The Warriors are among the teams with interest in Nets superstar Kevin Durant, sources tell ESPN’s Marc J. Spears (Twitter link). As Spears notes, more than half the teams in the league are said to be interested in Durant, so it comes as no surprise that Golden State is among them.
Still, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about the idea of the Warriors emerging as a legitimate suitor for Durant. Appearing on ESPN Radio (Twitter audio link) Spears proposed a package that would include Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, and James Wiseman, but the Nets wouldn’t be permitted to acquire Wiggins without trading Ben Simmons, and there has been no indication they intend to move Simmons, especially given that they’d have to sell him for pennies on the dollar at this point.
Without Wiggins included, either Klay Thompson or Draymond Green would be required for salary-matching purposes, and it’s difficult to envision the Warriors breaking up their long-term championship core to reunite with Durant, who chose to leave the organization as a free agent three years ago. Earlier this week, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report cited sources with knowledge of the situation who indicated Golden State is the only team that is not “a tangible option” for Durant.
As we wait for further developments on the Durant front, we also have a few notes to pass along on him and his Nets teammate – and fellow trade candidate – Kyrie Irving:
- League personnel who spoke to Brian Lewis of The New York Post said that the Nets are “adamant” about getting All-Star caliber talent back in any Durant deal, and aren’t in any rush to make a move. League sources tell Lewis that nothing is close to getting done at this point.
- Appearing on The Rally on Bally Sports (Twitter video link) on Saturday, Shams Charania of The Athletic suggested the Sixers are among the teams to watch for Irving. It’s very hard to imagine Philadelphia making a serious play for Kyrie — it would require either parting with James Harden or moving Tobias Harris in order to reunite Irving with Harden, whose trade request out of Brooklyn was said to be motivated in part by Kyrie’s vaccination decision.
- For what it’s worth, Nick Wright of FS1 (Twitter link) reports that there “no appetite” for Irving in Philadelphia and the Sixers haven’t engaged in any trade talks for him. According to Lewis, the 76ers are keeping an eye on Irving and have briefly spoke to the Nets, but he hears from a source that “nothing happened there.”
- Charania also identified the Mavericks as a possible suitor for Irving, but Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News is unconvinced of that, writing that Kyrie is “the acquisition of a desperate team.” Towsend doesn’t believe Dallas is that desperate.
- The Lakers remain the most likely trade partner for Irving. According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter video link), there has been some optimism from the Lakers’ side that they’re gaining momentum toward making a deal with the Nets.
- In his latest Substack article, Marc Stein says he believes Irving is destined to end up with the Lakers. As Stein writes, he has heard “repeated rumbles” that LeBron James is pushing for the team to acquire Irving, and it’s “impossible to ignore the growing expectation leaguewide” that Kyrie will land in L.A..
Warriors got KD on the 4th of July the first time…lets see what tomorrow brings….
That trade package is hilariously massive. Real life probably only Wiggins, Wiseman and many picks go from GSW, but as mentioned, this would need to be one of those huge complicated multi-team trades, where Ben Simmons goes somewhere else and the Nets get players from other teams too.
Those trades DO happen though…
Wouldn’t that be frickin crazy!
An expiring, inj prone C, and some picks in the 20’s for KD …..NO
Did you not read the next line? Literally says “the Nets get players from other teams”, but you chose to ignore that – why? Also doesn’t say the Nets get those exact players, as its a multi-teamer. Also “injury prone”? Weren’t you wrong about that with Embiid too?
Explain yourself or apologize for this awful reply.
Bro, chill the duck out
Warriors are not getting KD. Nets want way too much and he is not worth blowing up the future for. Just a sport writer creating click bait.
Lol at you suggesting just Wiggins and Wiseman for KD, like the Nets would go for that when half the league is making offers.
LOL at you not being able to read. By the way, we all know you can read, so stop gaslighting too, its corny. That’s not what I said and you know it.
Here then, how about this: no way the Warriors only send out Wiggins, Wiseman, and picks even if a third team is involved.
you’re not getting KD for only Wiggins and Wiseman… the Nets would essentially be trading KD and Simmons for Wiggins and Wiseman with some picks… not at all equal. Poole and Kuminga
would most likely have to be included
I can think of no reason why GSW would trade Wiggins for KD.
Warriors aren’t trading for Durant. They are loved league wide as a redemption story. Adding Durant would ruin that good will.
As a Warriors fan, this is utter nonsense, GSW/Curry get hated harder than anyone. No matter what they do their success will get talked down. If they don’t get KD they will be hated and lied about. If they do get him, same thing.
@Asfan
Dude relax. Every dynasty level team gets hated on. it’s actually a compliment. The GSW are in the same category as the Yanks, Cowboys, Bulls, etc. Nobody is lying on them. You mostly just disagree.
No most people hated the Celtics this time around.
At least in our neck of the woods lol. I detest the Celtics, their fans are even more unbearable than cowboy fans.
What redemption?— it’s an elite group that semi-rested a few years.
bless you x%sure with almost always the most measured thoughtful comments round here
GSW could theoretically beat any offer but I don’t see it
Pelicans most realistic /easiest to accomplish heads up
Toronto; Def capable but probably needs a 3rd team
Atl – Able, yet long shot
It take a Simmons trade prior to get MIA/PHX doable IMo
I wonder if they could get Barnes Mitchell and 2 firsts from Sac still today for BS …that ship might have past and it might be too low to sell on for Brk anyways …but if it gets you Booker or Bam from Durant it’s something you might have to think on
I keep going back to Marks words prior to Durant request- “They want players that work hard and want to be there ” I bet their calling around on Simmons today just to see at min
Warriors are not getting KD for the fact he doesn’t want to play with Curry. He wants to have his own team lead not be Curry’s sidekick. That is why he left in the first place.
I can’t help but think the Simmons thing was the breaking point with KD – which makes me think that’s it’s probably common knowledge around the league that BS is broken.
It’s possible KD is just *that* petty about Kyrie not getting a max extension, but it just seems like a lot to leave to chance to request a trade out of BK to, what, end up in Phoenix? Toronto?
Does a 38 year old CP and Booker, or Van Vleet and Siakam, really give KD a better shot at a ring than Kyrie and Ben? I’d say probably not … unless KD knows Simmons to be a sunk cost, which leaves him with just Irving Curry and Harris whatever vet min guys they can scrap together.
Funny how we don’t really know if Durant is now repelled by Irving’s presence… or Simmons’… or Marks’… or what. I don’t think Durant has made a statement. It’s just a, *Word is he wants out* and the league goes nuts.
Warriors have all the requirements
All star starter: Wiggins
Rising star: Poole
Draft picks
Swaps
Suns and Heat don’t want to offer young all stars and rising stars
As noted above, that trade is illegal unless Simmons is dumped first, and no one is trading for him.
They are missing the most important requirement (wanting to trade for KD).
So for the dumb kids in the room..or just me, why exactly can’t Wiggins be dealt to BKN if Simmons is there?
@Many
Andrew Wiggins and Ben Simmons are both signed to “designated rookie extensions “. These are the contracts they’ve signed after their rookie contracts. The NBA rules say no team can have more than 2 players under the “DR contract”. However, they can only have 1 if they were acquired via trade. The “DR” or designated rookie extension was given tho Wiggins when with Minnesota and Simmons from Philly. Being that the Nets traded for Simmons they aren’t allowed to acquire another player like Wiggins while Simmons is still on the roster. So any trade involving a player under a DSR contract has to be proceeded by or involving Simmons too.
Simmons and Wiggins are two of about 15 players league-wide who are on a certain type of contact (max extension of rookie contract). By league rule, no team can trade for more than one such player. Why, I don’t know.
Yes, so the trade will have to basically be everyone not nailed down on the Nets, including both Simmons and KD, in a 4 teamer with Golden State being one of the teams.
Because of the Designated Rookie Extension rule, you cannot have 2 players acquired via a trade that were signed to that type of extension.
Thanks for the ‘splainin everyone. I made a comment a day or 2 ago that I don’t understand like 95% of nba contract/salary rules..I think I was a bit low.
You’re still ahead of me…
link to hoopsrumors.com
This trade works
Raptors get Wiggins and Poole
Nets get OG, Gary Trent, Moody, draft picks
Warriors get Durant
Nets tax saving going forward
Warriors tax saving going forward
Masai says nah. Raps would give up OG, Trent, picks if they got Durant for sure. Not for Wiggs and Poole though.
Warriors get: Durant
Nets get: Wiggins, Poole, Kuminga, Wiseman, Fultz, and Isaac.
Magic get: Simmons
I kind of like this framework tbh, maybe not with the Magic being the third team. I don’t see GSW moving any more than 1 of Wiseman/Poole/Moody/Kuminga.
Lol.
Finding a 3rd team for Wiggins would be easier this time around. He increased his value this year.
There’s a lot of teams that could offer for either, and in Durant’s case they have, but they have to want to.
So it’s about the mindset of each FO, more than about assets available.
Right now Durant’s price is at a high point. In time teams will get ready for season with what they have.
I might wish the Cavs would see Irving as able to “keep the seat warm” for Rubio, (at least if no Sexton). If nothing else, it would lessen the shock of James with Irving in LA. Hard to get over that.
I don’t mind James’ Miami trip, it’s what youngsters do, they leave & come back maybe. But that new Laker team would be a big F**K-OFF.
@x%sure
Kyrie is my favorite player but I’d want nothing of him on the Cavs. If ppl are worried about DG and Sexton not meshing (which I think is bull) then DG and Kyrie would be worse. But there would be no place holding for Rubio. Kyrie would be the next player on the team. If he turns out to make them a playoff team then there’s no justifiable way to trade him because Rubio is back. Also, what’s the cost to acquire him? What do you lose in terms of growth and chemistry to the youngsters? When he leaves he leaves us with nothing in turn. Nightmare situation. Hard pass, no matter how great he is. And for the record, dude has been humbled, at least temporarily. If healthy this upcoming season will be his absolute best
The cost to acquire him seems to be zero, indeed, Cavs could expect value for sending KLove.
At the end he leaves. Indeed he could leave by March, or whenever Rubio returns. I doubt he’d mind. No need to trade him, but that is possible.
Garland has a similar game and would learn somrthing from him. He did from Rondo, and he’s no angel. Irving’s not a scary monster— funny you should say he’s a favorite. Theyre all adults,or should be, and lived through KLove’s displays fine.
If they sign Sexton, the need for him diminishes, but no word on that front.
I think this is what you’re worried about, somehow vocationally, that getting Irving would mean bye Sexton. That may happen anyway.
Acually an S&T with BRK means not replacing KLove, which is good bc their roster parts don’t look like good swaps.
@x%sure
Naaah. I love Kyrie as a player but he comes with too much baggage and while this team could use a veteran star he’s no leader. I’m also thinking long term. No need to invite dreams on to this team. Right now I want to see what a lineup of DG/Sex/Agbali/Mark/Mob/JT w/ Love, Rubio, Okoro off the bench can do. Irving will likely cost one of the kids. He likely won’t be enthused of coming back to CLE instead of LA. Will he demand a move at the trade deadline? Is it all worth it? Rather just avoid him altogether.
From a dollars stand point, Works especially for Warriors, don’t have to extend Poole & Wiggins in the future. With KD they would be in the race every year, but that core is going to age, need the kids for depth. Need to keep Kuminga, Wiseman for bigger teams in playoffs… Nets are not getting a star…. Not enough for the Nets….
Nets cannot take Wiggins per CBA.
GSW drafted the team they wanted, I cannot see GSW surrendering them.
Warriors breaking championship team for KD? That would be very bizarre to say the least, and risky. Raptors should make a run at him for the chance to win again. Repeat finals with these warriors and Raps w.KD would be pretty dope
Cba rules, I think it’s something along the lines of two max rookie contracts can’t be on the same team coming from a trade. So you would have to trade Wiggins first. Not sure if you could trade Wiggins for Simmons under this rule. Also not exactly sure how or why that works out that way. But I believe Wiggins has been in the league since 2014, so did he play out his first 3 years then get extended to 5? It makes sense for most players on that list except him, to think he is still on a designated rookie extension is crazy.i guess this is why he was said to have one of the worst contracts in NBA. this rule only applies to 5 year extensions though not 4.
I’d love to see the Kyrie/Westbrook trade go down and KD changing his mind and staying with the Nets.
Wiggins can go to a third team to make it work. I wouldn’t even want Poole ….
Wiseman, Kuminga, three #1 picks.
Plus Wiggins to a third team Raptors.
Nets get OG Anunoby, Achiuwa plus a #1 pick. Good haul for Nets. ……. I do it.
Imo Pelicans, Suns, Warriors can put together best package for Nets. All three can do it.
I don’t fully buy a GSW-KD reunion.
Tempting, from GSW’s standpoint. First, they know he can play with their other stars. Second, it’s a good way to avoid paying big $$ extensions to Wiggins and Poole. But those 2 plus their remaining tradable 1st’s won’t get it done. Are they going to include their RSC guys, Wiseman, Kuminga and Moody-? FWIW, I wouldn’t.
From KD’s standpoint, I would think it would be a non-starter. Technically, he has no choice, but I doubt GSW will want him back if he’s not enthusiastic about it. Maybe if they lost the finals, although even then, hearing him and his people, he wasn’t happy there.
I do wonder if – behind closed doors when everyone else has gone home for the day – if the GSW FO would consider dealing Draymond in a potential KD deal.
Wiggins and Looney are both younger and cheaper, showed a lot this postseason, and, most importantly, have less history yelling at KD in the 4th quarter of games in a very attention-getting way.
In terms of Kuminga and Moody and Poole, that’s a tough call, but does the GSW brain-trust *really* believe a second dynasty is in waiting in the wings with those three?
Ultimately though, I agree that it’s very hard to imagine Durant wanting to go back to the Bay. But the NBA offseason is more and more like the WWE each summer, so I wouldn’t be shocked if it happened.
From GSW viewpoint, I think the most seductive thing about KD (beyond him being a guy who can legitimately be called the game’s best player) is that he’s signed for 4 years – about the maximum time the window for the current core group figures to remain open, and there’s no issue that he and they can play together, at least on the court. To trade DG in the deal would sort of go against that. But I have zero doubt that they’d never let DG hold up a KD deal if they were otherwise inclined to do it.
I don’t think they necessarily think they have a second dynasty in the waiting. But I think with lottery chances unlikely over the next few years, they want to be sure about the RSC guys before moving them. Not talking about Wiggins or Poole, they’re being paid or about to be paid. They’d move either or both of those two guys for a true max player (cheaper and better than two quasi-max players) in a heartbeat.
Kupcake Diva would be asking to be traded from GS on day 1.
No. Not happening. Marc Spears clickbait garbage.
Gary, its not even clickbait. You or I could have written the same garbage. I’m very disappointed in Spears…he’s better than this. There is ZERO interest in Durant. If gsw had not won then maybe, but they won. Why destroy the future? They’ve proven their own plan.
Yes if anything, “on paper” he’s a year late with this. But the Warriors won WITH the young guys. They didn’t need to trade all the young guys for a veteran stud as some people proposed (me included.)
So now that they’ve won, while at the same time building for the next 5 years, why would they tear that down? Makes zero sense. You’re spot on again Claude, as usual.
Poole is the only one that truly played a role in this year’s chip tho. Next year you just have to think they’ll be a deeper team. Losing Porter doesn’t help. They got Donte but they need some length on the roster.
Yes you’re right. They’ll miss the guys that are leaving for sure.
I think what Claude and I were also saying was that the Warriors core won a championship without bringing in a stud veteran. So they don’t need Durant to come in to win, and they can groom the young guys to hopefully be something when the core fades out.
KD is L O S E R !
Will no longer be his fan… he’s a selfish irresponsible prima donna quitter and doesnt deserve to play for Warriors.
The off season doesn’t officially begin until we get our first ridiculous trade suggestion of Wiggins/Wiseman for some superstar. I thought winning the title might subside it this year, but of course not.
That was me being ridiculous last year crying for that. Warriors didn’t listen and it worked out anyway lol. Not sure why Mark Spears is proclaiming this as a legitimate idea because I tell you what, there’s no way golden state is instigating this conversation.
That and the real fan knows this is just clickbait.
But I guess the news is out there and some of the players are saying they wouldn’t be against it, but it ain’t happening.., it’s just trade rumors news flash from a guy who doesn’t even cover the Warriors. He’s just an NBA guy.
The Warrior FO could be instigating this as a way to drive the price up for Phx or whoever. The more the the team that Durant goes to is weakened, the better for everybody, especially GS.
I wish they would trade Kyrie to the Raptors for a meal from Tim Horton’s and a bunch of hockey cards. Since Kyrie would be unable to enter Canada, the Nets would actually get the better end of that deal.
@hiflew
Can we make it another Eric Lindros opeechee premier? can never have enough of those. need another 10 for my brick of 100.
Realisticly the perfect trade would be Durant for Jarret Allen, Collin Sexton, Kevin Love for salary matching, Evan Mobley, and picks. I dont see the Cavs giving all that up for Durant though
@Lfg
That’s it? 3 young stars and some soon to be lottery picks? Would you like some fries with that?? Maybe a liter of Archie Manning quarterback making batter too? I don’t think any team would give up that much for Durant. They wouldn’t be a playoff team with essentially Garland and Durant.
I personally dont think Phoenix would give up what it would take for KD, just b/c it leaves them with very little remaining, and not much opportunity to fill out the roster with the remaining few in FA
Does anyone see Phoenix being willing to do Bridges, Cam Johnson, Crowder/Craig, Saric and picks/swaps? They would be left with CP3, KD, Okogie, and probably Craig, but then is there enough depth to add around that in FA? There are a handful of pieces, but you would have to make all the right decisions, and also hope those guys dont get signed before that
With that being said, I see Toronto, New Orleans, GS, the Heat, and lowkey OKC or the Spurs as the likeliest teams with the best offers that could benefit from making a move at this point late in the FA process
I dont think Torpnto should or would give up Scottie Barnes or OG Anunoby. The whole point would be to pair KD with those guys, but I still think they have enough to get a deal done without those guys
New Orleans has a lot of depth defensively at certain positions, and can therefore make a strong offer
GS cant move Wiggins b/c of the rookie scale issue, but even though I still think other teams wouldnt want to facilitate a KD trade, if they arent getting him themselves, they would do so if they get a good deal for themselves, so that is a possibility, but I also would consider a deal around Klay/Poole+their young guys, plus whatever picks they have, and that would still be a strong offer/potentially even the strongest offer
Then there is the Heat, who dont have as strong of a potential package as those teams, but can still offer something comparable, and very strong, and still have enough where if they were to trade for him, can field a really, really good team by offering Lowry, Herro, Strus, Jovic 3 picks and swaps
All of that being said, I still will continue to say if I’m the Nets, I’m still not even trading him b/c if my coach doesnt screw it up again, and the roster stays healthy, my team might just be as good, if not better than those same other teams would be, and I have him for 4 years. If 1 of those teams presents offers like I mentioned, including versions of that from Toronto and New Orleans, and also GS, then I consider it b/c I can still put together a strong team and replenish assets, but I’m not forcing anything
Never realized how soft Harden was
Looks like Nets are screwed BC of HOF Simmons again. So W&S no need to pay attention to every rumor…GSW fans hang to the young bridge culture, Cavs gave too much picks for Levert to get involve in this deal but KD fit would have been cool.
Who knows ???
Luke, is it all possible for them to acquire Wiggins if they either extend him or Ben then that way they aren’t actually on the rookie max extension.
In which case if I’m GSW I’d offer away Wiggins, Moody, Wiseman and 2 first round pucks.
Try keep Poole and instead offer Moody.
A core of Simmons Moody/Thomas Wiggins and Wiseman would be a nice start to a rebuild. 2 all star level talents, 2 high potential SG’s and a young centre which has had injury issues but was a former number 2 overall pick. Not to mention picks aswell.
No, the designated rookie extension rule applies to any player on such a deal in a “current or future” cap year. So until Wiggins’ contract expires (next summer), it will apply to him. Same deal with other guys who have already signed extensions but who are still on their DREs for now (Embiid’s the only one for now, but Booker and Towns are about to join him).
Durant drama no wanted. Keep the team together. Durant is amazing but our depth suffered. Holding onto a bunch of kids seems moot when you have a chance to with… but to that i say…. we just did
Absurd as they might be, I think what rumors like this are highlighting is that there’s really a lack of a no-brainer team for KD to go to here.
The assets that a team has to give up to get Durant is going to leave the cupboard bare, which means the top-level talent needs to be … almost Durant-level for it to work.
Curry is that level. Is Booker? Eh. Butler probably is *when healthy*, but there’s the issue of actually getting Bam to Brooklyn.
Which is why the Zion/Scotty Barnes scenarios have juice, because NO and TOR theoretically could leave their rosters in tact and Brooklyn could still get an out-sized (no pun intended) return.
BKN wants you to gut your present team and your future. No one can do that and remain competitive. All of the “reasonable” trade suggestions appear to be of that sort.
KD will be playing in BKN in 2022-23.