Weiss that Davison will be given the opportunity to earn a standard roster spot over the coming months. Brodric Thomaswho was on a two-way contract with the Celtics last season and is currently a restricted free agent, will also be given a chance to win one of the final roster spots, according to Weiss.

.

<p>The post Celtics Notes: Bryant, Trade Exception, Tax, Horford, Davison first appeared on harchi90.</p>

The potential price tag for acquiring Kevin Durant isn’t what should matter most to the Raptorsargues Scott Stinson of The National Post, who says that determining whether Durant would actually be motivated and invested in playing for Toronto should be the most important factor for the team’s lead decision-makers.

As Stinson writes, Durant’s motivation in asking for a trade out of Brooklyn remains a bit nebulous, especially since he just signed a four-year extension last August. That should concern vice chairman and president of basketball operations Maasai Ujiribecause dealing for a superstar who might not be engaged or on the same page as the club could be disastrous, according to Stinson.

Drawing parallels between Ujiri’s trade for Kawhi Leonard in the 2018 offseason to the Durant sweepstakes now doesn’t make sense, per Stinson, because the situations aren’t similar.

Leonard was coming off an injury that caused him to miss almost the entire 2017/18 season, was on an expiring contract, and the Raptors teams led by Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan had been given ample time to breakthrough in the East, but couldn’t get past LeBron James. The Raptors finished second in the East in the two years after Leonard left Toronto, so obviously the team remained competitive and didn’t mortgage its future to acquire him, Stinson writes.

Durant, on the other hand, has four years remaining on his deal, so obviously it will cost significantly more to land him, plus the current version of the Raptors is ascendant, with Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent jr.and Precious Achiuwa among the new additions who made significant contributions to a team that improved its win total from 27 to 48. Dealing away from an emerging core only for Durant to balk at the idea of ​​staying could put Toronto in a hole that would be difficult to climb out of, says Stinson.

Here’s more from the Atlantic:

• Could a lesser role on the Celtics benefit Malcolm Brogdon from a health perspective? “The knock against him coming out of college is that he had terrible knees,” a rival general manager told Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com. “I mean, some of the examinations were really suspect in terms of how long his lower body would be able to take NBA pounding. So that’s why he ended up going in the second round, because he was damn near red-flagged. So the fact of the matter is he’s probably better off coming off the bench with limited minutes, trying to be impactful in 18 rather than trying to play 30 and always being injured. The question becomes how he’ll accept that” Boston reportedly views Brogdon as a sixth man, and he said shortly after the deal was announced that he’s motivated to win a championship and is willing to sacrifice his individual stats for the betterment of the team.
• De’Anthony Melton believes he’s a “great fit” for the sixers, writes Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscriber link). “Once I saw the team, I’m like, ‘OK, that’s a great spot,’” Melton told The Inquirer by phone last week. “That’s a great fit for me. … I understand what this team needs. I understand what this team is trying to do. I’m ready for the task at hand. I’m ready for whatever’s to come” Melton was acquired from the Grizzlies in exchange for the No. 23 picks (David Roddy) and Danny Green in a draft-day swap.
• Signing free agent guard Jane Brunson was a solid move for the knicks but they still look like a play-in team on paper, Ian O’Connor of The New York Post opines. According to O’Connor, while Brunson is a good player and the best point guard the Knicks will employ in years, neither he nor RJ Barrett or Julius Randle are capable of being the best — or second-best — players on a championship-caliber team, and unless something drastic changes, New York will begin 2022/23 as “just another barely relevant club.”

.

<p>The post Atlantic Notes: Raptors, Durant, Brogdon, Melton, Knicks first appeared on harchi90.</p>

Kevin Durant’s recent trade request sent shockwaves around the NBA, but not everyone is buying its veracity.

ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins, for one, believes that Durant’s demand is merely a ploy.

“I’m looking at it and I’m saying, ‘Why would KD want out?’” Perkins said on “NBA Today” on Tuesday. “… And then all of a sudden, once Kyrie Irving opts into his contract, Kevin Durant comes out and says, ‘I want to be traded.’

“I came up with the conclusion that I don’t believe Kevin Durant. I don’t believe him at all. As a matter of fact, it makes zero sense to me that he wants to be traded at this point. I don’t believe he believes it. I think Kevin Durant is doing this as a scare tactic in order to help Kyrie Irving have leverage to get him signed long-term with the Brooklyn Nets.”

Perkins’ theory comes in the wake of reports that the Nets are “putting out the vibe” that they could keep Durant around until fall camp, holding out to see if the disgruntled parties can resolve their differences. Durant, after all, has four years left on his contract; there’s little incentive for Brooklyn to hasten a incentive deal unless its asking price is met.

But the flurry of activity elsewhere in the NBA landscape — highlighted by Minnesota’s blockbuster acquisition of Rudy Gobert — is fueling Perkins’ Durant-related suspicions.

“We’re talking about KD, a top-five player, arguably the best player in the NBA, and he hasn’t been moved yet?” Perkins said. “You’re sitting up here telling me right now that Kevin Durant is still on the market? … If you’re any other team around the NBA and Kevin Durant is on the market and you mean to tell me that no traction has picked up over the weekend? I don’t believe it.”

On Sunday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the market for Durant is “still taking shape.”

.

<p>The post Kendrick Perkins has some wild Kevin Durant trade suspicions first appeared on harchi90.</p>

The free-agent frenzy has come and gone again in the NBA, and it’s the same old story in New York for the Knicks and their fan base. Another year, another “big” free agent signing fails to move the needle. The team signed Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $104 million contract, and now they’re being hit with tampering not.

It’s such a Knicks move it’s not even funny anymore. I’m not against Brunson securing the bag; I’m happy for him. The Mavericks probably do n’t get to the Western Conference Finals without his contribution in the playoffs. Brunson took over against Utah in the first round, with Luka Dončić inactive during the first three games of that series. Brunson led Dallas to a 2-1 series lead, scoring 41 and 31 points in games 2 and 3.

But this signing doesn’t jump off the page when you think of New York City and the wow factor. Then again, Knicks free agent pickups never really scream “wow.” Not in the good sense, at least. Last year it was NYC native Kemba Walker coming home to play for the franchise, and that wound up not working out. they also brought in Evan Fournier, which was great for about one night at the start of the last season.

A couple of years before Walker and Fournier, Julius Randle signed a big free-agent deal with New York. That came on the heels of Kevin Durant turning down the Knicks in favor of following his buddy Kyrie Irving to the Brooklyn Nets. That hasn’t exactly worked out as planned, but it’s the same old song for the Knicks.

This franchise hasn’t landed a big-name star since Carmelo Anthony in 2011. That should have been a free agent signing, but the Knicks gutted their roster trading for Anthony instead of waiting until the summer. That move produced a couple of postseason appearances and a 54-win season where the Knicks were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Certainly not the outcome Knicks fans had hoped for.

With the Brunson deal, the kicker is now the team will likely be penalized because it leaked that they’d been in contact with him before they were supposed to. Honestly, who cares? Damn, near every team, is tampering. Someone’s always spouting off about this player and that player going to another team. It’s already the wild west in terms of player movement. Let’s remove “tampering” and let them all have at it. Teams and players are already doing it anyway.

Tampering in the eyes of the NBA is all over the board. If you mention a player while being even remotely affiliated with a different team, you could get popped with a tampering fine. the Lakers incurred a $50,000 fine a few years ago after Magic Johnson spoke glowingly in public about the greatness of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Brunson’s situation relates more closely to actual tampering, but even that seems ridiculous. There’s no way the NBA believes organizations aren’t having conversations with soon-to-be free agents during the season. Even if it isn’t directly with the player, messages are relayed through an agent, family members, friends, etc.

These franchises know the deal, and they’re still out to get the upper hand on acquiring players by any means necessary. It’s time to give up this charade. Teams and players don’t give a crap. The league makes so much money that teams don’t care about $50K or even $100K fine if it means landing their man.

Trust me, these owners care much more about the recklessness of player movement and these guys demanding trades with multiple years left on existing contracts. But that’s likely to end in the next collective bargaining agreement. Player empowerment is wonderful, but it’s gotten out of control, and the owners will reel it in soon.

When the two sides return to the bargaining table, one thing on the agenda needs to be removing tampering. It’s downright silly. It can’t be that significant a factor affecting competitive balance if nearly everyone engages. They just need to eliminate it and move on.

.

<p>The post Knicks get hit with tampering charges after signing Jalen Brunson first appeared on harchi90.</p>

Chris Broussard made a controversial claim as to why Kevin Durant would not want to play for the Toronto Raptors.

Speaking on FS1 on Monday, Broussard explained that he believed race would play a role.

“I don’t think KD will want to go to Toronto,” Broussard said. “I’ve visited there many times, covering the league. great city. But, it’s not America. And you feel it when you’re there. I’m telling you, especially as an African-American. It’s a different situation than African-Americans are used to being in. I’ve talked to people in that organization pre [GM Masai] Ujiri about, can they keep African-American superstars there?”

Durant asked for a trade from the Nets last week, and the Raptors have been one of the teams rumored to have a plausibly competitive trade package for the superstar.

In the TV segment, Broussard proceeded to say that Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Chris Bosh all left the Raptors.

“I don’t think KD would be happy there, and that would be a problem,” Broussard said. “That’s why, do Masai Ujiri’s credit, he’s made them an international team. The best players they have tend to be the international guys, or guys like DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry who aren’t superstars.”

The reaction, particularly from Canadian media, was sharply negative towards Broussard.

“Tell me you know nothing about Toronto…or KD…or need to badly reach Caribana one time. One of the worst takes,” tweeted Donovan Bennetta host for SportsNet in Canada.

“Toronto … literally named the most diverse city in the world,” tweeted Kel Wrightwho makes content for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who played one season for the Raptors, also spoke out against Broussard.

“Yeaaaa this a stretch… Canadians love you like you grew up there… he’s tripping,” Hollis-Jefferson tweeted.

After the clip went viral, Broussard clarified the remarks.

“I never said Blacks are ‘treated worse in Toronto’ than in America. Never!” Broussard tweeted. “That’s ridiculous. I said living there is different and ‘not the same as living in America for Blacks.’ Very diverse city. But just 8% Black. I love visiting Toronto. Visiting.”

After the tweet, there were people who pointed out that, according to the most recent US Census, Phoenix is ​​7.1 percent black; the Suns were reportedly on the wishlist of teams where Durant would prefer to be sent in a trade from the Nets.

.

<p>The post Chris Broussard has racial reason why Kevin Durant wouldn’t go to Toronto first appeared on harchi90.</p>

]]> https://harchi90.com/chris-broussard-has-racial-reason-why-kevin-durant-wouldnt-go-to-toronto/feed/ 0 5376 https://harchi90.com/nets-dealing-kevin-durant-kyrie-irving-could-drag-out/ https://harchi90.com/nets-dealing-kevin-durant-kyrie-irving-could-drag-out/#respond Tue, 05 Jul 2022 04:14:40 +0000 https://harchi90.com/nets-dealing-kevin-durant-kyrie-irving-could-drag-out/ It was on July 4, 2016 that Kevin Durant upended the NBA and nearly broke the internet by announcing he was leaving Oklahoma City for Golden State. Six years later, Independence Day came and went on Monday with Durant — this time with a demand to be traded from the Nets — again holding the …

Nets’ dealing Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving could drag out Read More »

<p>The post Nets’ dealing Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving could drag out first appeared on harchi90.</p>

]]>

It was on July 4, 2016 that Kevin Durant upended the NBA and nearly broke the internet by announcing he was leaving Oklahoma City for Golden State.

Six years later, Independence Day came and went on Monday with Durant — this time with a demand to be traded from the Nets — again holding the league hostage. And this is a drama that could play out for a while — for weeks, months or even into the season.

This time, unlike the Thunder situation, the Nets hold most, if not all, the cards. With four years left on his contract, and Kyrie Irving having opted in to the last year of his deal, the Nets have leverage and every intention of using it. And league personnel say the Nets have implied if they don’t get what they want, this could well drag on into training camp.

That might be less than ideal. It might also well be posturing because if the Nets can’t get their new Big 3 to actually buy in, it behooves them for teams to believe in their resolve. And nobody can really picture the basketball-obsessed Durant holding out or refusing to play like Ben Simmons did in Philadelphia.

It’s unclear exactly what conversations the Nets have had with Durant and Irving on the topic in recent days. Brooklyn has fielded a host of calls in regard to Durant, but just tepid interest in Irving with the Lakers seemingly the only viable suitor.

Nets general manager Sean Marks and owner Joe Tsai had agreed to work with Durant and business partner Rich Kleiman to try to trade him to one of his preferred landing spots. But in the end, Durant and Irving are expected to be moved where and when it works best for Nets management.

Miami and Phoenix are Durant’s preferred destinations. But the Heat don’t have a ton of tradeable assets, the Suns’ package is unappealing without a three- or four-team deal and Toronto — which most people around the league say has the best package to offer — is reportedly balking at including Scotty Barnes.

Golden State is interested in bringing back Durant, and the stars have talked to their former teammate and would be on board with a reunion. But The Athletic reported the Warriors sacrificing enough pieces to tempt Marks is unlikely.

With tons of offers for Durant, but none they couldn’t refuse and no rush to move him, the Nets are putting out the vibe that they could bring the forward (and maybe even Irving) into camp and see if all parties can make this work. Or if not, all play nice until a world-beating trade proposal is made.

The Lakers are desperate to move Russell Westbrook and his gargantuan $47 million contract for Irving, but are hesitating to include the multiple draft picks the Nets would want for taking on all that money.

Yahoo Sports and The Athletic reported in the past week that the Nets could solve the problem by including Joe Harris in any Irving-Westbrook swap.

How the Nets deal with Harris may be the best indicator of how they plan to proceed. He’s the longest-tenured Net, often consulted by Marks on major decisions.

“I know the Nets absolutely do not want to trade Joe under any scenario,” a league source familiar with Brooklyn’s thinking told The Post. “But there are just thousands of different ways this can play out.”

One is trying to drum up interest in Irving from the likes of Philadelphia or Dallas. Another is including Irving in a multi-team deal. Another is replacing him with Seth Curry in any Irving-Westbrook swap.

But after the Nets re-signed Patty Mills for two years, $14.2 million, and used not only a first-round pick but also a trade exception to bring in 3-and-D type Royce O’Neale, it bears watching what they do with Harris. Keeping him could indicate a retooling on the fly to try to stay competitive. Dumping him signals a tear-it-down-to-the-studs rebuild.

.

<p>The post Nets’ dealing Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving could drag out first appeared on harchi90.</p>

]]> https://harchi90.com/nets-dealing-kevin-durant-kyrie-irving-could-drag-out/feed/ 0 4684 https://harchi90.com/kevin-durants-trade-demand-brings-nba-free-agency-to-heck/ https://harchi90.com/kevin-durants-trade-demand-brings-nba-free-agency-to-heck/#respond Sun, 03 Jul 2022 12:03:44 +0000 https://harchi90.com/kevin-durants-trade-demand-brings-nba-free-agency-to-heck/ First, Kevin Durant’s trade demand turned the entire NBA world upside down. Now, it has put the league on hold. With more than half of NBA teams contacting the Nets with trade packages, the normal free-agency frenzy has been slowed to a crawl. As Nets general manager Sean Marks and owner Joe Tsai sift through …

Kevin Durant’s trade demand brings NBA free agency to heck Read More »

<p>The post Kevin Durant’s trade demand brings NBA free agency to heck first appeared on harchi90.</p>

]]>

First, Kevin Durant’s trade demand turned the entire NBA world upside down. Now, it has put the league on hold.

With more than half of NBA teams contacting the Nets with trade packages, the normal free-agency frenzy has been slowed to a crawl. As Nets general manager Sean Marks and owner Joe Tsai sift through all those offers for the foundation of their upcoming rebuilding process — and fans have started to eye names such as Donovan Mitchell — the league is essentially in a holding pattern.

After three years of acquiescence to the wishes of Durant, and even more so of Kyrie Irving, the Nets finally held firm. They did not give Irving a full max extension, and Durant was reportedly not pleased when director of player development Adam Harrington — with whom Durant has been tight since their days together in Oklahoma City — was let go.

Still, Durant was adamant he was committed to the Nets, right up until the end.

“The ones who were locked in that gym with me know what it is, they know what I’m about,” Durant tweeted Saturday. “If u haven’t been in there with me, ask around”

Sports Illustrated’s Robin Lundberg, in a reply on Twitter to Durant, who had maintained silence since Thursday, when his trade demand rocked the franchise, wrote: “This is vague and doesn’t address anything directly. We all know you are an awesome basketball player.”

Durant, who has never seen a Twitter beef he could resist, replied, “What u want addressed?”

Lundberg rattled off a number of queries: “Do you really want a trade from the Nets? If so, why? Was Kyrie a deal breaker for you? If you do want a trade, do you expect to pick your destination? Thanks!”

Durant simply answered, “Keep dreaming robin lmao” with no further explanation.

But the fact is, Durant’s trade demand is no laughing matter for the Nets. While the four years left on his deal ensures the Nets will get a hefty return, the team’s era as a title contender is over with Durant’s departure.

While Durant has reportedly stated a preference to be traded to Miami or Phoenix, it’s difficult to picture the Heat putting together the best offer by themselves without the ability or inclination to include Bam Adebayo. Marks is expected to pick the package that’s best for the Nets, not the locale that’s best for Durant.

The Nets will work with Durant and business partner Rich Kleiman more than with Irving, but they seem disinclined to be held hostage by them.

While the Suns and 76ers are believed to have made solid offers, the Raptors and Pelicans might be able to put together the cleanest packages without the need of a third or fourth team in the deal.

Both teams control their first-round draft picks seven years out. The Raptors could be able to build an trade around Scottie Barnes, while the Pelicans could offer Brandon Ingram. They also have Zion Williamson, but once he inks the designated rookie extension that he agreed to on Saturday (per ESPN), he can’t be traded to the Nets as long as Ben Simmons is on the roster.

Among the other stars that fit that category are Mitchell, Adebayo, Karl-Anthony Towns, Michael Porter Jr., Jayson Tatum and Darius Garland (presuming he signs his agreement).

The Athletic reported the Nets responded to interest from the Timberwolves by asking for Towns or Anthony Edwards, which implies they might be open to the idea of ​​moving Simmons. If that’s the case, it would open the door for the Jazz’s Mitchell as well.

Mitchell is a 25-year-old New Yorker long coveted by the Knicks. He played his AAU ball for both The City and Riverside Hawks, and grew up around the Mets ‘clubhouse because his namesake father was the team’s longtime director of player relations. Mitchell has been ubiquitous at Citi Field in recent weeks, including Saturday.

Marks and Tsai won’t rush the process. The Durant trade is their only shot to turbocharge the arduous rebuilding ahead. But with all the league GMs set to descend on Las Vegas for summer league after the July 4 weekend (Durant announced his move from the Thunder to the Warriors on July 4, 2016), the market could get unfrozen soon.

The Nets rescended the qualifying offer on Kessler Edwards, according to Hoopshype. Edwards becomes a restricted free agent, but the Nets have his non-Bird rights are still talking to the 21-year-old forward.

.

<p>The post Kevin Durant’s trade demand brings NBA free agency to heck first appeared on harchi90.</p>

]]> https://harchi90.com/kevin-durants-trade-demand-brings-nba-free-agency-to-heck/feed/ 0 3068 https://harchi90.com/kevin-durant-makes-first-comments-since-nets-trade-request/ https://harchi90.com/kevin-durant-makes-first-comments-since-nets-trade-request/#respond Sat, 02 Jul 2022 14:57:46 +0000 https://harchi90.com/kevin-durant-makes-first-comments-since-nets-trade-request/ Kevin Durant has spoken for the first time since requesting a trade from the Nets. What he was trying to say, though, only raises more questions. “The ones who were locked in that gym with me know what it is, they know what I’m about,” Durant tweeted on Saturday morning. “If u haven’t been in …

Kevin Durant makes first comments since Nets trade request Read More »

<p>The post Kevin Durant makes first comments since Nets trade request first appeared on harchi90.</p>

]]>

Kevin Durant has spoken for the first time since requesting a trade from the Nets. What he was trying to say, though, only raises more questions.

“The ones who were locked in that gym with me know what it is, they know what I’m about,” Durant tweeted on Saturday morning. “If u haven’t been in there with me, ask around.”

The 33-year-old superstar seems to be hitting back at the widespread criticism he has faced since calling Brooklyn ownership and telling them he wants out. That bombshell came as NBA free agency was about to open on Thursday and three years to the day after the former MVP and two-time NBA champion joined Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan on the Nets. But the Super Team never was, with Durant and Irving playing just 44 regular-season games together and accounting for one playoff series victory.

What Durant meant by his tweet, though, is perplexing.

Few have questioned the 12-time All-Star’s efforts or work ethics during his short time in Brooklyn. He played hard, delivered and showed up to work, which was more than could be said at times for Irving, whose refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine left him watching from the sidelines until New York City’s mandate was eventually dropped.

As The Post’s Ian O’Connor noted, Durant’s fadeaway jumper with one second left in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks was one of the most clutch shots in New York basketball history.

The ones who were locked in that gym with me know what it is, they know what I’m about. If u haven’t been in there with me, ask around

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) July 2, 2022

If anything, it is his decision making that has come under fire, first for bolting from the Warriors and Steph Curry, who just won his fourth NBA title in six years, and then in his joining Irving. And now Durant, who won a pair of championships with the Warriors before coming to Brooklyn, has changed course again.

Where he’ll land remains to be seen, though the Nets will rake in a huge haul in return for arguably the game’s best player.

For now, Durant is making it clear what he’s all about it, which appears to be his basketball ethos. But that was never in question.

.

<p>The post Kevin Durant makes first comments since Nets trade request first appeared on harchi90.</p>

]]> https://harchi90.com/kevin-durant-makes-first-comments-since-nets-trade-request/feed/ 0 2256