Ken Berger: Adam Silver: "This is the best basketball m…
June 30, 2022 | 3:13 pm EDT Update
Adrian Wojnarowski: Phoenix and Miami are among two of the teams that Kevin Durant has on his wish list, sources tell ESPN, but the Nets plan to move Durant where they can get the best possible deal. With four years on his contract, there’s no shortage of teams willing to unload assets for Durant.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving had no contact with the franchise after Irving opted into his deal on Monday, and a sense of inevitability existed that Durant would eventually ask for a trade, sources tell ESPN. It happened today.
Tony Jones: Royce O’Neale to Brooklyn for a first had been building momentum for multiple days, according to sources. The Jazz need future trade capital. The Nets took him with an exception. Now the Jazz have a bunch of open roster spots.
June 30, 2022 | 3:09 pm EDT Update
Kevin Durant has Phoenix as preferred trade destination
Chris Haynes: Kevin Durant has the Phoenix Suns listed as a preferred trade destination, league sources tell @YahooSports.
Miami a favorite landing spot for Kevin Durant?
Jake Fischer: On Monday, as the league prepared for Kevin Durant to potentially request a trade during the Kyrie opt-in saga, Phoenix and Miami were often mentioned as the All-Star’s perceived favorite landing spots.
Adrian Wojnarowski: As the Nets prepare to move one of the most valuable trade assets ever on the market, the entire roster will available to discuss in deals, sources tell ESPN. Teams have been calling on Durant, and the Nets will certainly look for a historic return on players and draft picks.
One NBA executive suggests a trade where the Nets trade Kyrie to the Los Angeles Lakers and get three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert in return. “You could do three teams, Kyrie to the Lakers, Gobert to Brooklyn, and Russ to Utah, with the Jazz probably buying him out. That’s a longshot, though,” the executive said to Heavy’s own Sean Deveney. “It could be something that happens during the season, if the Nets get on the court and things go sideways — Ben Simmons is still not healthy, Durant is not happy, they’re struggling. At that point, the Nets are pretty much out of leverage, and the Lakers could send Westbrook and a pick for Kyrie, and it’s doubtful the Nets would get a better deal. Again, it is a long shot, but it is realistic.”
Chris Mannix: Meanwhile Utah, after giving Will Hardy five years of job security, quietly deals a top defender for a first round pick. As noted today on @SInow — keep an eye on Danny Ainge tossing a stick of dynamite on that Jazz roster.
