With the 2022 Las Vegas Summer League in the books and training camps not scheduled to open for more than two months, many NBA executives are preparing to take vacations, which may delay resolution for the league’s top trade candidates, including Nets star Kevin Durant.
“From what I understand, the trade talks involving Kevin Durant have slowed to a trickle,” Brian Windhorst said on Wednesday during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up (video link via Talkin’ NBA). “You can still get some Nets folks on the phone if you want to make an offer, but they are not aggressively, I am told, making outgoing calls.
“The league is about to go on their first significant vacations in two years. People are scattering to Europe and the national parks, and Kevin Durant is still a Net. I don’t think that’s going to change in the short-term future.”
As Windhorst alludes to, the 2020 and 2021 offseasons were compressed due to changes to the NBA calendar caused by COVID-19. This is the first full, normal offseason for the league since 2019.
Not everyone will be on vacation for the next two months, so it’s certainly possible that trade discussions will pick up in August or early September — or even later this month. Still, the break in the NBA calendar figures to slow down momentum toward any major deals. That applies to the Jazz‘s Donovan Mitchell talks as well, Windhorst said.
“The Donovan Mitchell situation is really headed towards a stalemate,” Windhorst said on Get Up (video link via Talkin’ NBA). “The sticker shock is out there for the price that the Jazz are asking, and the Jazz are like, ‘Look, we are in no rush. We’re going to sit back and wait for you to meet it.’ The teams are like, ‘We’re not going to increase our (offers).’ And Donovan Mitchell is not pushing it, so I hope everybody enjoys their summer.”
Here are a few more trade rumors from around the NBA:
- Windhorst suggested during Wednesday’s episode of Get Up (video link) that he doesn’t view a Kyrie Irving/Russell Westbrook trade between the Nets and Lakers as especially likely at this point: “It’s been discussed weeks ago and hasn’t advanced.”
- Windhorst also said the motivation for Durant’s trade request out of Brooklyn remains somewhat vague, which may be one reason why no real progress has been made toward a resolution. “He spoke to the owner, Joe Tsai, and gave a reason (why he wanted to be traded), but I’m not sure the Nets are 100% on the understanding of it,” Windhorst said. “I think the next step in this – barring a team’s change of heart to meet the Nets’ price, which I don’t see at this point on the calendar – I think we’re going to have to wait to hear from Kevin Durant about how open he is to running it back with the Nets. Here we go, as everybody breaks for summer, sitting and waiting for that to happen.”
- Appearing on a Spotify Live session with Marc Stein, Tony Jones of The Athletic confirmed that the Jazz have had trade discussions with teams this offseason about point guard Mike Conley, but admitted that he’s not sure there’s much of a market out there for Conley at this point (hat tip to HoopsHype). Conley has a $22.68MM cap hit in 2022/23, with a partial guarantee ($14.32MM) on his $24.36MM salary for ’23/24.
The NBA and NFL offseasons have been so different. The NFL offseason was perfect. Always something meaningful. The NBA is too dramatic of late.
Agreed. IMHO I think much has to do with AAU mentality in the NBA whereas football is contracts (get it while you can and healthy) and winning. Players almost control the NBA whereas the teams control the NFL for the most part.
Sure, the NFL offseason has been of more substance in comparison, but I wouldn’t describe it as perfect. The Watson situation, in addition to the endless stream of Baker/Garoppalo trade rumors has gotten rather tiring
Garoppalo isn’t a major player, but will say Cleveland has been the center of drama between Mayfield and Watson. But that’s about it – Cleveland.
Disagree on the NFL this offseason, tho I love me some football
You just saw Hill and Adams leave 2 HOF Qb’s based off a Wr market that’s getting hella outta control; teams have to look to college for their élite Qb’s to throw to now to make it work on the ledger long term
Cle just F%^&*K’ed up the QB market for the next 10 years as well for everyone else
@cap
Hey, sometimes you have to overpay to get FA to come to markets that are less desirable. As long as Cleveland is willing to pay the cost then good for them. The other owners aren’t doing a darn thing to help Cleveland out so they did what they had to do. Would I prefer it were a player that was scandal free? of course. But he’s not been indicted of any felony crime so he should be treated as such, creepy or not.
Nets should have pushed for a DeAndre Ayton trade. They blew that. They won’t find a better deal
They will. It’s a game of poker and they have a pretty good hand. Worst case, Durant and Irving have to play if they want to get paid, which is what the Nets wanted all along.
Agreed, will probably cost them role players and picks to unload unhappy or “injured” KD, like it cost the Sixers to unload Simmons.
Too many pieces moving of you factor Simmons has to get moved
Exactly. Besides, now that Ayton is signed on an offer sheet, he can’t be traded until 1/15. Even afterwards, he can veto the trade.
Windhorst is a lot of hot air
Don’t waste time
Nets should make it simple
Set minimum qualification for Durant deal
Young all star + rising star
Draft picks are not needed
Or
1 rising star + 6 first round picks
Salary filler as needed
Jazz have demanded 3 young players and 6 Firsts from Knicksfor Michell
Reminder – you’re on the comment IR 10 day for 8 more days.
Congrats on getting selected in the 12th round by the Brewers, Luke! LOL. As for the Nets’ situation, there’s no incentive to rush this.
LA and Brooklyn need to pull UTAH in as the 3rd team,
to LA: Irving/Conley/Gay
TO BKLN: Bojanovich/Clarkson/S Johnson 2027 LA #1
To UTAH: Westbrook/Nunn/Gabriel/2029 LA #1 (lottery protected)
Brooklyn lands 2 strong rotation players in Bojan & Clarkson, Johnson for F depth & a Unprotected #1 for Irving.
LA gets their man in Irving, Conley could be a dynamic 6th man, and Gay gives them extra depth at the SF/PF spots.
UTAH lands another #1 pick to help with the rebuild. While the Jazz had to take on Westbtooks contract for this season they are able to move on from nearly $45M in 2023-24 cap space with the trades of Conley, Clarkson & Gay
Salary is not matching? Lakers luxury tax is too high this season?
Irving 36m
Conley 24m
Gay 6m
Total $66 million
After the deal, Lakers need to pay $102 million luxury tax
The Lakers would be sending out
Westbrook $47M
Nunn $5M
Johnson $2.3M
Gabriel $1.7M
Total = $56M
Yes I think they’d take on an extra $10M in salary this year to get Irving and become one of the favorites for the title.
The Lakers could always send THT to the Jazz as well to even out the salaries, but i don’t think Utah would want him and his contract for next season.
Portion of Johnson and Gabriel salary is not taxable
It’s a good trade if taking out Gay
They actually said they wanted him and that pick for Taking on Westbrook’s contract.
If the Jazz just want to salary dump then that’d work. However, trading all of those guys just to get back filler for Bojan and Clarkson? The pick is for taking on Westbrook’s contract. The Jazz could easily find way better trades for Bojan and Clarkson.
The Jazz could send Conley, Gay, and maybe a sign-and-trade Whiteside out and Westbrook in along with the pick. They could send out Butler for THT if the Jazz felt the need. The Jazz have too many guards right now.
Does this mean they are running out of trade rumors as click bait for Durant and Kyrie? Sounds like it since neither looks to be traded before regular season starts.
Wonder if Lakers and nets have toyed with a AD for KD trade framework. This would be good for both sides imo
How would it be good for both sides? Ad can’t stay healthy and kd isn’t some young guy anymore or fully healthy him self
NBA news in a nutshell the past few years “Kyrie bla bla”. “KD bla bla”. “Lakers bla bla”.
I seen a mock trade that wouldn’t be bad for the lakers. Russ to the jazz with two first which is a over pay but lakers get pat, clarkson and mailk. I like it because they get youth and shooting . With a guy like pat who can play d
Is Westbrook going to actually play for the Jazz? If not, then that’s a no. The Jazz aren’t now a dumping ground for your lazy trade ideas. Each one these players would net a first round pick and a rotation player. These are experienced veterans ready to help you win now. They’re proven and consistent as well. Try again. =)
P.S. I’m leaning towards the Jazz just keeping the roster as is and seeing what they have before trading it all away. A trade at this point needs to actually help the Jazz, not just give players away. They still have roster spots available, believe it or not.
Teams have only so many # 1 picks, cap implications, CBA rules in trading young players( Bam & Simmons can’t be in same team, etc).. not easy to get a deal done. Don’t blame Knicks, Utah wants the moon, Knicks negotiating against themselves… The Rudy Gobert trade set back the league in terms of what teams want now for real super stars.. With What Utah got for Rudy…what is Durant worth ? Rudy & Donovan are not super Stars, Durant is…
Spida is quite possibly a trade to the Knicks away from becoming a Superstar.
The Jazz don’t want to trade Spida. That’s why the price is high. If you want to pry him away from the Jazz now then that’s the price.
I expect he’ll suit up for the Jazz this year and tear it up. Then teams will be all over the Jazz with offers. Just a matter of time.
Keep in mind, we have a new coach who is designing an offense centered around Donovan. Clarkson fits that offense as the 6th man.
I expect the Jazz would trade both if Donovan gets traded. If they keep him then trading for Westbrook to actually play for the Jazz would be fun to see.
Donovan has been working on his midrange game so he wouldn’t need the paint open. Westbrook could drive and dish to open shooters all he wants. That’d keep Donovan more healthy as well.
Durants trade request. It doesn’t matter that the reasons are not understood by the nets.
If that causes a delay in the nets front office to make a trade. The only things I can think of, is that the nets
Hope durant changes his mind.
Durant Wasn’t convincing.
Wasn’t emotional enough or direct.
We dont think he really really Really wants to breakup. Either the nets or durant, something seems so juvenile about this when its in the context of hundred millions $
Trader Danny isn’t getting 5#1 draft picks for Mitchell, he must stop being delusional at this point. I hope the Jazz keep Donovan now. The Heat have seemed to move on from Mitchell and are now switching they’re attention to Kevin Durant. Durant has always been the better player, Mitchell is just younger. Not better.
The Jazz are totally fine building around Donovan. They just need to decide and let Coach Hardy design the offense already. Finish any other trades they like and get on that.
Windbag is fos. KD spoke to Tsai, and “gave a reason”, Tsai just didn’t understand it.
Why would anyone believe that?
Understandable, this is about the time I take my HoopsRumor vacation as well.
Yeah this looks just like a rebuild around
DM ……….
Donovan Mitchell —— “My Team”
Mike Conley
Bojan Bogdanovic
Malik Beasley
Jordan Clarkson
Patrick Beverley
Rudy Gay
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Jarred Vanderbilt
Walker Kessler
Leandro Bolmaro
Udoka Azubuike
Jared Butler
Johnny Juzang
Xavier Sneed
MSG here I come …… Utah over NYC like never.
Jan 11 2022 ……. Him wanting Out. Is an old rumor …….
link to thejnotes.com
Lol, that’s really reaching. It clearly says “speculation”.
Here’s an exact quote from Donovan:
“I’m not here to be a big market guy. That’s not who I am. I’ve never been a top dog, I’ve always been an underdog” Mitchell said in a 2018 interview.”
Not the words of a player “itching” to play in a bigger market.
NYC snobbery would be exactly why he doesn’t want to be traded to the Knicks. Mitchell has great heart and sincerity. I don’t imagine fake suckups in NY would endear him to that lifestyle. Harsh but true based on what he actually says.
He likes nice things but he can get that anywhere. Doesn’t have to be NY or Miami. He can get anything he needs in Utah. His mom and sister live here with him. He’s grown up here and built a life for himself.
I honestly don’t think the Jazz want to trade him. They’re just goofing around to see if teams are willing to give them a haul. If not then no biggie. They’re in constant communication with Donovan so he knows that’s what they’re doing. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over these trade talks, IMO.