Suns general manager James Jones doesn’t believe the Nets were ever serious about moving Kevin Durant after his trade request in late June. In an interview with Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, Jones said Brooklyn set its asking price on Durant so high that no team would be willing to meet it.
Durant reportedly named Phoenix and Miami as his preferred destinations when he first asked to be traded, and there was massive speculation that the Suns were the favorites to land him because they had what the Nets reportedly wanted: young talent and multiple first-round picks. However, Jones doubts that Brooklyn’s front office made a legitimate effort to part with its star.
“Cause Brooklyn wanted to keep Kevin Durant in Brooklyn,” Jones responded when asked why a trade didn’t happen. “And that’s why he’s in Brooklyn and not on some other team, but as far as with us, I get it. It’s always a great topic of discussion, but the one thing people forget is that when you’re talking about trades, or any player acquisition, the team that has the player has to be willing to move the player. And so if they’re not moving the player, which they didn’t, it’s just conversation and it’s great discussion. Great interest for the NBA fan base and the team fan base.”
Jones added that trade talks with the Nets never progressed past the initial stage. He said every team in the league probably made a call to Brooklyn to see what it would take to get Durant, but there was no “in-depth discussion” between the Suns and Nets.
Jones addressed a few other topics in the interview:
Dealing with Mikal Bridges after he was prominently mentioned in Durant trade rumors:
“Mikal’s watching and he’s watching reports and third parties report about him. I get it. Being a player on both sides of it, I truly understand it, but it’s a testament to Mikal’s ability. He’s a really good player. So I would assume any time someone is linked to us, a good player is linked to us, that our good players will be brought up by someone. It’s the nature of it, but I think speaking to Mikal, he understands the business. He understands he’s put himself in a position to be regarded as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Any discussion around great players, I would assume he’d be one of the first guy’s names that’s going to be thrown out there.”
The status of extension talks with Cameron Johnson:
“We’re having discussions. Cam is a big part of what we do. Really excited for the progress he’s shown over the last few years, especially last year. I think he’s primed to take some steps forward. We’re excited about this team, and we’re excited about the guys on this team one through 16. He’s definitely someone we’re going to need to take another step if we want to continue to progress and grow as a group.”
Possible roster moves before the start of training camp:
“Always in evaluation mode. Always looking. Right now, we’re at 16 guys (14 standard, two two-way). There’s a chance I may add a couple more guys for training camp, but I think we’re close to the end of where we’ll be as far as our training camp roster goes.”
The Suns offered garbage for Durant. If they offered Booker, Ayton, + picks, Durant would be in a Suns uniform right now
Suns did not offer any of big 4
Booker
Bridges
Ayton
Paul
Nets asking price
1 young all star
1 rising star
4 future Firsts
Wrong: the Nets wanted way more than that.
LFGMets We wouldn’t trade Booker straight up for Durant at this point. Plus Ayton plus picks?? That is laughable. We don’t want your 34 year old has been whiny, crybaby at that price. What a JOKE your comment was and shows how much you don’t know the players.
Durant is better than Booker and it isn’t even close, are you on something? The Suns were a 12th seed without Chris Paul and Mikal Bridges. Booker isn’t a play maker, hes just a very good shooters that plays not even league average defense. Hes basically Buddy Heild except better. Booker, Ayton, and picks for Durant was the only fair deal Pheonix could offer. Pheonix offered Bridges and Cam Johnson plus picks, that wouldn’t even get them a player like Donovan Mitchell, let a lone Durant
You should stick to the Mets bud, you clearly don’t know very much about basketball if you think Booker, Ayton and picks for a 34 year old KD is a fair trade.
“Hes basically Buddy Heild except better.”
Talk about an understatement.
Durant will be fine. He may get to play with Bad Back Ben Simmons
The nets are a very talented and dangerous team. Deep bench,elite scoring, Simmons healthy makes them a top 3 team.
Where? They are old and injury prone.
Classic spin comment. KD is clearly a top 10 player, and as such the Nets’ asking price was reasonable.
Why atrade didn’t happen was that no team was willing to risk the combination of his age, injury history, contract length and $ amount, and his perpetual unhappiness with whatever team he’s on.
KD isn’t “clearly” a top 10 player, its more “arguably” now. And the Nets asking prices were absurd, they literally asked GSW for their entire young core rebuild+Wiggins, when KD’s trade value is literally just Andrew Wiggins+2 picks.
He’s so old+injury risk+too much of a head case+cant win without Steph+picked Kyrie over Steph – its incredibly stupid to want an age 27 KD package for age 35 KD coming off serious injury. The Nets are run by complete lunatics who will never put a winner on the court.
KD was #3 in the league in ppg, min/gm and ft%.
5th in PER at 25.6, behind only Lebron, Embiid, Giannis, and Jokic.
6th in box +/-, 8th in VORP
I’d say most would use “clearly”.
If no team is willing to risk the combination of his age, injury history, contract length and $ amount and his perpetual unhappiness with whatever team he’s on is it really a reasonable asking price?
Ask the Timberwolves what they gave up for Gobert.
Clearly KD hurt his chances to get traded, both by the timing of his request and by the ultimatum. Both things are independent of a reasonable asking price, which ofc is only the starting point of a trade negotiation.
I’d trade Durant to the Orlando Magic for Moe and Franz, two firsts and a Shaquille O’Neil Magic bobblehead.
add pick swaps and two tickets to disney world and i’d say it’s a deal
Nope gotta add a lifetime supply of Amway mouthwash too.
Nets were fools to pass on Ayton.
I would’ve done Ayton, Bridges, Saric and picks…….
Ayton plays and doesn’t hold grudges against his coach. Suns will be back in Finals. It’s a Bucks – Suns Finals for me. This is CP3 last shot at a ring. He will never have another.
Nets biggest question is Kyrie. I just don’t care what this clown does. I would never want to play with this selfish entitled arr. Just don’t see how you can have a team with Kyrie. Nets could be done imo. I see them blowing this up. In season …….
Ben with a back injury. Is another senseless act by one of their players. I jus remember how ALL the media killed the Knicks for not signing the dysfunctional duo. And how the Nets we’re going to win multiple titles. Just shows the geniuses the Media are. Shows how much front runners they are. Nets are Over …..