Brooklyn Nets

Report: Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving know they’re unlikely to be traded anytime soon

Published by
Peter Dewey

Brooklyn Nets stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving reportedly both know that it is unlikely they will be traded anytime soon.

Durant, who requested a trade prior to the start of free agency, is reportedly the only player in the duo who has formally asked out of Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Nets stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving ‘know’ a trade is unlikely and have accepted the reality that they may not be dealt anytime soon,” NJ.com’s Adam Zagoria wrote.

 

“‘They know behind the scenes that it’s difficult, that it’s unlikely to happen,’ a league source said, adding that ‘the Nets also knew that they’re going to make it so hard in the sense of the demands they’re looking for in return, no one’s going to meet that.’”

The Nets have a massive asking price for Durant, and rightfully so, which is going to make it hard for him to be dealt unless a team is ready to part ways with several key assets.

Irving, who opted into his player option for the 2022-23 season, would seemingly be easier to trade for in terms of asking price. However, it seems like there isn’t a huge market for the guard.

Durant, a 12-time All-Star, averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game while shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from beyond the arc last season for Brooklyn.

He is one of the league’s most gifted scorers, and he has a regular season MVP and two NBA Finals MVPs to his name. Since Brooklyn has him under contract for the foreseeable future, the Nets can take their time to get a deal done.

Irving, who missed a large chunk of the 2021-22 season due to his vaccination status, is still an elite talent on the offensive side of the ball. Irving averaged 27.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 41.8 percent from beyond the arc last season.

The Nets seem unlikely to sell low on either of the two players, so it’s possible that resolutions for Durant and Irving won’t come until later in the offseason or even during the 2022-23 campaign.

Peter Dewey

Peter is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where he covered the MAAC and college basketball for three years. He has worked for NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering basketball, football and other major sports. Follow him on Twitter @peterdewey2.

Published by
Peter Dewey

Recent Posts

Report: NBA GM believed Grizzlies would have had to shop Ja Morant this summer before they fired Taylor Jenkins

Earlier on in the year, long before the Memphis Grizzlies dismissed Taylor Jenkins after he…

27 mins ago

Ja Morant opens up about Grizzlies firing Taylor Jenkins: ‘It’s tough for me’

Guard Ja Morant suited up for the first time since the Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor…

24 hours ago

Tyrese Haliburton on ‘easy decision’ to name SGA MVP: ‘If you took a player poll, I’m sure he would win’

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a compelling case to win this season's MVP…

2 days ago

Report: ‘Early expectation’ is that Clint Capela will sign elsewhere this summer

Big man Clint Capela is in his fifth season playing for the Atlanta Hawks, and…

4 days ago

Stephen A. says LeBron is in his feelings: ‘Could it be because I don’t believe you’re the G.O.A.T.?’

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith claimed on Wednesday that if his confrontation with Los Angeles Lakers…

5 days ago

LeBron James reflects on 2007 Cavs roster that he took to NBA Finals: ‘How is that possible?’

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James recently reflected on the 2006-07 Cleveland Cavaliers and their…

6 days ago