There was a “savagery” in the nets‘ Reception on Thursday evening when numerous teams called with trade offers Kevin Durantsaid Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN in the sports center (Twitter link).
Response across the league to Durant’s trade request was immediate and intense, with more than half of the league making requests. Wojnarowski said it created an unprecedented situation when some teams called Brooklyn with offers and later called back to raise those offers without getting a counter from the Nets.
“At this point in his career, no player of Durant’s caliber has ever been available for a trade, certainly not in modern times.” Wojnarowski said, adding that Brooklyn is seeking a “historic haul” in return.
He reports that the Nets are basing their asking price on what the Clippers gave up Oklahoma City for Paul George (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and five first-round picks) and what the Lakers paid for to New Orleans Anthony Davis (Lonzo ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round picks).
The Nets “want more than that,” Wojnarowski said.
There is more about Durant:
- Watching the Warriors win the championship played a role in Durant’s desire to leave Brooklyn, Wojnarowski said on ESPN’s “Get Up.” It added to the narrative that Durant cannot win alone and that he is trapped in a dysfunctional situation with the Nets. Durant reportedly asked for “a change of scenery” when he met with the owner on Thursday.
- Brian Windhorst, appearing on ESPN’s “KJM” this morning, cited a “high 90 percent probability” that the Nets would honor Durant’s trade request and said there will be any deal Kyrie Irving will probably have to wait until Durant has moved. Irving just wants to go lakersbut that means the networks would have to take Russell Westbrookwho earns about $11 million more than Irving, and working out another compensation for Brooklyn won’t be easy.
- On “Get Up,” Windhorst predicted the Durant trade would involve at least three teams. He names a potential Netsto sunbathe Deal and says the match isn’t perfect and both teams will likely make calls to expand the trade and see if they can get the assets they want. Windhorst adds that business in the league could “freeze for a while” as several teams consider involvement. One benefit to Phoenix, Windhorst notes, is that it has control over all of its future draft picks and can offer up to four draft options and three pick swaps. That could encourage several teams to facilitate a Durant deal. Phoenix is believed to be Durant’s preferred landing spot.