Kevin Durant’s boundless love for basketball isn’t a cause to imagine he’ll present up for coaching camp if the Nets don’t acknowledge his commerce request.
That has been the prevailing perception — that Durant, a 12-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP, is above the thought of holding out of camp as a result of he’s a grasp of his craft and a lover of the sport. A supply, nonetheless, pushed again on the concept Durant will present as much as coaching camp in September if his request goes unfulfilled.
Durant first made a commerce request on to Nets proprietor Joe Tsai on June 30, however after greater than a month handed by with a number of gives made and none accepted, Durant and Tsai met a second time, this time in London, over the weekend.
Durant doubled down on his request and instructed Tsai he has misplaced religion within the path of the group and that Tsai should select between the famous person ahead and the pair of normal supervisor Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash, in keeping with The Athletic.
Tsai responded to the report with a tweet: “Our front office and coaching staff have my support. We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets.”
The Nets have obtained various gives, together with a package deal from the Boston Celtics that included star ahead Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and a first-round decide, however the asking value has been too steep. For instance, the Nets countered the Celtics and mentioned they need to embody reigning Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, one other rotation participant and extra draft compensation in any deal that features Brown for Durant.
The New Orleans Pelicans stay concerned about a deal for Durant, in keeping with a supply, and might put collectively a compelling package deal round All-Star ahead Brandon Ingram, position gamers like Herbert Jones, Devonte Graham and Jose Alvarado, and the remaining draft compensation they obtained from each the Los Angeles Lakers within the Anthony Davis commerce and the Milwaukee Bucks within the Jrue Holiday commerce.
The Nets asking value in any Durant deal has been steep: an All-Star degree participant, rotation gamers and important draft compensation. The Pelicans, who even have CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson on the roster, are considered one of few groups who might intestine their depth to amass Durant and nonetheless have the infrastructure wanted to compete for a deep playoff run.
It stays unclear whether or not the Nets would transfer on to commerce Kyrie Irving in the event that they strike a deal for Durant. Irving, in keeping with a number of reviews, has made it clear to Nets brass that he desires to remain in Brooklyn even when the staff strikes on from Durant. The Lakers have been the one social gathering in Irving’s providers, in keeping with a number of reviews, and the Nets haven’t been open to buying Russell Westbrook in an Irving deal, which implies they must purchase gamers from a 3rd staff, probably gamers like Myles Turner and Buddy Hield from the Indiana Pacers.
It is unclear whether or not or not the Nets would slightly simply preserve Irving, a famous person expertise on a one-year deal, than commerce him for pennies on the greenback.
And as a lot because the Nets wish to preserve Durant on the roster as he walks into the primary 12 months of a four-year, $198 million max contract extension, they run the danger of taking this charade into coaching camp, the place it’s not a certainty the famous person ahead will present up.
NOT ONE TO CHAT
The Daily News can not verify a report from Fox Sports’ Ric Bucher saying Ben Simmons left a staff group chat after Game 3 of the Nets’ first-round playoff collection towards the Boston Celtics. Bucher mentioned Simmons left the staff group chat after Nets gamers requested him if he would go well with up and make his season debut in an elimination Game 4. Simmons by no means practiced five-on-five after arriving in Brooklyn as a part of the James Harden commerce, damage his again whereas ramping up, wanted an epidural to assist cope with the ache in his decrease again and in the end underwent again surgical procedure this summer season. Simmons, nonetheless, didn’t present as much as Game 4 to help his teammates on the bench.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com