The Nets have been transferring ahead with their roster after buying and selling Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks, however Kevin Durant had different plans.
Within the aftermath of Irving’s transfer to the Western Convention, the Nets initially knowledgeable groups that they weren’t planning on buying and selling Durant earlier than Thursday’s NBA commerce deadline at 3 p.m. ET.
However, issues shortly modified when Brooklyn traded Durant to the Suns for a haul of first-round draft picks in a shock blockbuster within the early hours of Thursday morning. It was apparently a fast-tracked deal that Durant wished finished.
“I can inform you that on Sunday after they traded Kyrie Irving they [the Nets] didn’t suppose they’d be buying and selling Kevin Durant right now,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst mentioned Thursday on SportsCenter. “As a result of the Kyrie Irving commerce was set as much as assist gamers round Kevin Durant after which Kevin Durant didn’t assist it — and really clearly on Monday and Tuesday, he made it clear that he wished to maneuver on and so they have been going through a state of affairs the place they have been in a rush job.”
On Sunday, Brooklyn traded Irving and veteran ahead Markieff Morris to the Mavericks in return for guard Spencer Dinwiddie, ahead Dorian Finney-Smith, an unprotected 2029 first-round choice, and 2027 and 2029 second-rounders.
It’s unclear what went on behind the scenes, although, Durant was both sad that his shut good friend was shipped off, dissatisfied with Brooklyn’s restructured rotation — or each. To not point out, Durant performed a component in getting Irving to Brooklyn in 2019.
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On Thursday morning, the Suns acquired Durant and Nets veteran ahead T.J. Warren in change for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, 4 first-round draft picks, and a 2028 choose swap. The Nets will obtain unprotected alternatives in 2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029.
Windhorst mentioned he expects the Nets to make extra strikes forward of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline. Brooklyn can also be anticipated to discover commerce situations for Crowder earlier than the deadline, in accordance with ESPN.
Durant signed a four-year, $198 million extension with the Nets in the summertime of 2021, after which requested a commerce in June 2022 — solely to recommit to the franchise in August. The Suns have been a workforce on the high of Durant’s listing earlier than he rescinded his commerce request.
On the time, Nets basic supervisor Sean Marks mentioned in an announcement: “[Former head coach] Steve Nash and I, along with [owners] Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai, met with Kevin Durant and [his manager and business partner] Wealthy Kleiman in Los Angeles yesterday. We have now agreed to maneuver ahead with our partnership.”
It’s been a whirlwind season up to now for Durant. Again in Brooklyn, he handled the aftermath of Irving’s November social media put up that referenced an anti-semitic movie, across the similar time the Nets fired Nash.
The 34-year-old Durant has been out with a proper MCL sprain he sustained in early January. Nets coach Jacque Vaughn mentioned Tuesday that Durant received a “actually good report” in his checkup with the physician, however nonetheless hasn’t been cleared for contact.
When requested if Durant can be dominated out by the All-Star break, Vaughn mentioned, “I gained’t step over that line… however the days are including up.”
Final month, Durant was named an All-Star for the thirteenth time in his profession and an All-Star Sport starter for the eleventh time.
