Nets Holding Out Hope for Kevin Durant Return
If you're a Phoenix Suns fan, you've either been holding out hope for Kevin Durant to leave the Brooklyn Nets for over a month or simply wish for the constant reports and discussions to end. Perhaps both.
The Nets don't appear to be in any rush to trade Durant despite a recent surge from the Boston Celtics, who have effectively joined the Suns and plenty of other teams (Miami, Golden State, Toronto, etc.) who would love to have the future Hall of Fame scorer on their team.
However, Brooklyn isn't willing to part with Durant without a sizeable return. For right or wrong, the Nets are holding out for a mega-package that would include multiple All-Star players and a strong haul of draft picks to begin the conversations.
However, most teams (reportedly) in negotiations aren't wanting to mortgage most of what they've built in exchange for a 34-year-old shooter who hasn't seen much of the court in recent years.
The Nets are adamant they'll find a deal for Durant because well... it's Kevin (insert colorful word) Durant. Interested teams choose to see past the name.
Thus we're sitting in silence until one side blinks first. However, could we see Durant ultimately return to Brooklyn? He's yet to go public with anything since initially (and privately) requesting the trade, and some insiders believe he'll play basketball regardless of what jersey he's wearing next season.
In a recent ESPN+ article, Zach Lowe did a great deep-dive into the current atmosphere surrounding Durant, trade talks and overall feeling of his future in Brooklyn.
He offered the following:
Nets Holding Out Hope for Kevin Durant Return
"The Celtics might argue Brooklyn is not in a strong negotiating position. What's the best offer right now? The Toronto Raptors don't want to even discuss Scottie Barnes, sources say. Have Toronto and Brooklyn even had a detailed conversation? Do we know for sure Phoenix has offered or will offer the best it can do for now: Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, four unprotected first-round picks and three swaps? Does Brooklyn have any interest in Miami Heat packages that don't include Bam Adebayo?," asked Lowe.
"Even before the Minnesota Timberwolves warped the trade market by flipping five draft assets for Rudy Gobert, several smart people around the league termed the very act of trading Durant "impossible" in conversations with ESPN. There was no way to approximate fair value. A player of Durant's caliber with so many years locked in had never before become available.
"The Nets are probably waiting for Durant's camp to realize that, and maybe for Durant to retract his trade request. The Nets have not given up on this scenario, sources say.
"Suitors are waiting to see if Brooklyn concludes that kind of reunion is not possible. Durant could accelerate that process by publicly or privately explaining his trade request, and emphasizing he will not back off. Would such a stance mean sitting out -- as Ben Simmons did last season? I don't know. League insiders repeat the trope that Durant "is not wired that way" -- that he loves the game too much. But that is speculation. Time will tell."
The Suns continue their pursuit of Durant, but for what price is Phoenix willing to pull the trigger? Do the Nets truly hope Durant will change his mind?
Like Lowe said, only time will tell. For now, the overall situation that has now somehow tied nearly the entire league into where Durant and Brooklyn go from here will eat up more time and real estate.
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