Nets insist Kevin Durant's re-invested long-term

“We want to build a lasting franchise,” a highly placed Nets source told the Post, “so this is not just about this year.” Durant and his business partner Rich Kleiman met with the Nets braintrust Monday in Los Angeles. The minutes of the meeting aren’t available, but a Nets source said this isn’t just an uneasy cease-fire or temporary solution until a Durant deal is found. They insist he’s re-invested long-term.
Source: Brian Lewis @ New York Post

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
No real winners, no real losers. In the end, Durant, Nets reconciliation was only path nba.nbcsports.com/2022/08/24/no-… – 8:01 AM Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Lots to discuss on the Nets & Kevin Durant sticking it out. @howaboutafresca, @SwollenDome & I will dive into it on @FoxSportsRadio. Tune in at 8:20 pm PT ihr.fm/2IBN81n – 10:51 PM Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Barely two weeks removed from Kevin Durant calling for the ousters of coach and GM … suddenly the Nets are winning August. We get into that some, as well as the joys of a @usopen/@EuroBasket itinerary, via the Tuesday Newsletter Extravaganza out now: marcstein.substack.com/p/august-doesn… – 10:28 PM Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Five #Nets questions with Kevin Durant drama over — for now nypost.com/2022/08/23/fiv… via @nypostsports – 10:26 PM Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
Kevin Durant is staying with the Nets. Now what? New article on @ringer: – 10:01 PM Gary Tanguay @Gary_Tanguay
Durant made peace with the Nets – for now. Do not rule out a deal to Boston when things implode in Brooklyn. Just saying…@Jeff Goodman @GlobeBobRyan – 10:00 PM Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Kevin Durant is staying put, so now the question is if the Suns are OK with running it back.
A column on that decision: arizonasports.com/story/3267027/… – 9:40 PM Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets decided to “move forward with their partnership”.
2022 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee @GeorgeKarl22 shares his thoughts with @TermineRadio & @Eddie Johnson. pic.twitter.com/0t0inEu7yT – 9:16 PM Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
Heat to eventually retire Haslem’s number. And Durant pursuit ends for Heat, rest of NBA: miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 9:14 PM Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoop
As Durant not surprisingly stays in Brooklyn, league reacts to Joe Tsai/Nets taking a stand on KD & Kyrie:
“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.”
bit.ly/3Khp4OX – 9:12 PM Ryan McDonald @ryanwmcdonald
Does Kevin Durant staying with the Nets change Donovan Mitchell trade talks? https://t.co/ZgBR1s2edP pic.twitter.com/nw52cyBpgx – 8:53 PM Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Jumping on with @Chris Broussard to talk some KD & the #Nets. – 8:31 PM Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
What’s next? 5 things Phoenix #Suns must do with Kevin Durant staying with Brooklyn #Nets (w/video) azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral – 7:26 PM Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
New pod with @Chris Vernon on Kevin Durant returning to the Nets. We’ll be back later this week with a full mailbag episode answering listener questions. open.spotify.com/episode/6YIyU5… – 7:02 PM Chip Crain @3Shadesofblue
KD/Grizz rumor was all pic.twitter.com/2uxywT3Xka – 6:55 PM The Ringer @ringernba
🏀 KD backtracking on his trade request
🏀 What the Nets will look like this season
🏀 How the Rudy Gobert trade ruined everything
#TheMismatch: open.spotify.com/episode/6YIyU5… – 6:19 PM NBA Math @NBA_Math
🗣NEW @HardwoodKnocks
📋 2022 NBA Offseason Grades: Atlantic Division
Celtics (3:42)
Nets* (13:23)
Knicks (22:21)
Sixers (35:45)
Raptors (47:25)
🎧 https://t.co/SRx5yMrzJn
🍎 https://t.co/Od4x7yvgyq
https://t.co/uO8OCRJJeF
📺 https://t.co/xHIOmzCInz
(*Pre-KD news) pic.twitter.com/m0l2pruPX0 – 6:04 PM Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
Now on @njdotcom
Nets are a ‘championship-caliber’ team with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons, Rick Pitino says nj.com/nets/2022/08/n… – 6:03 PM Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoop
NEW:
As Durant unsurprisingly stays in Brooklyn, league reacts to Joe Tsai/Nets taking a stand on KD/Kyrie:
“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.”
bit.ly/3Khp4OX – 5:44 PM Tas Melas @TasMelas
Serge Ibaka has an album dropping this week. Glad we got this KD stuff out of the way. – 5:42 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Patrick Beverley Tweet that Durant trade drama held up player moves gets KD’s response nba.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/pat… – 5:20 PM Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoop
Kevin Durant facing Sean Marks and Steve Nash and agreeing to rescind his trade request after trying to get them fired had to be some seriously awkward, uh, stuff… pic.twitter.com/qzcIFxu8DI – 5:01 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
From earlier — Nets’ statement further cools speculation of possible Kevin Durant-Miami Heat trade. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 4:42 PM Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
NEW: Heat to eventually retire Haslem’s number. And Durant pursuit ends for Heat, rest of NBA: miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 4:41 PM Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
New #Rockets at #TXSN – Why it isn’t good for the Rockets that Kevin Durant is staying in Brooklyn ift.tt/lx6cJ1F – 4:19 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Tuesday’s logical outcome to the Kevin Durant saga mirrored Kobe Bryant’s 2007 offseason.
That time, the Bulls were involved. This time, not so much, other than fact Durant remaining in loaded conference makes playoff path tough.
Column for @NBCSChicago: nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/… – 3:59 PM Tas Melas @TasMelas
Live right now for the Kevin Durant news: youtu.be/kPXDJNCg_IE – 3:34 PM Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Nic Claxton on Kevin Durant staying with the #Nets: “It’s exciting knowing he’s coming back on board with us. I know we can have a really, really good group. So we’ve just got to get everybody together and lock in.” #nba pic.twitter.com/0TGGVNDvg1 – 3:07 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Nets’ statement further cools speculation of possible Kevin Durant-Miami Heat trade sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 2:46 PM Yu Fu @YuFuTroy
Nets can trade KD to HBO and get a dragon back. – 2:44 PM A. Sherrod Blakely @ASherrodblakely
Kevin Durant is back with the @Brooklyn Nets and for the @Boston Celtics​ that means… fullcourtpress.bulletin.com/kevin-durant-s… – 2:20 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
What does Durant, Irving staying in Brooklyn mean for top of East? nba.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/wha… – 1:55 PM Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Why it isn’t good for the Rockets that Kevin Durant is staying in Brooklyn houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-n… via @houstonchron – 1:52 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
New on BSJ: Kevin Durant is staying in Brooklyn. What does that mean for Boston and the NBA? bostonsportsjournal.com/2022/08/23/kev… – 1:41 PM Steve Popper @StevePopper
In a case of “the grass is always greener on the other side” the Nets and Kevin Durant realize everyone’s lawn is dead now. newsday.com/sports/basketb… via @Newsday – 1:35 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Typically, changes to the NBA national-television schedule come a week or so out. But have to wonder if there already is some tinkering being done with Kevin Durant confirmed back to Brooklyn. Few trios more intriguing than Durant-Kyrie-Simmons. – 1:16 PM Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
No more KD-Warriors reunion rumors, more hypothetical champions.
Here’s my quick reaction to Kevin Durant ending his trade request from the Nets nbcsports.com/bayarea/warrio… – 1:13 PM Dan Favale @danfavale
kd and steve nash on the first day of training camp pic.twitter.com/0MpJoP5nYy – 1:05 PM Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Kevin Durant ‘moving forward’ with #Nets after trade demand saga nypost.com/2022/08/23/kev… via @nypostsports – 1:03 PM Aamir Simms @EarlShmitty_
The best part of KD Twitter is he don’t be giving one F🤣🤣🤣 – 12:59 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Didn’t quite have the courage to lead a mailbag column on Kevin Durant Is Staying Day with a Jeff Dowtin question.
I am a coward. This would never have happened on @BlakeMurphyODC‘s watch. – 12:57 PM Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Suns can always monitor the situation and try for KD again near the trade deadline, but if he’s staying put, here are a few other trades they could consider: bit.ly/3B5bFGY – 12:49 PM Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
UPDATED: Kevin Durant staying with Brooklyn #Nets after initially wanting trade to Phoenix #Suns azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral – 12:48 PM Peter Vecsey @PeterVecsey1
How long do the Nets stand by Steve Nash should the team fail to meet expectations? Or is owner locked into him no matter what happens to avoid perception of a prearranged deal to pacify Durant? – 12:48 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Got a question in the mailbag that said KD and Kyrie’s problems could be solved by smoking weed less, so we’re at THAT part of the offseason. – 12:47 PM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Beyond every factor working against Durant for a trade — zero leverage, age, injury history, the Nets seeking a gigantic haul — I imagine a huge issue is KD not only seeming impossible to make happy, but not even appearing like he knows what he wants, period. AK – 12:42 PM Shandel Richardson @ShandelRich
Does Durant news put Nets ahead of Heat? #miamiheat si.com/nba/heat/miami… – 12:41 PM Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
Perhaps Kyrie and KD return with some humility after the former couldn’t get a max contract, and the latter couldn’t command Nets asking price on the trade market. – 12:37 PM Jason Dumas @JDumasReports
KD is reading all y’all lil tweets just remember that. Every single one lol – 12:29 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
New Dunc’d On Prime: A quick reaction with @Danny Leroux on KD recommitting to the Nets. Join us duncdon.supportingcast.fm – 12:25 PM Dan Favale @danfavale
“kd faked a trade demand so he and the nets could have off on christmas” pic.twitter.com/jpZ4faARZG – 12:24 PM Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
The Nets title odds jumped to 15/2 from 14/1 after the KD news per @betonline_ag pic.twitter.com/tR3G4ZpAYu – 12:21 PM Peter Vecsey @PeterVecsey1
Kevin Durant is committed to stay in BK. Props to the cowardly lion, scarecrow and tin man… – 12:20 PM Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Nets potential depth chart:
PG:
Kyrie Irving
Patty Mills
SG:
Joe Harris
Seth Curry
Cam Thomas
SF:
Kevin Durant
Royce O’Neale
PF:
Ben Simmons
T.J. Warren
C
Nicolas Claxton
Day’Ron Sharpe – 12:18 PM Steve Popper @StevePopper
Nets, Kevin Durant reach agreement to stay together newsday.com/sports/basketb… via @Newsday – 12:17 PM Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Here’s my news story on Kevin Durant taking his trade request off the table. Sean Marks sought to reset the power dynamic between him and his stars and risked losing both. Now they’re back and the Nets have the depth to win the whole thing: theathletic.com/3531432/2022/0… – 12:16 PM Barbara Barker @meanbarb
It’s gonna be interesting to see where Vegas puts this team at start of season. Nets, Kevin Durant reach agreement to stay together newsday.com/sports/basketb… via @Newsday – 12:15 PM Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Now that we’ve moved on from the Kevin Durant talk, here’s my story on why Memphis Grizzlies fans should be paying close attention to what happens with Donovan Mitchell next. 👀
Story: commercialappeal.com/story/sports/2… – 12:12 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Prediction: Kevin Durant won’t be a Net on Aug. 23, 2023. – 12:05 PM Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
Now on @njdotcom
Kevin Durant withdraws trade request, will head to training camp with Nets nj.com/nets/2022/08/k… – 12:04 PM Chris Sheridan @sheridanhoops
Great news for #Nets on Kevin Durant. But sportsbooks in the legalized U.S. sports gambling industry still have them as the +750 third choice in the East to win the title. Boston is favored at +480; Milwaukee is second at +600. In California, #Warriors fans want to bet legally. – 12:02 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
New: Kevin Durant has backed off his trade demand from the Nets. I took a closer look at the major implications that will have on the Celtics for next season and beyond: masslive.com/celtics/2022/0… – 12:00 PM Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Kevin Durant staying with Brooklyn #Nets after initially wanting trade to Phoenix #Suns azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral – 11:57 AM NBA Math @NBA_Math
Kevin Durant is staying in Brooklyn.
Let’s talk about it over @HardwoodKnocks
https://t.co/h2OeM84pij pic.twitter.com/ZdLhfT6xzP – 11:51 AM Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
I’m excited we get to see the new-look Big 3 in Brooklyn. I think Ben Simmons is a nice fit alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Then you mix in Joe Harris’ return, TJ Warren, Seth Curry, Nic Claxton. Nets should be one of the best teams in the East. – 11:51 AM Casey Holdahl @CHold
KD just needed to spend some time on the west coast, he good now – 11:48 AM Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
2022-23 Brooklyn Nets depth chart
1: Irving, Mills, Williams
2: Curry, Harris, Sumner
3: Simmons, Thomas, Warren
4: Durant, O’Neale, Edwards
5: Claxton, Sharpe
Healthy Harris, Sumner, Warren will be huge upgrade for the Nets. Plus, Simmons.
Championship level #NetsWorld – 11:44 AM Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
*spends hours and hours on a Steph Curry column to go out this morning*
Wakes up to Kevin Durant news pic.twitter.com/wfOfGynkJ9 – 11:44 AM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Nets’ statement further cools speculation of possible Kevin Durant-Miami Heat trade. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… Deal had seemed unlikely. Now Nets move to kill any further speculation. – 11:44 AM Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Did Eastern Conference tiers in late July and “too much to sort through, too much nonsense” is still my position on the Nets in light of this KD news
phillyvoice.com/sixers-eastern… – 11:43 AM Michael Grange @michaelgrange
KD wanted out & tried nearly every trick in the superstar playbook. The last would be working-to-rule in training camp & early in regular season, the ugliest & most disruptive route, but he chose what always seemed clear: the best team he could play on next season was the Nets. – 11:42 AM Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Tired: Durant staying in Brooklyn for now keeps some degree of competitive balance and intrigue atop the Eastern Conference
Wired: Durant staying in Brooklyn for now spells the end of the weekly game show “Are Scottie Barnes and Tyrese Maxey untouchable in Kevin Durant trades?”. – 11:42 AM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Durant trade talks over, Nets and star “agreed to move forward with our partnership” nba.nbcsports.com/2022/08/23/dur… – 11:40 AM Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
eh, the Lakers would have had plenty of Godfather offers if they were actually willing to Kobe (who was 28 and in the heart of his prime at the time). But LA never seriously considered trading Kobe.
The Nets put KD on the open market – but other teams weren’t willing to pony up pic.twitter.com/poq7nQJEuo – 11:39 AM Barbara Barker @meanbarb
OK, if you thought last year was crazy……KD is going to be playing for a coach and GM that he tried to get fired. If it were any other player, I’d say what a disaster. – 11:38 AM Patrick Beverley @patbev21
Yal can sit and don’t say nothing but that ain’t cool. It’s dudes with families out here who haven’t got a job because of this KD shit. And to be on and off ain’t cool. Blessing Gang🙏🏾🏀 – 11:37 AM Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
This summer the Nets had two very important issues to deal with: Kevin Durant’s trade request and Kyrie Irving’s future. In both cases they achieved their goal. They kept them in Brooklyn, keeping the roster at a championship level. Big success for the Nets! #NetsWorld #Brooklyn – 11:37 AM Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
In the end, Kevin Durant and the Nets played out in a similar way to Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in 2007: A tumultuous summer after a trade request, talks with teams, no deal and ultimately a decision to return to the franchise. – 11:34 AM Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Danny Ainge really broke the trade market, and now Durant has to stay in Brooklyn – 11:34 AM Tom Westerholm @Tom_NBA
I would like to express my gratitude in an official capacity to KD and the Nets for filling the content void for nearly all of August. – 11:32 AM Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
I don’t think the Nets winning their staring contest with KD changes all that much in a macro sense. Guys with one or two years left will continue to get their trades. Guys with longer deals will continue to be on a case-by-case basis. – 11:31 AM Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
BREAKING NEWS: Kevin Durant will stay in Brooklyn!
Antonio Daniels tells Rick Kamla why he isn’t surprised by the news.
#NetsWorld | @Rick Kamla | @adaniels33 pic.twitter.com/4xBueioaez – 11:30 AM Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Durant said pic.twitter.com/3WRrc4FDDY – 11:30 AM Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
NEW: Kevin Durant will remain a member of the Brooklyn Nets
The latest, via @thenetswire 👇
netswire.usatoday.com/lists/nets-ann… – 11:27 AM Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Rich Kleiman showing KD he still had 4 years left on the contract he just signed pic.twitter.com/6tVr4qM0aM – 11:25 AM Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
“We want to build a lasting franchise, so this is not just about this year,” said a #Nets source. The LA meeting included not just Durant, Sean Marks and Steve Nash, but also KD’s business partner Rich Kleiman, as well as team owner Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai. #NBA – 11:22 AM Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Just to be clear, this isn’t just a situation of the #Nets convincing Kevin Durant to give them a year, run it back for one season in a championship-or-bust swing, and then moving him next summer. They plan on this being a long-term marriage. – 11:20 AM Jon Krawczynski @JonKrawczynski
If — and this is an IF — the Wolves’ trade for Rudy Gobert played some role in the Nets being unable to execute a deal involving KD, well, the Wolves come out winners again because they helped keep him from coming West. – 11:19 AM Scott Souza @Scott_Souza
SO JAYLEN AND JAYSON ALMOST WON A TITLE BUT WHEN THIS DURANT GUY DEMANDED A TRADE THEY KEPT TALKING ABOUT TRADING JAYLEN FOR HIM. THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE TO TALK ABOUT SO THEY TALKED ABOUT IT ALL SUMMER EVEN THOUGH NOBODY THOUGHT IT WOULD HAPPEN. BUT NOW IT’S REALLY NOT HAPPENING. pic.twitter.com/vqnP0LcbrG – 11:19 AM Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Kevin Durant removes trade request, remains with Nets sportando.basketball/en/kevin-duran… – 11:18 AM Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
On behalf of everyone at @ringer, I’d like to thank the Nets and Kevin Durant for 2 months of lively, provocative and ultimately meaningless content for podcasts and written pieces. – 11:18 AM Brian Geltzeiler @BGeltzNBA
Make no mistake about todays Nets/Durant news. The Nets are still on the clock depending what happens this season. If there isn’t a meaningful playoff run and a lot less drama, the Nets will be right back in this spot with Durant this time next year. – 11:17 AM Fred Katz @FredKatz
I wrote a few weeks ago why the NBA’s trade market had stalled so much. But Durant committing back to Brooklyn is a possible step toward more movement elsewhere: theathletic.com/3460031/2022/0… – 11:15 AM Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Kevin Durant will stay with the Brooklyn Nets after meeting with Rich Kleiman, GM Sean Marks, coach Steve Nash, Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai. “We are focusing on basketball, with one collective goal in mind: build a lasting franchise to bring a championship to Brooklyn,” Marks says pic.twitter.com/fIMbjAtqlV – 11:15 AM Fred Katz @FredKatz
Something to watch: With the Kevin Durant trade market no longer in existence, a team that was holding onto pieces to use in a Durant trade could choose to use those same players/picks to enter the Donovan Mitchell sweepstakes. – 11:13 AM Alex Raskin @RaskinDailyMail
BREAKING: Kevin Durant is STAYING in Brooklyn after #Nets announce they met with the former MVP in LA and agreed to ‘move forward with our partnership’ after trade speculation mol.im/a/11138429 via @MailSport – 11:13 AM Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
BREAKING: Kevin Durant stays with the Brooklyn Nets
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/13… – 11:12 AM Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Imagine if KD did all of this just to finally get a Christmas off. – 11:12 AM Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
I’m very curious to see how the Nets do this season now. The Kevin Durant situation has the potential to be a huge distraction, but on paper, that’s one of the more talented rosters in the league. Obviously, a lot of questions surrounding them though. – 11:12 AM Michael Dugat @mdug
it’ll be interesting to learn who the Mavs possibly passed on as they appeared to prioritize being there to pick up pieces at the fringe of any Durant/Kyrie deals. – 11:11 AM Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Kevin Durant and the Nets “have agreed to move forward with our partnership,” Nets GM Sean Marks said in a statement today. KD and Rich Kleiman met with Marks, Steve Nash, Joe and Clara Wu Tsai in LA yesterday. – 11:08 AM Jon Hamm @JonMHamm
“Kevin Durant trade discussions are over and he is staying put” pic.twitter.com/VsnC4fe4A4 – 11:05 AM Alex Kennedy @AlexKennedyNBA
With Kevin Durant staying in Brooklyn, we’ll see if a Donovan Mitchell trade is the next domino to fall. – 11:05 AM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Sooooo the Pelicans should face Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons in the season opener 🍿🍿🍿 – 11:04 AM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Now that the Kevin Durant situation officially passed
Now the power forward addition should be the focus – 11:03 AM Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
I wanted a Kevin Durant trade mainly because it would lead to a Kyrie trade, but I’m at least grateful for the resolution. Didn’t need this hanging over the entire season. And yea, as someone who made a premature Nets Finals bet, at least that has a bit of life again. – 11:03 AM Ian Begley @IanBegley
Nets’ GM Sean Marks announced that Nets have met with Kevin Durant and are ‘moving forward with their partnership’ together. Full statement: pic.twitter.com/Wy5ZWXd3iC – 11:02 AM Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Nets announce Kevin Durant, Steve Nash and Sean Marks met and will move forward on trying to bring a championship to Brooklyn. – 11:02 AM Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Steve Nash, Joe Tsai and Sean Marks met with Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman in Los Angeles on Monday and have decided to move forward with partnership, Nets say. – 11:01 AM Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
What the hell happened to Stephen A during his vacation? He just said a big 3 of KD, Kyrie + Simmons with Mark Jackson coaching would win the East. Can we get Stephen A some orange juice and maybe a warm towel? – 10:24 AM Tom Ziller @teamziller
I wrote about the glacial pace of the KD saga with caution against drawing grand theories since everyone involved appears to be stalling, lying and bluffing. ziller.substack.com/p/whos-really-… – 10:12 AM StatMuse @statmuse
Most All-NBA selections in the 2010s:
10 — LeBron
9 — KD
8 — Russ
They also combined for half of the MVP awards. pic.twitter.com/jbS6uIV66A – 10:06 AM Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Second part of the mailbag is up. Expectations for TJ Warren, the KD and Kyrie Irving situations and more: theathletic.com/3526545/2022/0… – 9:03 AM Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“That’s where the lack of trust began to seep in”
@Chris Haynes tells @TermineRadio & @Eddie Johnson why he thinks Durant and the Brooklyn Nets are at odds. pic.twitter.com/IAVMyQ7rl7 – 7:30 AM

More on this storyline

Q: Are the Nets done building their roster now? Brian Lewis: Not close. Not by a long shot. Yes, they let their DeAndre Jordan trade exception expire last week, but the Nets have six open roster spots, tied for the most in the entire NBA — three Exhibit 10s, a two-way and two standard spots. The first domino could be David Duke Jr., who rejected their two-way offer and is holding out for a standard deal. But they still have to fill out the rest of the roster. Nic Claxton — whose starts have gone from zero to one to 19 in his three years in the league — has proclaimed himself ready to seize the center spot. But with DayRon Sharpe the only other 5 on the roster, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them look for a backup/competition for Claxton. And if they wanted to appease Durant, they could bring in Carmelo Anthony, a move he’s wanted them to make. -via New York Post / August 24, 2022 John Gambadoro: The Phoenix Suns had multiple conversations with the Nets this offseason but none in the last couple of weeks. The Suns were never out of it because they were never really in it. Nets were always insistent the return had to be better than what Utah got for Gobert. Mikal Bridges was never offered because no formal offer was ever made from Phoenix nor was there a proposal made by the Nets. The Suns simply did not have what Brooklyn wanted – were told several times they did not have what it would take to get a deal done. -via Twitter / August 24, 2022 The prospect of landing the great Kevin Durant on a four-year deal wasn’t enough to inspire Boston to include Marcus Smart, Toronto to include Scottie Barnes or Memphis to include Jaren Jackson Jr. or Desmond Bane. These are very good players, to be sure, but none has ever worn an All-Star jersey. And Durant, who turns 34 next month, is a former MVP with two rings, two NBA Finals MVP trophies, 12 All-Star berths and a stat line from last season that shows he still has elite basketball left. (Only Durant and LeBron James averaged at least 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists.) I understand the context here, how the combination of his injury history, age and personality (will he be happy in the next spot?) impact every team’s internal calculus. But even with all of that, it’s still mind-boggling that KEVIN DURANT hasn’t yielded better offers than this. -via The Athletic / August 24, 2022