Kevin Durant Sweepstakes

Ed Hillel

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KD must not like the relative quiet after the Boston stuff broke.
Yeah, I guess KD maybe to move along a trade? He might even be trying to lower his trade value to force the Nets to move quicker?

Willing to take the PR hit to be moved. Being mean to a Canadian is pretty harsh, though.
 

Mooch

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It also hurts the Nets bargaining position quite a bit to know that Durant is pretty adamant about wanting out. I don't think that they can reasonably expect him back this season. How in the world is Nash expected to coach the guy who is demanding that he get fired?
 

Ed Hillel

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If this was indeed a leak from Durant, he likely had a say in how he wanted Shams to shape the article. In which case, it sounds like he'd like to be traded to Boston. In which case, maybe Durant was the one who leaked the Jaylen stuff from the beginning, not the Nets.
 

joe dokes

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I'm not really how a meeting between owner and player where player appoints himself the de facto GM and demands that the coach be fired can be described as "professional," but maybe that's just me.
 

Ed Hillel

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I'm not really how a meeting between owner and player where player appoints himself the de facto GM and demands that the coach be fired can be described as "professional," but maybe that's just me.
Well, it's definitely "NBA professional."
 

moondog80

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Do we think a trade is more likely or less likely after this? I had been less than 50% on a trade but I think I'm leaning the other way now. With Boston being the most likely destination.
 

Mooch

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Do we think a trade is more likely or less likely after this? I had been less than 50% on a trade but I think I'm leaning the other way now. With Boston being the most likely destination.
I think significantly more likely and unless another team blows the Nets away with an offer or the Celtics back out, I think Durant ends up in Boston.
 

deanx0

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While I know Durant is a transcendent player, I wouldn't trade Jaylen for him straight up. There's nothing in KD's career that would make me feel good about him being happy with any situation he's in despite how long he is under contract. In addition, I think having him around Tatum would not be good for Jason's development either.
 

JCizzle

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I think significantly more likely and unless another team blows the Nets away with an offer or the Celtics back out, I think Durant ends up in Boston.
I'm leaning closer towards Durant wanting to be here with Ime and his Team USA protege Tatum. I think posters (Ed, etc.) here are right that Durant probably played a role in the Celtics being featured in the article. However, this line makes me think that the Nets stand firm and he isn't traded. I doubt Brad - or any other team - tops the previous reported offer of Jaylen+White+picks, which apparently isn't close to enough.

Tsai and the Nets have made clear privately that they will take every last asset from a team that trades for Durant, sources said.
 

RorschachsMask

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I kind of think he may end up here. This morning Weiss wrote an article on Tatum for the Athletic, and threw this line in there.

With Brad Stevens reportedly pursuing a Kevin Durant trade, it’s clear the Celtics are going all in to win a title now
Grant had these comments the other day, as well.

“It makes you smile a little bit,” said Williams, who made it clear he wants to remain in Boston. “I always said to Danny (Ainge) when I first got to the Celtics, if you trade me for a second-round pick or a printer, I’m never talking to you again.

“They told me a story about how Al Jefferson was in that (Kevin Garnett) trade, and when they called Al, they said, ‘hey, man, we’re trading you,’ and he said, ‘for who?’ They said, ‘Kevin Garnett.’ All you can do is tip your cap. If I get involved in the KD trade — I don’t want to leave Boston, I love Boston, it’s one of the places I want to be — but he’s a top-10 player ever.

“You can say, ‘Dang, I got traded for Kevin Durant. I was a value add in that trade.’ It’d be cool to say that, but at the same time, I don’t want to go anywhere. I’d rather stay where I’m at.”
 

ElUno20

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This whole saga has pushed me to the other end of the player empowerment spectrum. I'd love for the nets to just say screw you and have him sit out his 4 year contract.

So tired of this garbage.
 

RedOctober3829

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The more and more I think about it, the Celtics are the only team that makes any sense. For the Celtics, it's a chance to upgrade from Brown to KD for the next 2 years and add one of the only transcendent talents in the league to an already championship-ready roster. For KD, it's a chance to win another championship and play for one of his guys in Udoka. For the Nets, they get a top 20-25 player in Brown, a starting guard in White, and draft picks. The Nets aren't getting a better package from any other team. Barnes isn't as good as Brown yet. The Heat can't offer Bam unless Simmons is going the other way.

The Celtics can just wait the process out and if they truly want to do this deal, they can tell the Nets to take their offer because it's the best they're going to get.
 

nattysez

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Tsai and the Nets have made clear privately that they will take every last asset from a team that trades for Durant, sources said.
This is the kind of thing you say when you don't want the trade to happen (unless you're negotiating with the TWolves). Danny's trying this same approach with Donovan Mitchell and it's not working.
 

DeadlySplitter

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Any chance Boston can lower its offer now? I can maybe stomach this more if it's Brown straight up for Durant, but I'd still dislike it.

(Then find another big option with White as a trade chip if he no longer fits on the team?)
 

The Social Chair

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Durant and Kyrie got the last coach fired and handpicked Nash. They were behind the signings of every washed player (DeAndre, Blake, Aldridge), and then applied pressure for the Harden trade. They then caused Harden to want out due to their dysfunction!

Durant is the Tim Robinson hotdog meme.
 

EvilEmpire

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In a face-to-face meeting with Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai over the weekend, All-NBA star Kevin Durant reiterated his trade request and informed Tsai that he needs to choose between Durant or the pairing of general manager Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash, sources tell The Athletic.
Durant's camp probably knows that the offers out there aren't high enough, and after leaking this story, are unlikely to get higher.

So, I think the leak has more to do with the bolded than anything else, and that's why it is the lead in the article/tweet. Nash was brought on for Durant and Kyrie and it hasn't worked. That's the only reason he's there. What was a difficult situation before is an impossible situation now. No matter happens, Nash is probably out the door.

This leak might hasten the process. Durant gets to pick the next coach and Brooklyn runs it back for at least another year.
 

DJnVa

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It also hurts the Nets bargaining position quite a bit to know that Durant is pretty adamant about wanting out. I don't think that they can reasonably expect him back this season. How in the world is Nash expected to coach the guy who is demanding that he get fired?
White and Hauser and a 2nd. GET IT DONE THEO!
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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If Boston trades for Durant, they are going all in on trying to win now. His personality quirks are well known and it would be a massive shock if Brad Stevens weren't aware that a KD acquisition could easily blow up as soon as next summer...or maybe October.

Durant to Boston, if it happens, is Brad's YOLO move. If they fail to win a championship in short order, it may well not matter how KD feels about the balance of his contract. He will likely be shipped out to his next landing spot as the Cs retool again.

In short a Durant trade carries a lot of nasty leverage along with the upside. The Cs brain trust has to know this. Do you trust them to make the "right" decision here?
 
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AlNipper49

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If I was Durant I’d have every incentive to look like a piece of shit publically. He wants to win and has every reason to poison the package his future team will give him. The only risk is the Nets call his bluff. What’s the real difference between kinda shitty and shitty in the end?
 

Smokey Joe

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I used to think that if the Celts traded for KD that their chances of winning a title next year would increase and then the following season everyone would hate him and the team would fall apart. Now i’m not that sure we would have a year. They might start hating him immediately.
 

Mooch

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I used to think that if the Celts traded for KD that their chances of winning a title next year would increase and then the following season everyone would hate him and the team would fall apart. Now i’m not that sure we would have a year. They might start hating him immediately.
Why would they hate him?

I guarantee you that a guy like Tatum thinks pretty highly of Kevin Durant.
 

moondog80

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The Celtics are going to stand pat knowing they have the best offer, and we are headed for a game of chicken between Durant and Joe Tsai.
 

BigSoxFan

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What’s the real difference between kinda shitty and shitty in the end?
Banner #18? Agreed. This latest thing doesn’t change my opinion at all. I want the trade to happen still. If we can get it for less due to external pressure, all the better.
 

Auger34

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I was told they signed off on Nash.

I said this earlier, I think he's over the Kyrie Experience.
Pretty much everything that’s been leaked (by both sides) kind of makes me think the complete opposite.

Seems like he’s siding with Kyrie here and that’s part of why he wants Marks and Nash gone.

Honestly, I want no part of Durant. The Nets are going to want a ton of assets, plus hes aging and a complete malcontent. I have no idea how you can hope to build any sort of culture when your superstar takes his ball and goes home when there’s any adversity or hardship.

Remember, Durant went to Brooklyn BECAUSE of Marks and the culture they built. He handpicked Steve Nash as the coach. Now he wants both of them fired….because they both listened to KD too much and it blew up in their face? So that note about him and Ime being close gives me absolutely no comfort. “Close” with Durant means jackshit
 

EvilEmpire

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The real problem is that the team isn’t going to be better unless Simmons really turns it on.
I mostly agree.

I think the real problem about the real problem is that they don't know what they are going to get from Simmons. And since they don't know that, the decision making process about what to do about KD is more difficult.

If the whole crew comes back for next season and Simmons is on the court playing well, the Nets might be competitive.

If Simmons is playing, he's tradeable. If Simmons is traded, the options for what KD can bring back in a trade are broader.

If Simmons doesn't get back on the court, maybe Brooklyn is one step closer to tearing everything down completely and who knows what kind of talent they want to build around then? A year+ of Brown probably isn't the call because the roster problems they have will take longer to resolve. Maybe younger (lesser) talent with more control and some external picks to replace the ones they don't have would then make more sense.

If Brooklyn can endure the bullshit, they'll have a better sense of things after the season starts. Easiest COA is to fire Nash now, pacify KD a little, get into the season, and see what they have to work with.
 

Jungleland

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If Durant is actually open to committing to Brooklyn with a regime change and the best offer is Jaylen +, Tsai should drive Marks and Nash to the airport. Which is perhaps an ironic stance to take as someone who would prefer the Celtics don't even do Jaylen for Durant straight up.
 

Jimbodandy

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Regime change is the play now.

Pretty balls of a move. I think that it will work.

If you're Durant, you're thinking that you can run it back with a coach that you like and an FO that is more receptive to your wishes. If you're the owner, you're thinking that I can keep the band together with a new regime.
 

BigSoxFan

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Regime change is the play now.

Pretty balls of a move. I think that it will work.

If you're Durant, you're thinking that you can run it back with a coach that you like and an FO that is more receptive to your wishes. If you're the owner, you're thinking that I can keep the band together with a new regime.
Seems kind of late for regime change though. This is really an interesting situation. It’s almost mid-August. No idea how you could turn over your coaching staff and front office so quickly without it being an abject disaster. If I’m the Nets, I would take the Celtics package and then move on, assuming it’s something like Jaylen/White/pick.
 

pjheff

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Pretty much everything that’s been leaked (by both sides) kind of makes me think the complete opposite.

Seems like he’s siding with Kyrie here and that’s part of why he wants Marks and Nash gone.
I agree. While it’s fun to think that KD demanded a trade after Kyrie opted in for next year, I think the issue is that they didn’t extend him long-term and he potentially leaves after next season.
 

Jimbodandy

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Seems kind of late for regime change though. This is really an interesting situation. It’s almost mid-August. No idea how you could turn over your coaching staff and front office so quickly without it being an abject disaster. If I’m the Nets, I would take the Celtics package and then move on, assuming it’s something like Jaylen/White/pick.
If that was even offered. We only know that such an offer was reported, either planted or leaked by someone with an agenda.
 

BigSoxFan

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If that was even offered. We only know that such an offer was reported, either planted or leaked by someone with an agenda.
Yes, I did have the qualifier at the end. Clearly, if it’s not the leaked offer, then the Nets have to play hardball. But I find it hard to believe the Celtics wouldn’t have offered up Jaylen. They have to for salary purposes alone. Brad wouldn’t seriously be offering Al, White, and picks or whatever.
 

Ed Hillel

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If the Celtics hadn’t offered Jaylen, Brad would have made a swift, public denial.
 

RorschachsMask

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If the Celtics hadn’t offered Jaylen, Brad would have made a swift, public denial.
I’d agree with this, because we’ve seen it. Last summer there was some soft Jaylen for Simmons rumors, Shams had said the Celtics sniffed around Simmons, and that it would take Jaylen. He didn’t say the Celtics would do it, just what it would cost. Within the hour, multiple local beat guys came out and said they were told that there’s no way they’d offer Jaylen.

I definitely think JB was offered, it just depends on what else the Nets insist on.
 

DJnVa

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Pretty much everything that’s been leaked (by both sides) kind of makes me think the complete opposite.

Seems like he’s siding with Kyrie here and that’s part of why he wants Marks and Nash gone.
Maybe.

But his trade demand came out the day after Kyrie said he was returning. But KD is an odd dude, I can't really begin to know what he's thinking.
 
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nattysez

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