Franchise star Kevin Durant called for a change to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Durant made the trade request directly to Nets owner Joe Tsai on Thursday, sources told ESPN.
Nets CEO Sean Marks is working with Durant and his business director Rich Kleiman to find a business, Kleiman told ESPN.
As the Net prepares to move one of the most valuable commercial assets ever produced on the market, the entire list will be available to discuss in bids, sources told ESPN. Teams have been calling for Durant, and the Nets will no doubt be looking for a historic comeback from players and draft picks.
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The Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat are among two of the teams Kevin Durant has on his wish list, sources told ESPN, but the Nets plan to move Durant where they can get the best deal possible. As Durant has a four-year contract, there is no shortage of teams willing to unload assets on him.
Durant, who will not become an unrestricted free agent until 2026, is expected to earn $ 44.1 million during the 2022-23 season.
He and Kyrie Irving had no contact with the Nets after Irving opted for their deal Monday, and there was a sense of inevitability that Durant would eventually call for a change, sources told ESPN.
The Nets, picked by many before the season to win the NBA championship, finished with a 44-38 record, good for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, and a consolidated playoff spot by a play-in victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 12th.
They were swept by the Celtics in the first round.
Durant averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists this season, but only saw action in 55 games during the regular season while recovering from an MCL injury.
In other news, the Nets have acquired Royce O’Neale from the Utah Jazz in exchange for a 2023 first-round pick, sources told ESPN. The choice that goes to Utah will be the smaller one, the one in Houston or the one in Philadelphia, sources told ESPN.
O’Neale 29, averaged 7.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in his fifth season with the Jazz.