With most of the top players off the board, the trading market has come to the fore with a blockbuster Rudy Gobert trade, and now all eyes are on Kevin Durant’s next potential destination after its recent trade request.
Below is the latest information gathered by HoopsHype on trade talks surrounding Durant, Gobert, OG Anunobyand Gary Trent Jr† Plus, behind-the-scenes notes on free agents’ decisions from Donte DiVincenzo† Jae’Sean Tate† Royce O’Neale† Chris Boucherand Thaddeus Young†
Kevin Durant
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Rival NBA executives who spoke to the Nets say asking price remains high for 12-time All-Star Kevin Durantand is expected to rise after the boatload of trailer hitches that the Timberwolves have given up to acquire Rudy Gobert†
Brooklyn is looking for a combination of the best assets from teams, including all All-Star player(s), emerging young players with All-Star potential and substantial unprotected draft picks and pick swaps where applicable.
Brooklyn’s roster currently has role players and All-Star caliber players in Ben Simmons and Kyrie Irving (for now) to form a competitive playoff team on the return for Durant. Currently, the Lakers seem to have the most trading interest in Irving.
While the Suns and Heat are Durant’s favorite destinations, there are complications with a trade with either team.
Devin Booker could not be traded for a year if he signs his supermax extension with the Suns. Brooklyn can’t take it Ben Simmons and Bam Adebayo together because of the collective labor agreement rules. The Nets should trade Simmons before a possible takeover of Adebayo.
With that in mind, the Nets would want more than Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges of the suns. Tyler Herroz, as the main trading vessel for the Heat, wouldn’t scratch the surface of what the Nets want. At least a third team would have to be involved for Brooklyn to get all the desired assets for Durant with one of these teams.
ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski called Toronto as a team “lurking” for Durant. Newbie of the year Scottie Barnes would logically be on Brooklyn’s wish list in such a trading scenario, and Maasai Ujiric has already waved in front of the fences and passed with Kawhi Leonard in a contract season before, let alone a star who is under contract for four seasons.
The Pelicans took a step forward last season and can make a monumental step if they can build a pack around it Brandon Ingram and their own picks and from the Lakers and Bucks in previous trades for Durant and pair him with Zion Williamson in the forecourt.
In theory, if Boston wanted to make a run on Durant, the Celtics could try to entice the Nets with a package round Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart†
The Nets plan to wait until they get an offer that matches their asking price, with a guaranteed contract from Durant for the next four years.
For more information on Durant trading scenarios, check out a list of players that cannot be traded in a pack with the Nets in a story by our USA TODAY Sports colleagues at For The Win.
Rudy Gobert, OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. Trade Negotiations
Chris Nicoll-US TODAY Sports
Before finally acting Rudy Gobert to the Timberwolves, the Jazz inquired about the option to trade for Raptors starters OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jrcompetition sources told HoopsHype.
There was a belief that it would take a substantial downtown upgrade before Toronto would consider trading Anunoby. Gobert topped Toronto’s wish list for other centers in the commerce market, such as: Myles Turnerwhose name has been mentioned in more rumors over the years than a celebrity in People magazine and remains a candidate to be traded.
While there have been several reports in recent years that the Raptors may want to upgrade in the middle, the team has a bevy of attackers in the 6-foot-7 to 6-foot-9 range, giving them elite switching capability in the defense.
As noted on a previous Raptors Edition from the HoopsHype podcast is Trent Jr. A player to keep an eye on next season. He’s basically in a contract year because he’s a… $18.79 million player option for the 2023-24 season. If Trent can duplicate or improve on his numbers from last season, he is a candidate to opt out of his player option for a new long-term deal. Toronto will soon have to decide whether Trent will remain part of the core or whether it will become too expensive to keep long-term and better served as a trading asset.
Donte DiVincenzo
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Donte DiVincenzowho won two national championships and an NBA championship with the Bucks will have a chance to make a significant contribution as the Warriors try to repeat next season.
A few contending teams expressed interest in signing DiVincenzo with the full mid-level taxpayer exemption, and one cap-space team offered more money than Golden State, league sources told HoopsHype. In the end, DiVincenzo believed the Warriors were his best chance at playing on a contender and the team’s willingness to give him a player option made the decision for him.
Royce O’Neale
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The Jazz and Nets kicked ties on a trade related to: Joe Harris and Royce O’Neale before the trade deadline, as previously stated on the HoopsHype podcast† Instead, months later, the Nets surrendered a 2023 first-round pick for O’Neale.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding a possible Durant trade and the package he will bring if he is traded in, the Nets view the 29-year-old swingman as a 3-and-D player who can help them compete this season. Internally, the Nets prioritized getting a fullback who could guard multiple positions.
O’Neale owes $18.7 million over the next two seasons, according to our HoopsHype Nets salary page†
Chris Boucher
Cole Burston/Getty Images
Chris Boucher agreed to a three-year deal of $35.25 million, his agent Sam Permut from Roc Nation Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski†
Several teams have expressed interest in signing Boucher as a free agent, including last season’s Eastern Conference playoff teams, including the Celtics, Bucks, Nets and Bulls, before agreeing a deal with the Raptors, HoopsHype has learned .
Boucher felt that Toronto has become his home, he has played a constant role and will continue to have the opportunity to grow and expand his game.
Thaddeus Young
Vincent Carchietta-US TODAY Sports
Before agreeing a new deal with the Raptors, the Celtics and Pacers expressed interest in signing Thaddeus Young HoopsHype learned during free agency.
Young agreed up to a two-year, $16 million, per Yahoo’s Chris Haynes† The deal is: partially guaranteed for the second year, and because it was an extension of two years or less, there is no trading restriction for either player, according to ESPN Bobby Marks†
“He is a smart and versatile player who will continue to provide valuable leadership to our younger players on the pitch and in the locker room,” said Raptors chief executive. Bobby Webster said in a statement.
You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on Twitter.
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