The Grizzlies are showing interest in Kevin Durant and have made “new inquiries” on the Nets‘ star forward, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
As Charania writes within his round-up of the latest Durant-related rumors from around the NBA, the Grizzlies could include up to five first-round picks in a package for the two-time Finals MVP (their own 2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029 selections, plus Golden State’s top-four protected 2024 pick). The team also has a bevy of young talent on its roster beyond star guard Ja Morant, including Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Ziaire Williams, Brandon Clarke, Kennedy Chandler, and David Roddy.
However, according to Charania, Memphis hasn’t appeared inclined to offer Jackson or Bane (or, of course, Morant) in a deal for Durant, preferring to build an offer around their draft picks. Given that the Nets are reportedly seeking a win-now return for Durant, that sort of offer is unlikely to pique their interest, even if the picks are unprotected — those first-rounders may have to be rerouted to a third team that could send Brooklyn the kind of impact players the team is seeking.
While the Grizzlies are an intriguing new suitor for Durant, there are still a number of other teams in the mix. The Celtics, Raptors, and Heat remain among the most significant threats to land the 33-year-old, Charania says, though Toronto has continued to resist including Scottie Barnes and Miami has “yet to seriously engage” in any discussions involving Bam Adebayo. Boston, meanwhile, has been unwilling to include Marcus Smart or Robert Williams in addition to Jaylen Brown, Charania says.
The Suns also remain involved, offering up Mikal Bridges and a series of draft picks, according to Charania, but they appear to be behind those Eastern teams among Durant’s most serious suitors.
Charania identifies the Sixers, Bucks, Nuggets, and Pelicans as some of the other teams that have expressed interest in Durant, though he confirms that New Orleans deemed Brandon Ingram untouchable.
According to Charania, the Hawks also made an offer for Durant, putting John Collins, De’Andre Hunter, and a draft pick on the table. The details of that pick are unclear, but Atlanta could trade its own 2023 and 2029 first-rounders or Sacramento’s lottery-protected 2024 pick.
Although Charania doesn’t specify exactly how the Nets felt about the Hawks’ offer, he says none of Brooklyn’s discussions have gained any serious traction. There are still five weeks before training camps get underway, which could be a fraught week for the Nets, assuming Durant remains on the roster — it’s unclear whether or not he’ll show up to camp if his trade request hasn’t been granted.
KD’s mouthpiece working hard to prove teams are interested in obtaining him, despite not wanting to give up any players of the appropriate level which could lead to resulting in making a deal.
Nothing to see here!
Durant is going to be 34 at the start of the season. He isn’t Lebron. Most players start to wear down. And he already has missed lots of time and has health issues. Why anyone would trade for him and mortgage the future. People will give up assets just not the farm. If Durant was 30 teams would be giving it all up.
Oh hell naw!! They’ll wreck their franchise by doing so. They need to be patient, keep on developing their young core and maybe trade JJ as he is an injury prone. I think that the Valanciuanas trade was a mistake, he’s way more skilled than Adams.
But, thing is, Adams is just a better overall decision maker. Valaciunas has flashes of brilliance skill wise and size but just not as consistent in his all around team impact.
Last year stats for both players:
Jonas:17.8 pts, 11.4 reb and 2.6 ast.
Adams:6.9 pts, 10 reb and 3.4 ast.
One more thing, Jonas can space the floor while Adams can’t shoot. They would’ve had a better chance against the GSW with Jonas on their team.
I agree.
And it was a down year for Valanciunas!
Yeah as C’s fan I’d rather have Brown than Durant at this point.
Durant is obviously better than Brown, but as we saw with Kyrie, I think I can speak for the whole fan base when I say that we don’t want to hear about these exact rumors every year if the Celtics get bounced in the 2nd round… he goes where is he is more likely to win and who knows how that looks for Celtics without Brown and/or Smart.
Also, if Tom Brady couldn’t convince you to come during FA, don’t want you here. GOAT
In addition, the guy owns burner accounts so he can talk smack on Twitter. He’s so soft. I already think Tatum is soft but he’s young and has the opportunity to continue to grow more than Durant does. How do you win a championship if guys/fans/media can get under your skin so easily? Just focus on the task at hand, sheesh.
Unless it’s for like two first round picks and Pritchard, no thanks but that can’t happen because of $$$ and playing time.
He’s completely overrated, mentally weak and can’t win unless he plays with a couple of super stars.
He would be considered average if he was playing in 90’s. Imagine him going against the Oakley, Ewing, Mourning, Shaq, Rodman etc. Today’s NBA is so soft that even a G-League player can rack up double double!
Yet another terrible take from you.
KD would be insanely good in any era.
He would run circles around all the players you mentioned. Smdh.
You really should give commenting a rest – it’s clear you’re here to troll but you have zero wit or even a whiff of humour to make it bearable.
He’d be an insanely good scorer, but nothing else.
He might run circles around Rodman some nights but Rodman would be able to contain him probably more than any other basketball player ever. He had the edge, strength, athleticism & will that would def give KD issues. Ofc KD would rise to the occasion at times but man that would be an amazing 1v1 to see
I wasn’t trolling. He would score less if hand check was allowed and he wouldn’t get to the free throw line often. Defense was allowed back then while nowdays, you can’t even put your hand on someone face or get into their shooting space.
If he is so good, why wouldn’t he win a championship on his own. He couldn’t win anything while playing with Harden, Westbrook, Reggie Jackson, Ibaka etc.
Last but not least, I will keep on speaking my mind despite others high sensitivity!
It’s great to speak your mind but just try to have smarter thoughts. You don’t have to win a title with your team that drafted you to be great. That should be sorta obv
But if you had to join a 73-9 team that beat you in the WCF to get easy rings, you’re not THAT great.
THANK YOU!!!!
He’s very obviously THAT great. I promise of all of the people who’ve ever attempted to dribble & shoot a basketball, of any of the hundreds & hundreds of millions who’ve played the game, he’s top10 easy, pushing top5. Just as a scorer he’s top5 easy & prob top3. Obv you don’t like him. But if you like basketball enough to put the letters nba in 1 of your alt accounts then you should def be able to respect him as an extremely great basketball player who’s accomplished some amazing things in his career
KD is 4th all time in PPG. Great scorer, but with only one Finals game win without Steph, Klay, and Dray, no way he’s top 10 all time overall.
MJ got 0 Finals Ws without Pip. Moses got 1 or 2 without Doc. Magic only got 1 without Kareem if I’m not mistaken. Nash got 0 even playing with multiple HOFers. KD was incredibly great with the Ws & he was just as great in OKC & Brooklyn. Wilt got 1 title. He’s very clearly a top10 basketball player all time. An individual can be great at basketball and not win every title. Look at Jokic. I’m sure you love him even tho he’s yet to lead his team to a conference title yet. Anyone with 2 eyes can tell hes an all-time great at basketball even before he wins titles, even if he never does.
MJ’s “0 titles without Pip” disregards MJ was playing vs teams with multiple HOF starters.
The fact that you don’t even know that Wilt won 2 titles, not 1 disqualifies your opinions.
Lol so I guess you not knowing that KD also faced numerous teams with multiple future HOFers also disqualifies your opinions?
Your claim that I didn’t know KD faced the Heat and Spurs is absurd.
You could say the same about MJ what team did he play on his way to finals with more than two HOFers? If we just say KD: Cavs, we’d say Lebron Kyrie and Love possibly. Spurs, Lemarcus, Kawahi, Parker, Pau, Ginobli? Which is a hell of a lot more than 2. In 10 years when they’re all in the HOF then you can say that. But RN you can’t. You can’t base it on who played against who.
It’s the same as people saying Houston’s 2 rings don’t count because Jordan wasn’t playing but that’s out of contex. Jordan was fit and played in the play offs and got destroyed by Shaq and the magic. It’s all out of contex.
“You could say the same about MJ what team did he play on his way to finals with more than two HOFers?”
Umm, the Pistons, with 4 HOF’s plus their coach, and the Lakers, with 3.
Pistons would be 3 as he finally beat them when they had IT Rodman and Dumars but you’re not wrong I’m just making a point. We could say something like. “Timberwolves beat the lakers to make the plays offs in 2022 and lakers had 5+ HOF players”. When In context to how their season went we know different.
KD is playing against just as many future hall of famers MJ did. Plus the fact he had to face Jordan’s only rival for GOAT in Lebron. But again we’re not comparing MJ to KD I’m pointing out you can’t say who played against who to make them better players. We could go on and case against MJ because he missed prime Kareem, Wilt, Russel, OR etc but it’s all out of contex.
I hear Durant’s a very good defender.
Did you forget that Tatum torched him for 29.5 ppg in the playoff sweep?
What about the team that put 40 mills in his pockets while he was rehabbing for over a year, signed his friend DJ and overpaid him when he wasn’t needed at all and washed.
No loyalty whatsoever, the dude is almost 35 years old but acts like a kid, talking trash with burner accounts, refuses to hold his friend and teammate accountable then throw the franchise under the bus when they got swept! Absolutely disgraceful!!
Lol dude if you expect KD or any of these basketball players to have loyalty to any nba team then you’re delusional. Their loyalty is to their family. These teams are looking out for their best interests 24hrs a day. They don’t care at all about these players beyond what they can do to fill the seats & win games. Nets didn’t just give KD free $ bc they love him lol. As far as being 35, acting like a kid & talking trash on burner accounts, I feel like we just found out how old u are lol clearly talking about yourself right there
He ain’t got no family! He’s single with no kids. Teams are the employers and they definitely overpay the players even when they’re being unprofessional. He might not have to be loyal to them but he damn sure has obligation to fulfill and that’s part of being professional.
Sean Marks was there when he signed and he approved Steve Nash as a coach.
I’ve been watching the league since the late 80’s and don’t recall a single super star doing the same thing. Kawhi Leonard didn’t request Pop to be sacked like this clown.
Congratulations!! You just proved that you’re genius just by guessing my age from the comment I made. Just sit down bruh!
“He ain’t got no family”. Smh. You have zero awareness of what you’re talking about
Dude, KD is just hmm hurting himself with this trade doesn’t even realize. No on is jumping up and turning cartwheels to put him on their team. If him and Irving return to the nets, while the nets trade Simmons to some team out west that either needs perimeter defense or rebuilding for competent bench players and a pick or two, they could both possibly when another title or two staying together. Both KD and Irving on acting like dickish babies and it might be to nets ling term advantage unload them both for mostly draft picks and attempt a tank. Nets need to take the initial deal the celts made with Jalen Brown, matching bench salary and a couple of picks. Nets need to unload Irving in a three way deal where they send Irving to LA, Westbrick and THT and a first rd pick to Utah, Conley and salary filler abd a couple of seconds to the Nets. And thing is Karma is a “B” since Durant will have a passer and first step threat like Kyrie in Boston. And LA has sewn in their selves into not having enough consistent doth to take the stress off if either Bron or AD get bit by injury bugs- which is a distinct possibility. Not to mention that Kyrie will have to face an extremely impatient fanbase if LA makes this trade, because they’ll see it as Championship or Bust move. Brooklyn is a bigger circus than any franchise a nut job like Kyrie has ever played for. Kd and Kyrie, both on the back forty of their careers need each other more than any teams them.
Who of the players you mention ‘won on their own’? His jumper is unstoppable. He’d be elite in any era.
Winning the chip is often about luck. Things have to align. It’s a game of chess. When OKC had a chance they were young – similar to Boston this year. Then the team broke up. He was the best player for GS. The last few years he’s been injured. You don’t really have a point.
Again with the “todays’ players couldn’t handle the 80s and 90s” era hypothetical nonsense. How can you possibly know this? The scoring wasn’t that much different compared to those eras. Average scoring in the 80s was 109. In the 90s it wasn’t that much low.
Won’t get to the free throw line? Lol there were more fouls and free throws in the 80s and 90s as compared to today. What are you going on about.
I always find it hilarious how “old heads” like you seem to think that todays athletically superior and more skilled players wouldn’t be able to adjust to the overrated and overhyped so-called “tough” defense of 80 and 90s. With time, the game evolves and so do the players. Better training, nutrition, technological advances etc. There’s not a single sport in existence that has regressed with the passage of time. Todays average NBA player would be dominant in previous eras.
Like one poster noted, KD would run circles around those players you mentioned. KD would be dominant in any era.
Any team in any year before 2000 would get picked apart in today’s NBA. No way they would be able to handle the outside shot. Elbows and dirty play in the paint wouldn’t do anything for shots launching from all directions. Get used to the new nba, it has been here for a while.
Given time to adjust they’d be fine tbh. Basketball is Basketball. It’s evolved bc of the players. Real ballers, which vast majority of nba players before the yr 2000 definitely were, would adjust. Same as if Ja or DFox or Landry Shamet or any current nba player had to go play in 1978 or 1995. Given enough time to adjust, they definitely would.
Terrible assessment of KD. Unstoppable scoring machine, ungodly length, championship rings,hall of Famer, your hate is blinding.
I definitely appreciate you for saying imagine KD vs Rodman. That would be incredible to see. I’m watching him slow down & frustrate Bernard King as we speak… link to m.youtube.com … Anyone who’s been paying attention to basketball over the last 15yrs has seen KD slice & dice each & all of the best defenders of all sizes, worldwide (literally). Anybody you can name in the current era there’s tape of KD embarrassing him. PGeorge, Artest, CPaul, Capela, LeBron, Nocioni, both Rudy’s, MSmart, PJ Tucker, Kobe, whoever, they all got #s from KD. He’s arguably the best forward in the history of the game. He’s clearly still a top5 player & has been for more than a decade. If you’re running a basketball team you want guys like him on your team. Getting the compensation right for someone as valuable as a literal, perennial MOST valuable player candidate like KD is obv gonna be more complicated than most trades, esp when it’s apparently being partially negotiated in the media. But he’s def gonna get moved & it’ll be to a title contender & he’s gonna ball out like he always does
@ Sankara
Did you miss Tatum totally outplaying him as the Celtics swept the Nets in the playoffs?
He’s not the player he once was.
Come on now if you saw that series like I did you saw Boston devoting their entire defensive scheme to slowing KD down. Everything was shifted toward him even when he didn’t have the ball. He was doubled/tripled in that series more than anyone else in this postseason (more than Embiid/Jokic/Steph/Luka/Giannis). Yet he still played extremely well & tried to get his teammates more involved. Tbh Brooklyn never made the necessary adjustments to the way Boston was guarding KD. They were extremely unprepared compared to the way the Ws adjust their game when Steph gets guarded that way. In a vacuum (or any other way) Tatum outplayed him. But his performance in those 4gms wasn’t him slipping bc of age. He was his same great self. If you saw him play throughout last season you know he’s still ridiculously great at basketball, easily top5 in the world & yes better than Jayson Tatum. If he’s not the player he once was hes still very close to that best version. Same goes for LeBron tbh. Even at 38 or whatever he is now
Please. The Celtics tried the same strategy against Steph, who outscored, outshot, and OUTREBOUNDED KD against the same Celtics!
I mean I did just say GState did a better job of adjusting than Brooklyn so we’re sorta on the same page. Seems like you’re intent on blaming KD alone for this & saying he’s over the hill now lol. Negative lol he’s very clearly still great. The fact that you only can compare him to Steph Curry & other elite players is strong evidence of his continuing greatness. Basketball is a team game & GState runs better offense. That’s the key reason that Brooklyn/KD was much less efficient/productive vs Boston. And KD was doubled/tripled more than Steph. GState had more weapons/balance, but more importantly Kerr is just a much better coach than Nash rn (so is Udoka) & his team was better prepared to attack Boston shading defense to their best player
Steph is a great leader who overcame the Celtics’ defense by shooting over 70% eFG%.
KD just isn’t capable of leading teams to winning championships, thus his bus rider status.
Why do you think he’s only requesting trades to already made teams?
He’s a 2x Finals MVP wtf are u talking about lol. You missed him leading the Ws to back2back titles? He also led at least 3 USA squads to golds in FIBA play. Led OKC to a West title over Duncan/Kawhi/Dirk/Kobe, he wasn’t even 25 yet. It should be obvious why he’d wanna play with great players tho. I mean who would rather play with less skilled guys when given the chance. Most every basketball player is gonna enjoy playing with the best players
FMVP is a voted award, which means the prevailing media narrative only.
KD led them in scoring in those Finals due to the Cavs focus on defending Steph over KD, but Steph was the real leader of those teams.
He’s trying to go to Boston since they beat them. It’s like a patten with this guy. His clown show friend is playing 20 games a season, disrupting the team’s dynamics and creating drama yet he can’t hold him accountable. Boi MJ would’ve never let that s**t slide. That’s what make the difference between a goat with a winning mentality and spoiled brat that only can contend when surrounded by splash brothers!
If he’s so trash why are you comparing him to MJ?
He led them in scoring, he was much better defensively, he was more efficient/productive/consistent & all that is backed up clearly in the #s & more importantly on the tape. He was also better in the clutch. Steph was great but KD was the best player on those teams
Lol, much better defensively?
Steph led GSW in steals both years, and Lebron avg’d 33.6 and 34.0 ppg vs GSW with KD as his primary defender.
Yes, much better defensively. Obviously.
You’re entitled to your opinion. Opinions aren’t facts.
Final MVP’s against who?? Depleted Cavs with JR high as a mf smh.
Against the champions of the NBAs Eastern conference lol if that’s not good enough then idk what to tell u. They were the 2nd best of the hundreds & hundreds of pro basketball teams those 2yrs
Sank you gotta stop taking the bait with these kids
Durant is obviously a HOFer but I’d take Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman before I’d take Durant. Durant lacks the psychological part of the game. He can fill up the stat sheet but he’s not the gamer that the Bulls big 3 was. He doesn’t play defense like them and gets flustered when things don’t go his way. Even with Rodman, who was mercurial off the court, he was a beast on it who would wear you out.
Toni Kukoc wasn’t bad in the 90’s, so I’ll go out on a limb and say Kevin Durant would be just fine in that era
Comparing Kukoc to KD? Look I’m not saying KD is in the MJ, Lebron GOAT debate.
But come on. The guy is arguably the best offensive players the league has ever seen, 100% of the modern era. Yes he can’t lead a team. That’s proven, he’s the best player in a team while not being the leader.
Rings don’t make you a magically better player. Look at some of these players who lucked a ring or two. You’re telling me Barkley, CP3, Nash etc weren’t some of the best players because they don’t have any rings. Come on.
KDs value isn’t what it used to be as he’s not the player he was in GS or OKC. But he’s still an all NBA player this year if fit. His value is still higher than the overpay on Gobert. He’s a star/young future star plus picks player. but anyone who says they wouldn’t have him in their team is lying.
He wasn’t “comparing” the two. He was mocking those who said Durant couldn’t play in the 90s
Fair point, just got caught up in the KD bashing. Prime KD is arguably a top 10 all time. He hasn’t declined that much, injury preventing he had top 3 ppg last year and made all NBA?
Love this.
Memphis: We are interested but won’t include any of our better-than-average young players
Media: Memphis is now in the mix!
So… Steven Adams, Daniel Green, Dillon Brooks, and Brandon Clarke have to go to Team X, Y, or Z.
KD is the only player going back to Memphis.
Hornets would be very interested in Adams. Send PJ, Bouknight, and Plumlee to the Nets for him.
Sixers would be very interested in Brooks. Send Korkmaz, Thybulle, Springer, and 2029 Top-14 protected 1st.
Reroute some of those players to teams looking to shed salary (Bertans/Dallas), (Robinson/Miami), etc… and just recoup as many picks as you can.
Competing immediately post-KD trade is only viable if they agree to a Brown, Maxey, Herro, etc kind of trade for fewer picks, and less “monumental” type of trades.
If I’m Memphis I’m starting out with Jaren Jr, (Jake LaRavia or David Roddy), Danny Green, John Konchar, their ’24, 26 & 28 1sts in a KD proposal. If Brooklyn has to have Ziaire instead of Konchar, or if they want GStates 2024 or a pick swap added i might have to go ahead & do it. Keeping Ziaire would be great but keeping Dillon & Bane would be perfect
BKN would have to lower their expectations, KD would have to want the deal (MEM’s requirement, not BKN’s), and MEM would have to be willing to part with JJJ as the lead guy in the deal. If those 3 requirements are met, it’s worth a sit down. MEM has all their picks and an extra one from GSW and enough other young players that BKN should be able to find someone they like.
No no no no no no no no no, please.
– Grizz Fans
Nets going to Nets
They have a prime chance to get some good young pieces in Roddy LaRavia Chandler Tillman Aldama plus a plethora of draft picks and pick swaps. Trading Kyrie for more young pieces and/or picks really puts them in a position like the Thunder to have the ability to do whatever they want really.