The Brooklyn Nets makes an attempt, albeit half-hearted, to commerce star ahead Kevin Durant have ended with the group releasing an announcement saying the 2 sides have reconciled.
The choice ought to have a major affect on how the Lakers method the rest of the offseason.
“Steve Nash and I, along with [team owner] Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai, met with Kevin Durant and Wealthy Kleiman in Los Angeles yesterday,” Nets basic supervisor Sean Marks mentioned in an announcement posted to Twitter. “We're specializing in basketball, with one collective objective in thoughts: construct an enduring franchise to convey a championship to Brooklyn.”
The Nets’ brand and the brand for “The Boardroom” — the title of Durant’s media firm — seem on the underside of the assertion.
Durant made a commerce request earlier this summer time, slamming groups just like the Lakers into impartial whereas they surveyed the doable fallout from one of many league’s largest stars presumably being dealt.
Durant has 4 years left on his deal and generally is a free agent in 2026.
By not accepting any gives — the Nets, in keeping with sources, have been looking for commerce packages with younger stars and a number of draft picks — Brooklyn scored a victory for possession towards participant calls for for offers.
The Nets, whom the Lakers had spoken with in commerce discussions for Kyrie Irving, by no means confirmed curiosity in accepting Russell Westbrook again in a deal. There was some hypothesis that the Nets’ stance would soften after a Durant commerce or that it’d be simpler to incorporate a 3rd (or fourth) crew in a deal after that scenario was resolved.
With Durant (and now virtually actually Irving) staying in Brooklyn in the meanwhile, the Lakers’ pathway to dealing Westbrook truly will get a bit of clearer. There are additionally some wait-and-see issues to observe on the subject of Utah and Donovan Mitchell, who've been in discussions with the Knicks a couple of deal.
With a extra settled view, the Lakers may be earnest in discussions elsewhere across the NBA that don’t contain Irving — an element that’s actually affected their offseason for the reason that starting of free company.
Sources inside the group have insisted that their choices have all the time prolonged past Irving. Now with Brooklyn’s scenario settled, it’s on the Lakers to determine theirs with Westbrook.
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