Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant has put aside his differences with the Nets for now, and if he follows the lead of another NBA legend, it just might all work out for the best.

[4-2 loss to the Yankees](https://nypost.com/2022/08/23/yankees-hang-on-to-sweep-mets-with-tense-subway-series-win/), the Mets hold a two-game lead in the NL East over the Braves and the second-best record in the National League. If either worked in a conventional setting, they would have long earned the maximum allotment of PTO, so a few days — and But it takes a lot to keep contending, even once you’ve gotten there in the first place, and recent history has taught that to Mets fans all too well. But if the season ends with a division title and an NLCS loss, would that be seen as a success? Especially when the team displays the sort of potential it has this season, when it looked to be on a historic pace ThroughTuesday’s game, [Fangraphs’ projection system](https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds) placed them in a tie (with the Dodgers) for the best chance to win the World Series. And the Mets are a team that has been historically starved of success with only four playoff appearances this century. But it does mean getting out of the first round, mounting a serious title challenge and the focus staying on basketball for the duration. The Lakers traded for Pau Gasol and made the Finals, where they lost to the Celtics, before going on to win titles in 2009 and 2010. [ he told reporters](https://advance.lexis.com/document/?pdmfid=1519360&crid=df5e1f30-d372-495b-a17c-a3a9367a9a91&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fnews%2Furn%3AcontentItem%3A4R16-0WK0-TW84-N13C-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=306909&pdteaserkey=sr22&pditab=allpods&ecomp=rbzyk&earg=sr22&prid=a172ea88-3cf5-48ce-a8dd-e6bb1c47e265) when asked if he would be in Los Angeles for the duration of the season. There’s a template to which Durant could look — and make no mistake, the onus here is very much on Durant — if he views this as more than a face-saving exercise. If you are reducing their accomplishments to a balance sheet, the main difference between those two seasons would be in the number of negative headlines: Last season’s mess lapped the up-and-coming group of 2018-19.

It seems as if Durant and the Nets have reached a détente. So, now what's next for a franchise that has seen more than its share of drama?

[Milwaukee](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/bucks/), [Boston](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/celtics/) and [Miami](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/heat/). The Nets have led the NBA in drama and headlines the past three years. [Nic Claxton](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/nic-claxton-47D5hSormvUQWaZj/) and Day’Ron Sharpe remain the only two centers on the roster. Speaking of Simmons, he’s on pace to be healthy in time for training camp, with The Athletic’s Shams Charania reporting Monday that Simmons is expected to be cleared for five on five in the coming weeks. The Nets have yet to make the conference finals with Durant and Irving on the team. The other problem with evaluating the Nets right now is … With over a month before training camp starts, the Nets have time to work on any lingering feelings before the games start. [Marks’ failed called shot for contract extensions](https://theathletic.com/2765794/2021/08/11/nets-sean-marks-discusses-brooklyns-busy-offseason-with-big-three-extensions-looming/) to his three stars only to sideline Irving after he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s short-sighted to think that Irving, Durant, Marks and Nash are in Sunset Park holding hands in a circle skipping to “No Sleep ‘Till Brooklyn.” The past two months saw Irving seek sign-and-trades, Durant request his own and later call for Nash and Marks’ jobs. Irving is in the last year of his contract, Durant could always ask for a trade again and what happens with Nash, Marks and Co. Thinking this is the end of the drama is silly. [James Harden](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/james-harden-xj359Qh34ugWFbVp/) trade rumblings accompanying Nash into his rookie season as coach.

The Nets never really seemed interested in trading Durant as he gets ready to begin a new four-year contract extension. While there was never any serious ...

As sad as it is to say, it feels like the Lakers need to move Westbrook for a sizable upgrade to have any shot at winning the title this season. With no other apparent market for his talents, the Lakers and Nets could have had a nice and easy deal in place: Russell Westbrook’s expiring contract and first round picks in 2027 and 2029 to Brooklyn, Irving to LA. Now Durant is supposed to go back to the Nets and trust everything will be fine? I’d have the Warriors, Clippers, and Nuggets as the teams more likely to represent the West in the 2023 NBA Finals to start the season. The Suns have never won a championship before, and it feels like their arrow is going the wrong way after last season’s crushing playoff defeat. A player of KD’s stature saying he wanted to go to Phoenix should have pushed the Suns to act with urgency to actually land him, but Phoenix reportedly When Durant requested a trade, he immediately listed the Suns as his preferred destination. After nearly two months of negotiations that never went anywhere, Durant and the Nets have agreed to [“move forward with our partnership,”](https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets/status/1562092355754377219) according to a joint release from the team and Durant’s media venture The Boardroom. It felt a little more real this time, though, especially after Brown was such a critical piece in the [The idea of Boston trading Brown for Durant made sense](https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2022/7/25/23277179/kevin-durant-trade-celtics-jaylen-brown-nets-realistic-rumors). As Boston’s offer dominated the news cycle one day in July, Brown [acknowledged that he had heard the rumor](https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2022/7/25/23277399/jaylen-brown-tweet-kevin-durant-trade-rumors-smh). Here’s who hurt the most as Durant’s trade request came and went without a deal.

Let's first see how adversity is handled, if Kyrie Irving remains mercurial, and if Ben Simmons gets to and stays on the court. The Nets' statement was mere ...

The Brooklyn Nets were in DEFCON 1 less than two months ago, as former league MVP Kevin Durant requested a trade while his superstar teammate Kyrie Irving ...

5 given the Yankees' puzzling descent (15-25 after a 61-23 start). [College Football](/college-football) Playoff national championship. They rank sixth in And while Moreno isn't exactly lauded in league circles, the ripple effects of an ownership change could prove to be quote devastating. The current owner ripped off the band-aid. After all, any team that Durant is on has a chance to make some real noise, as he remains arguably the deadliest offensive weapon in the NBA." [CBS Sports' MLB Power Rankings](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-power-rankings-cardinals-and-braves-continue-to-surge-yankees-barely-clinging-to-top-five-spot/) and are knocking on the door of No. [ranks first in the AP Preseason Top 25](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ap-top-25-poll-alabama-ohio-state-georgia-headline-college-football-rankings-ahead-of-2022-season/) and had a conference-leading [19 players earn preseason All-SEC honors](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/2022-all-sec-football-team-alabama-leads-the-way-with-six-first-team-selections-from-coaches/), including six first-teamers. The new owner gets a clean slate." But things changed Monday, after a meeting in Los Angeles between Marks, Nash, Durant, his business manager Rich Kleiman, Tsai and his wife Clara Wu Tsai. [exploring a potential sale of the club](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/angels-owner-arte-moreno-exploring-potential-sale-what-it-would-mean-for-the-halos-and-shohei-ohtani/). [KEVIN DURANT](/nba/players/1231866/kevin-durant/) AND THE [BROOKLYN NETS](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BKN/brooklyn-nets/)

After Kevin Durant's decision to remain with the Nets, the Phoenix Suns may need to have difficult conversations with important players.

Perhaps the primary reason for Ben Simmons’ trade request from the Philadelphia 76ers was the lack of support for him following the 2021 playoffs. With the league and each franchise focused on Durant’s situation, a number of players and issues were either left aside on the scrapheap, or became entangled in what’s turned out to be a non-event. Put it in the perspective of life, it’s hardly a tough position.

“What Brooklyn was asking for was ridiculous,” one executive involved in the process told Bulpett. “They knew it. We knew it.” If the Nets' intention all along ...

“The statement But even if they genuinely attempted to move him following his June 30 trade request, another league executive was impressed by how they handled the saga, Bulpett writes. “This should be a blueprint for every team that goes through something like this. [Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer](https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/8/23/23319296/kevin-durant-brookyn-nets-no-trade), who says the team is under pressure to win in 2022/23 or risk finding itself in a similar situation next offseason. [handful of ESPN’s analysts](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34447309/kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-future-holds-sides-kd-rescinds-trade-demand), including Tim Bontemps and Bobby Marks, explore where Durant and the Nets go from here and make predictions about how long Durant and Irving will remain in Brooklyn and where the team currently stands in the East’s pecking order. [a column for The New York Post](https://nypost.com/2022/08/23/kevin-durant-trade-saga-turned-the-nets-brass-into-stooges/), Mike Vaccaro paints the Nets’ leadership group in an unflattering light and refers to the last couple months in Brooklyn as “the most laughable basketball saga we’ve ever seen.” [Retweet](http://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hoopsrumors.com%2F2022%2F08%2Fkevin-durant-notes-reactions-next-steps-more.html&text=Kevin+Durant+Notes%3A+Reactions%2C+Next+Steps%2C+More)1 [Share](#)0 [Send via email](#)0 “Brooklyn just said, ‘Enough of this s–t.’ And good for them,” the exec told Heavy.com. That was Joe Tsai saying that he was going to be the one who decides who drives, and it isn’t going to be them.” “They knew it. We knew it.” “He gave them the keys to the Ferrari and they took it out and they wrecked it — and he decided he wasn’t going to give them another set of keys,” that source said. [confirmed](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2022/08/kevin-durant-nets-agree-to-move-forward-with-partnership.html) on Tuesday that [Kevin Durant](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/duranke01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) is officially off the trade market, some rival executives remain skeptical about just how hard the team tried to move him this summer, as [Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com](https://heavy.com/sports/brooklyn-nets/nba-joe-tsai-kevin-durant-nash/) writes.

The Brooklyn Nets are searching for a backup center, and free agent Tristan Thompson is a candidate, HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reports.

“Brooklyn’s a top-four team in the East,” an Eastern Conference general manager predicted. I think they’re probably a top-four team in the East with Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Boston.” If the Nets add a veteran backup center, they’d still have an NBA roster spot open to give Duke a standard deal. Numerous NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype believe the Gobert trade made it harder for Durant to be moved. The Nets still have a two-way qualifying offer extended to David Duke Jr., who has held out for a standard contract. “I always thought returning was the best thing for Durant to win,” an Eastern Conference general manager told HoopsHype.

A sports analyst and former American football tight end for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, Shannon Sharpe, says this offseason has damaged the ...

After Kevin Durant agreed to patch up with the Nets, it opens the door for teams to sign fringe free agents. Kevin Durant's situation put things on hold for ...

Isaiah Thomas was waiting with bated breath for the Durant situation to finalize in one way or another. [Hornets were considering bringing Thomas back into the fold](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-rumors-hornets-considering-reunions-with-kemba-walker-isaiah-thomas-per-report/). Beverley pointed out that plenty of players were impacted by the stalemate as the Nets listened to lowball offers for Durant.

Tuesday's announcement was a film noir twist in a summer of a lot of rumors, a lot of innuendo and very little action.

[Ben Simmons](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/ben-simmons-xfSMIwcIYOvLWzUw/) did not want to have to play for a Nets team that no longer had Durant on the roster. [Jayson Tatum](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jayson-tatum-3O7MInr4zV5KKhZ5/) before the Celtics turned their season around and came within two victories of the NBA title. Accidentally, they also created a standard for trade packages that most teams couldn’t approach for Durant (we’ll see if it also prevents the [Utah Jazz](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/jazz/) from getting even more for [Donovan Mitchell](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/donovan-mitchell-c5XmTqu40nNV02JE/)). The Nets have the talent to overcome this, and Durant is damn special on a basketball court. They were going to dangle [Ziaire Williams](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/ziaire-williams-BMEIAOAaFPVB3zR8/) and [Dillon Brooks](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/dillon-brooks-8nCbv4hpPQdqLjbo/) instead, likely knowing that wasn’t going to get it done. [They acquired Gobert](https://theathletic.com/3405408/2022/07/07/rudy-gobert-timberwolves-press-conference/) for four first-round picks, a pick swap and a player who was just drafted in the first round this offseason (along with a bunch of role players). [Marcus Smart](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/marcus-smart-dGLlEXUh7pIPWXUa/) aspect of it all. Smart being untouchable was a very Danny Ainge-esque line-in-the-sand move by Brad Stevens, the [Celtics](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/celtics/) president of basketball operations. He did exactly that and managed to build a culture with Kenny Atkinson to attract superstar free agents like Durant and [Kyrie Irving](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/kyrie-irving-c9XLlxAFm6NG5ddD/). Marks didn’t back down to Irving in extension negotiations, and he didn’t let Durant dictate the terms of the franchise in a trade ultimatum. He surprised us on June 30 when [he requested a trade](https://theathletic.com/3489464/2022/06/30/kevin-durant-requests-trade-from-brooklyn-nets-sources/) from the [Brooklyn Nets](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/nets/) despite having signed a four-year extension in 2021. [Kevin Durant](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/kevin-durant-ho6h1sijyi2PAURU/) managed to surprise us several times.

The Nets said the franchise is moving forward to chase championships with Kevin Durant after his trade request led to nothing substantive, making a loaded ...

The Nets settled for the seventh seed and, after a play-in victory over the Cavaliers, got swept out of the first round by the eventual conference champion Boston Celtics. For starters, Bryant wanted to end up with the Bulls only if Deng played for them. But reports of the Bulls refusing to part with Luol Deng were greatly exaggerated. In many ways, the Durant situation mirrors what happened with the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant in 2007. That time, the Bulls were prominently involved. That didn’t stop one prominent Las Vegas betting site, Caesars Sportsbook, from moving the Nets’ odds of winning the NBA championship from 18-1 to 9-1.

Well, that went out with a whimper. The epic tale of Kevin Durant's trade request from the Brooklyn Nets is officially over. It didn't have the end many of ...

[this close to trading for Kyrie Irving](https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/08/kevin-trade-lakers-trade-rumors-kyrie-irving-pacers-myles-turner-jazz) this offseason as the Nets team was breaking down right before our very eyes. But nobody wants to have to play this sort of talent — especially not early in the postseason. Brooklyn has decided to remain whole and the Lakers don’t have too many avenues to choose from to get LeBron James the point guard he needs. He has to be, at the very least, somewhat dissatisfied with the way things have gone down this offseason. [in chaos because of the Kevin Durant-Jaylen Brown trade rumors](https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/07/kevin-durant-kd-trade-rumors-celtics-jaylen-brown-nets). Well, that and the fact that nobody seemed to want to trade anything real for him. And teams can move forward with whatever plans they may have had in the first place. [Brooklyn for the foreseeable future](https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/08/kevin-trade-lakers-trade-rumors-kyrie-irving-pacers-myles-turner-jazz). Utah is about to up the ante a bit more for their prized shooting guard. Lots of things have been up in the air for so many players and now things can finally come down. And the Suns best offer is off the table for now because [Deandre Ayton can’t be traded until January 15](https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/07/layup-lines-phoenix-suns-deandre-ayton-offer-sheet-match-pacers). The second biggest winner here has to be Kyrie Irving.

Kevin Durant spent nearly two months on the trade block, but the type of offers the Brooklyn Nets expected reportedly never arrived. "From June 30 until...

They gave up five players and five draft picks—four first-rounders and a pick swap—to acquire the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. And I think somewhat to the surprise of Brooklyn and to Kevin Durant, teams did not make the kind of roster-gutting offers that was necessary to trade a player of his stature." "From June 30 until yesterday, the Nets were no closer to a trade for Kevin Durant and there really was not a deal on the horizon for him," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday on Get Up. It'll probably take until next summer for the market to fully correct itself. 19 against the New Orleans Pelicans. [requested](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34174171/kevin-durant-requests-trade-brookyn-nets-sources-say) a trade June 30, and his availability was the NBA offseason's biggest story until the Nets [announced](https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets/status/1562092355754377219) Tuesday the sides "agreed to move forward with [their] partnership."

Yesterday would have been Kobe Bryant's 44th birthday. Combine that with the fact today is "Mamba Day" and the late legend has been on the minds of a lot ...

Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant is one of the current NBA players who actually competed with and against Bryant on the court. "This was a bucket, bean stance was too open and gave me a hook shot going middle. If you're wondering why August 24 is "Mamba Day," well, the 8/24 date represents both numbers Kobe wore in his Hall of Fame career.

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant had the perfect response to a photo of Kobe Bryant guarding him in honor of Mamba Day.

If this happens, Brooklyn is certainly in the mix. The Nets, as constructed, have a solid roster that is capable of contending in the East. The reality is no deal was even close to happening due to Brooklyn’s steep asking price and their willingness to trade him literally anywhere because of the four-year contract Kevin Durant is currently on.

Someone tweeted a photo of the late Kobe Bryant defending Kevin Durant, and KD knew exactly what happened during the possession from 2013.

The photo was posted on Twitter to celebrate [Mamba Day](https://twitter.com/hashtag/MambaDay?src=hashtag_click), which is observed on August 24. According to Bryant, KD was easy to defend early in his career because he couldn’t shoot when he was going right and because he couldn’t use his left shoulder in the post. [finished the game with 42 points](https://twitter.com/GotEm_Coach/status/1562451653835763713) while Bryant scored 28 points. But the most amazing part of this is that KD was one hundred percent correct about both how and why he was able to score on Bryant. [Kevin Durant rescinded his trade request](https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/kevin-durant-trade-request-over-winners-losers) and will remain on the Nets, ESPN’s [Adrian Wojnarowski compared the saga](https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1562101057563525120) to what happened with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2007. [someone tweeted a photo](https://twitter.com/Kingdxmgamehub/status/1562439503876624384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1562439503876624384%7Ctwgr%5E5eb8b04971c6c5a254879e23dc42248a97e4708b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fftw.usatoday.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D1953767action%3Dedit) of Kevin Durant and the late Kobe Bryant.

8/24 has become 'Mamba Day' since Kobe Bryant sadly was killed in a tragic helicopter crash two years ago. Ever since that moment, everybody has made sure ...

Amid all the drama surrounding him and the Brooklyn Nets, it's good to see that he can still send positive messages on social media. Durant is part of that group, and he didn't hesitate to remember the Black Mamba on his day. A terrific scorer that didn't hesitate to take difficult shots, who could take games over if he felt nobody else would help him win, and more.

Sure, the Nets' superstar took an L in August, but all will be right if he delivers a W in June.

[Grizzlies](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/MEM/memphis-grizzlies/), [Celtics](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BOS/boston-celtics/), [Suns](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/PHO/phoenix-suns/), [Heat](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/MIA/miami-heat/), and any other potential suitor who were dreaming of a K.D. The coach he demanded be fired will still be his coach. The Nets were a contender, at least on paper, and that meant Marks had to get the right return to save his own job. The GM he demanded be fired is still in charge. Now, it is true both sides still get something out of this other than the make believe we're-all-in-this-together farce they're trying to sell. This is a world-class player with four years left on his contract, one who was always much less likely than Simmons to miss time because, as anyone in the NBA will tell you, Durant loves to hoop. That was the first point in the Nets favor. A second rule to live by, closely linked to the first: Don't then try to pressure those billionaires publicly after the private strong-arm tactic fails. And, secondly but connected, it was [Ben Simmons](/nba/players/2202822/ben-simmons/) refusing to play for the Sixers and heading to Brooklyn, where … It was a meeting that featured the owner, Joe Tsai, and the two men Durant had Now there's a precedent for teams who want to wrestle back some of the upper hand, a move made possible largely by the ham-fisted way K.D. Power is a formidable weapon when wielded wisely, for if you don't know how to manage it you can find it suddenly in someone else's hands.

Kevin Durant has had his fair share of feuds with NBA analysts, often engaging in heated discussions on social media, trying to defend himself and prove ...

This offseason has been a roller coaster for Durant, who can find some peace of mind after he decided to continue his partnership with the Brooklyn Nets. This week, he's been very active on Twitter, discussing some personal things, his failed trade from the Nets, and all the repercussions it had for the rest of the NBA. The 2x NBA champion isn't shy to voice his opinion on anything, even if that earns him more bad comments.