Kevin Durant requests trade from Brooklyn Nets: Sources

Kevin Durant requests trade from Brooklyn Nets: Sources
By Shams Charania, Sam Amick, Alex Schiffer and more
Jun 30, 2022

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant has requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell The Athletic.

The 33-year-old forward, who just completed his third year with the Nets, is under contract through the 2025-26 season after signing a four-year, $198 million extension in 2021. The former league MVP (2014) averaged 29.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game last season.

Durant's request comes hours before the start of free agency and three days after teammate Kyrie Irving opted into his player option for the 2022-23 season. Durant was monitoring the organization's situation prior to Irving's opt-in, sources previously said.

The Nets are expected to keep Ben Simmons, a source close to the situation said. The 25-year-old, who was acquired at the trade deadline for James Harden, has yet to appear in a game for Brooklyn, but will likely still be part of future plans.

(Photo: Brad Penner / USA Today)

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What will Brooklyn be looking for in a trade?

Alex Schiffer, Nets beat writer: The biggest return possible. If I'm Sean Marks, I am going eBay style on this. The highest bidder gets Durant. I would try to get the best player 21 years or younger and a bounty of young talent and/or draft picks. We have never seen a trade for a player like this.

An NBA scout told me, "Start at the Anthony Davis trade and go from there." That was three young players including Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram. Both of those guys turned out pretty decent, and Josh Hart has become a solid role player. The Nets can do better than that.

What are some likely landing spots for Durant?

Sam Amick, senior NBA writer: In terms of Durant's desires, Miami and Phoenix have been widely mentioned early on here as places where he'd like to go.

As we discussed in depth in this roundtable piece, the Suns' situation is very amenable to a possible deal. As for the Heat, the key question is whether or not Jimmy Butler would be in those possible talks.

But the truth is that the Nets don't have to send Durant where he wants to go, and the vast majority of the league will be doing everything it can to land this player who is one of the best to ever do it.

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