clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

All quiet of Kevin Durant trade front ... for now

By Net Income
/ new

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

NBA: JAN 12 Nets at Bulls Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The now famous — or infamous — leak about Boston’s entry in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes hasn’t quite picked up steam, particularly with more than one NBA writer suggesting the Celtics interest is weeks old and that the Nets are not particularly active.

Indeed, Zach Lowe said on his Lowe Post podcast that he believes the talks took place “around July 16.”

On Tuesday night, in New York, there was an opportunity for Durant to talk about Boston and other possible landing spots, but he decided not take questions at the premiere of “NYC Point Gods,” his documentary on the city’s long history of point guard excellence.

Others did talk...

Tatum, of course, has been Jaylen Brown’s teammate for four years now and presumably, he would have some say in the matter. He was careful not to take any position, other than skepticism.

“I just play basketball,” Tatum said. “That’s not my decision. I love our team. I love the guys that we’ve got. I don’t know if that report is true or not . . . I don’t believe everything I see on TV.”

He also noted that he’s seen stories about him that haven’t been accurate.

And as Newsday reported, Rich Kleiman, Durant’s business manager, said he could not talk about Durant’s situation.

The motivation for whoever leaked the report to Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania remains murky but Jared Weiss of The Athletic suggested it came from the Nets who want to reinvigorate the market to avoid a showdown with KD when training camp opens.

In the aftermath of Charania’s report, several league sources who spoke with The Athletic believe the Nets are looking to drive the market and avoid the kerfuffle of Durant no-showing for training camp.

Weiss also suggested that a trade centered on Brown for Durant probably has the best chance of succeeding in that Brown is the best player mentioned in any of the Durant trade rumors.

Toronto has thus far kept Scottie Barnes out of a Durant deal, just as the Celtics are making Jayson Tatum untouchable. The Raptors could offer some combination of Pascal Siakam, Gary Trent, Jr., and OG Anunoby, and Brooklyn may want to get all of them with plenty of draft capital as well. There’s a remote chance Miami could make a Bam Adebayo package work that would make dumping Ben Simmons worthwhile for Brooklyn, since the two cannot be on the same team due to a rule prohibiting teams from trading for multiple players on maximum rookie-contract extensions. New Orleans lurks with Brandon Ingram and a draft pick stockpile.

Indeed, there have been reports out of Miami and Golden State that those teams are happy with their rosters, although things can change.

Meanwhile, there appears to be less and less reason to believe that the Nets and their unhappy superstar will “run it back.” Watch this space.

More From NetsDaily

Loading comments...