The Nets remain at the forefront of the NBA trade talks as the unsettled future of Kevin Durant continues to loom large. Recent reports claim that the Celtics are the newest club to enter the race for the Nets’ superstar, who requested for a trade during the start of free agency.
The Celtics reportedly offered a package around Jaylen Brown for Durant which has caught the attention of the Nets’ management, although there’s nothing imminent between these teams just yet.
On the other hand, Kyrie Irving expressed his desire to stay this upcoming season and has no intention to move elsewhere. And over in the West, there are three other teams that have discussed a possible deal with the Lakers involving Russell Westbrook since talks between LA and Brooklyn have reached an impasse.
Learn more about the latest NBA 2022 news by continuing to read down below.
Celtics have an intriguing package for Kevin Durant
The list of Kevin Durant suitors wasn’t as big as most would’ve anticipated despite his world-class calibre. Here at SBOTOP, we previously listed the Heat, Suns, and Raptors as possible trade destinations for the 2014 NBA MVP.
But with the Suns recently signing Deandre Ayton to a long-term extension, along with the unwillingness of both the Raptors and the Heat to part with their young stars, Durant’s market has dwindled and many believe that he will suit up for the Nets next season whether he likes it or not since he still has a four-year contract with them.
Many pointed out that the Rudy Gobert trade has limited the Nets’ realistic options since the Jazz got five first-rounders and several rotation players for the French center, and Brooklyn are likely to demand a similar package or even better.
So a lot were surprised when the Celtics emerged as a possible destination, including Jaylen Brown himself as shown in his most recent tweet. After all, the Celtics were two wins away from winning their record-breaking 18th NBA title last season, and they got even better with the acquisitions of Danilo Gallinari and Malcolm Brogdon.
The initial offer was to include Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and a draft pick for Durant, but the Nets wanted more. Instead, they’re proposing to include Brown, Marcus Smart, a couple more draft picks, and possibly one more rotation player, per sources.
Boston are mulling over Brooklyn’s counteroffer but they’ll be taking their time as there’s still more work to be done for both sides.
Should any of these deals happen, the NBA 2022 odds have the Celtics as the huge title favourites alongside the Warriors. However, Boston’s championship window would be significantly shortened since Durant is turning 34 years old this September.
Kyrie Irving committed to the Nets
Amid the speculation in Brooklyn, Kyrie Irving is apparently focused on playing for the Nets for the foreseeable future regardless of whether Kevin Durant leaves or not, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Earlier this summer, Irving opted into his $37-M player option for the 2022-23 season despite being linked to several teams. Him staying is good news for Brooklyn at least, since it gives them an ounce of competitiveness with his talent.
Last season, Irving played in only 29 regular season games largely because of his decision not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 – which made him ineligible to play in majority of the Nets’ home games.
After being swept by the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, Irving said that he planned on remaining with the Nets, even talking about managing the franchise alongside Durant, general manager Sean Marks, and team owner Joe Tsai.
Several teams expressed interest in Russell Westbrook
The Jazz, Knicks, and the Pacers are reportedly among the teams that have inquired about a potential trade involving the Lakers’ Russell Westbrook and draft capital.
Russell Westbrook recently exercised his $47-M player option to stay in Los Angeles for one more year. Despite averaging 18.5 points, 7.1 assists, and 7.4 rebounds per game last season, he struggled to fit with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, which led to their 33-49 record – which is good for only 11th in the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, another report has surfaced that LeBron James no longer has interest in playing with Russell Westbrook, which was mentioned by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin during his latest podcast appearance with Zach Lowe.
Based on McMenamin’s comments, the Lakers are under pressure to rid themselves of Westbrook in order to increase their chances of keeping LeBron James beyond this upcoming season.
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