Do the Brooklyn Nets have any chance of convincing Kevin Durant to stay?
It’s the story of the NBA offseason, but there is still no end in sight. Rumors aside there now appears to be a chance of mending the rift between player and team.
As the standoff continues to rumble along between Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets, we’re all left to wonder how this all ends. Yet, reports now suggest the Nets are hoping for a turn around.
Nets hopeful that Kevin Durant will retract trade request
One has to imagine that when he submitted a trade request, Kevin Durant didn’t expect that weeks would pass, rumors would swirl and still, there would be no movement. Indeed, when the Nets seemingly conceded to their star after a disappointing season, even we believed it wouldn’t be long before the former MVP would be signing for a new team. This is after all one of the greatest players in NBA history that we’re talking about. Surely, it would have been a matter of beating back the potential suitors with a stick, right? Wrong!
Just over a month later and here we are, with no further movement in the saga. With Durant’s preferred Phoenix Suns essentially ruling themselves out of the running with the re-signing of DeAndre Ayton and the Miami Heat similarly lacking the resources to facilitate a deal, it would appear that Durant is fresh out of options. There were of course, rumblings about the Boston Celtics and a package that would include Jaylen Brown, but as things stand there has been no definitive negotiation between the two franchises. This is where we get to the Nets themselves. According to recent reports, the Nets are in fact still quite hopeful that they can turn things around. While there is no clear-cut indication that Durant would be open to staying, things could well get interesting if another month or two passes with no trade on the table.
What would happen if Kevin Durant stays with the Nets?
Whether you like, KD, the Nets or even the tooth fairy, the reality is this: If Kevin Durant returns to Brooklyn, he’ll be the center piece of an extremely strong team. Friend and fellow opinion divider, Kyrie Irving has extended, Ben Simmons is on the mend, Joe Harris and Seth Curry look to be as well and with that, you’ve got yourself the makings of a contender. Remember, there’s also Nic Claxton and Patty Mills who re-signed and of course we’ve got to mention TJ Warren who brings a nice option from the wing. What that ultimately means, is that quite frankly, the Nets could well have a stronger roster than any of the teams associated with a move for Durant.
Ultimately, nobody can say until Durant himself makes his intentions clear which is something he is yet to do. Should the former NBA champion declare that he has no desire to play for the Nets again, it would likely result in them lowering their asking price, however, if there is no concrete offer before training camp, it may just be the leverage needed to convince their star to stay. One way or another, there are most definitely twists and turns left in this one, before it all comes to a conclusion.