Kevin Durant and the NBA Trade Rumors

Kevin Durant has been the talk of the NBA ever since he requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets in late June. It is reported that Kevin has reached out repeatedly to team president Tsai Tsai and general manager Sean Marks to reiterate his trade request.

He then informed Tsai that either they needed to trade him or fire him, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. As a result, the Nets have now traded Durant to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder as well as four first-round picks and a 2028 pick swap.

Brooklyn

On Thursday morning, the Brooklyn Nets made a major move in NBA trade rumors when they traded superstar Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns. This blockbuster deal will significantly alter the league's power structure and thrust Brooklyn back into rebuild mode.

This year, the Nets have been one of the more intriguing teams to watch. Coming off a 2-6 start that plunged them into an early playoff hole, two stars in Kyrie Irving and Durant both demanded trades last summer; it appeared that Brooklyn would eventually acquire both players but weren't willing to make enough of a deal that satisfied both requests.

According to The Republic, after the Nets traded Irving to Dallas, they began having difficult discussions about their future with KD. That's when the Suns entered into the picture, per The Republic.

If the Nets want to keep Durant in Brooklyn, they need to strike a deal that meets their needs and budget. That means matching Durant's 2022-23 salary of $44.1 million with either a pick swap or something else that will help them match that amount.

They must also upgrade the team's supporting cast around their star player. This is no easy feat, but should be a top priority for the Nets front office this offseason and into the coming seasons.

For the Nets, they would need to acquire a high-quality player who can serve as a starter and contribute significant minutes. A trade involving such an elite player is possible, but it won't be simple.

Teams could potentially be interested in a Durant trade. It could even be a two-way situation, where the Nets contribute with an established star and receive an even better player as compensation.

Though it's possible the Nets may try to strike a deal with Durant in a trade, it appears unlikely they'll be successful before Thursday's deadline. Trade rumors surrounding Durant and the Nets continue to swirl, yet no definitive plans have been made yet.

Los Angeles

Rumors surrounding Kevin durant's potential trade are swirling after the Dallas Mavericks traded Kyrie Irving to Brooklyn. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reports that it looks like he could soon be dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a max contract.

It hasn't been the first time the Nets have attempted to trade Durant, but it has proven increasingly difficult in recent years. After failing to do so last summer, Brooklyn went 5-16 during Durant's first season back after suffering a season-ending injury in 2018.

After much consideration, the Nets decided to make one last attempt at acquiring him before the deadline and were quite successful. They received four first-round picks (including an unprotected 2023 and 2025 pick), as well as a 2028 pick in exchange for the seven-time All-Star forward.

Though not quite the same amount as Brooklyn paid for James Harden two years ago, this trade still represents an improvement over what the Oklahoma City Thunder were giving them in that deal. Although it doesn't have the same long-term potential as that trade did, this gives them more versatility and draft capital this year so they don't need to trade for Durant in the future.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have made some moves of their own to strengthen their roster around LeBron James and increase their chances of qualifying for playoffs. The trades they made last week include D'Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley, who provide better shooting and a defensive-minded player alongside Mo Bamba's energy.

These moves should help the Lakers win a title in the future, yet they haven't done enough yet to be considered an actual contender. That may be why they're now looking to offload some players and free up cap space for next season.

Unfortunately for the Lakers, it appears they may be out of the running to land the best free agent in basketball. With no cap room to offer a max contract, it appears likely they must do something else in order to land one of the biggest names in the sport. While not a bad team overall, they lack both players and space for someone like Kevin Durant to join their ranks.

Boston

Trade rumors have been buzzing around the NBA all season long, but none more so than with regards to a potential deal between Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant. Though these reports were mostly ignored following Boston's historic run to the NBA Finals, they've resumed with just days until the February 9 trade deadline approaching.

One of the most intriguing rumors involves the possibility that the Celtics might trade Jaylen Brown to the Nets in exchange for Durant, which would be an incredible upgrade for their roster. However, this deal could only take place if another member is exchanged with the Nets.

Boston would likely need to trade a player in order to acquire Durant, likely either the Nets' point guard Robert Williams III or veteran guard Marcus Smart. Although that could prove challenging given their strong chemistry with Smart, it isn't impossible.

Though, the Celtics may be unwilling to take that risk. After all, Smart is an integral part of their current roster and could help the team win more games this season.

Conversely, the Nets would need to reduce their expectations in exchange for Durant and be willing to trade more future draft picks. If Boston were willing to accept those terms, Boston could assemble a trade package that incorporates Smart and Brown with enough young players to make it successful.

If the Celtics are unable to close this deal, it may be best to abandon the idea of trading Durant. They could accept far less than what was reportedly offered for Durant last summer, but finding other ways to improve this year's team could prove more fruitful in the long run.

No matter if or not a deal for Durant is finalized this summer, he's certain to be on the market at some point. Teams such as the Wizards, Celtics, Heat, Knicks, Lakers, Clippers, Rockets and Spurs are known to be interested in his services.

New York

Trade speculation has swirled around New York Knicks star Kevin Durant in recent years. Last summer, Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets but the team refused to part with their prize without receiving adequate compensation.

Ultimately, Durant decided to "move forward" with the Nets and has been an integral part of their rebuilding effort. He is one of their top contributors and a beloved player among fans.

He's expected to return to the starting lineup at some point this season after recovering from a sprained MCL ligament. Although he could become a free agent in July, the Nets are striving to build a championship team around him and Kyrie Irving.

If KD opts to trade this summer, there are only a few teams that could provide them with the value they seek. According to reports, the Phoenix Suns were one of those teams he preferred in the summer as they possess plenty of young players, future draft picks and matching salaries that could make a deal work.

The New York Knicks could potentially be the ideal destination for Durant, with plenty of resources to help him blossom in New York. In fact, Knicks president Steve Mills has reportedly held discussions with Durant's representatives in the past about a potential trade.

Last summer, it is believed that the Knicks offered up RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin and a host of draft picks to acquire him in a deal; however, the Nets were reportedly not interested.

Since Kyrie Irving's trade to the Dallas Mavericks, there have been nba trade rumors swirling that KD may leave the Nets in pursuit of a championship. OddsChecker's oddsmakers currently have Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat as being among the favorites to acquire him through a trade.

No one knows if the Knicks would consider trading for Durant, but it's certainly worth asking. They have been stockpiling young players and future draft picks in anticipation of when a major star may become available. Now may be an ideal time to acquire someone who fits perfectly into New York's culture and helps the Knicks win championships soon enough.

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