What Makes the KD Trade Request Difficult?
On June 30th, Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets requested a trade. His preferred destinations were reportedly the Phoenix Suns and the Miami Heat.
Since then, multiple outlets have claimed that the Nets contacted other teams, however in each of those attempts, talks never reached any serious level of negotiation. In each case, the teams involved in the trade declined the Nets’ request to include certain high-calibre players plus a busload of draft picks into the package in exchange for a 33 year old Kevin Durant.
Asking For Too Much
Kevin Durant averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game during the 2021-2022 season. He’s a four-time NBA scoring champ as well as a two-time NBA champion. Even as he enters the final stretch of his best years, Durant could still cause major problems for defenders. While he won’t be winning any defensive player of the year awards anytime soon, he’s still an all-around player averaging close to a steal and a block per game last season.
In theory, the Nets shouldn’t have difficulties in trading Kevin Durant. And yet, they’re still stuck with him. And the main hurdle the Nets can’t seem to overcome in trading the former league MVP is quite simple: they’re asking for too much.
The “Kings Ransom” return that Brooklyn seems to be seeking was on full display when the Nets offered KD to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In return, Brooklyn asked for Karl Anthony-Towns, Anthony Edwards, and four draft picks. Naturally, the Wolves shut down the offer.
While KD is a great player to have on any team, trading away your franchise player and the future of your franchise for a highly efficient, but ageing veteran will do more harm than good, especially if you consider the potential drama KD could bring into the locker room.
There are also reports claiming the Nets approached the Los Angeles Lakers to include LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kendrick Nunn, and FIVE first-round draft picks in exchange for KD. The Lakers are purported to have quickly declined this as well.
Brooklyn also approached last season’s runners-up, the Boston Celtics. The Nets’ wishlist included Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, Derrick White, and four first-round draft picks. Once again, the Celtics shut down talks before they went any further.
There were even past reports that the Nets approached the New Orleans Pelicans on a deal involving Brandon Ingram. The Pelicans were however reluctant in giving up Ingram as part of any deal as Ingram has blossomed into a star on his own in a time when Zion Williamson was sidelined with injuries.
If the Nets truly want to move KD out of Brooklyn as soon as possible, they need to lower their asking price. Otherwise, this saga could drag on in much the same way Ben Simmons’ soap opera with the Sixers did last year.
The Nets’ Kyrie Problem
KD isn’t the only problem the Nets need to solve quickly. They also have to find a suitable resolution to the Kyrie Irving dilemma as well.
Many NBA insiders believe the Nets would like to move KD first before addressing a potential Kyrie deal. Why?
Because there are far less suitors lining up to acquire Kyrie’s services than his former teammate at the moment. With the enigmatic former Duke Blue Devil doing his best to force his way to Los Angeles, any potential return for Irving shrinks considerably.
The Nets need to first ship Durant out of town, and see what kind of return he fetches, so they know what type of player/picks package they need to seek in a potential deal with the Lakers.
With the Nets making more headlines off the court than on it of late, the one thing that’s become abundantly clear in Brooklyn is that regardless of who is traded first, one of the dominoes needs to fall, and soon.
-Iggy Gonzales
Photo: Cyrus Saatsaz. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.