Kevin Durant has requested a trade from the Nets. Now we just have to wait and see where he ends up.
What we do know is that the Nets aren't in a rush to trade Durant. We also know that they're looking to get a massive return for the 12-time All-Star, which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.
After all, we're talking about one of the greatest players of all time who is still arguably the best player in the league and has four years remaining on his current contract. Just look at what the Jazz got for Rudy Gobert, who is a fantastic player, but nowhere near the star that Durant is.
With that in mind, I came up with a few trade packages for Durant and presented them to TSN's Carlan Gay, Kyle Irving, Gilbert McGregor and Jordan Greer to get their opinion on whether or not they think both teams would agree to them.
An important note: I haven't included any picks in the following deals. How many picks a team is willing to give the Nets for Durant is going to be a huge part of any trade that is made, but I'm more interested in which players teams can offer. If you want to know how many picks a particular team has, ESPN's Bobby Marks covered it here.
With that covered, onto the Fanspo-approved trade packages!
Kevin Durant to the Raptors
The trade: Kevin Durant for Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr.
What you need to know: Toronto feels like it can put together the best package of assets for Durant.
Who says no? Raptors say no.
There's a reason that Toronto has reportedly been "unwilling" to part ways with Barnes — the Rookie of the Year has an undefined ceiling that the franchise could enjoy for seven to 10 years if all goes according to plan. Raptors president Masai Ujiri is a calculated executive and has delivered a title north of the border because of it.
As the percentages and odds play out, it makes more sense to bet on Barnes, a soon-to-be-21-year-old with superstar potential, than Durant, a soon-to-be-34-year-old that has had his fair share of injury issues in each of the last four seasons.
When Durant's hypothetical title window as a Raptor would be ending, the Raptors' window with Barnes would just be beginning. The Barnes option feels like a much more sustainable model of success.
— Gilbert McGregor (@GMcGregor21)
MORE: Why Raptors should — and shouldn't — trade for Durant
Kevin Durant to the Celtics
The trade: Kevin Durant for Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart
What you need to know: Boston was one of few teams to get a meeting with Durant when he was a free agent in 2016. Durant won a gold medal at the 2020 Olympics with Jayson Tatum, and Celtics head coach Ime Udoka was an assistant coach on Team USA.
Who says no? I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Celtics say no. It's so hard to fathom the idea of turning down a Durant trade, but when you get as close to winning a title with homegrown talent like Boston did last season, why not try and see it through?
If the Celtics traded Brown and Smart, they would be gutting this team's culture. They're two of the most important voices in that locker room and they've both been a part of everything Boston has gone through to get to this point. Yes, Durant would be an easy fix for the Celtics' offensive shortcomings that we saw in the NBA Finals, but the front office would be throwing away everything they've built over the past six years. Tatum would no longer be the No. 1 option and go-to guy. They would lose two vital perimeter defenders, one being the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
Durant is incredible, but he's also 33 years old and not far removed from a significant injury. Brown, 25, and Smart, 28, are perfectly suited for the growth of the Celtics' core alongside Tatum, 24, and Robert Williams III, 24.
Boston is in a position to contend in the East for the foreseeable future. Trading those two players for Durant shortens that window, no matter how great he is right now.
— Kyle Irving (@KyleIrv_)
MORE: NBA players react to Durant's trade request
Kevin Durant to the Suns
The trade: Kevin Durant for Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson
What you need to know: Phoenix is one of two teams known to be on Durant's wish list.
Who says no? This, to me, feels like the perfect trade for both parties in a Durant deal.
I know there were reports that this package (plus picks) wouldn't be enough for the Nets to do a deal, but why not? Ayton is a former No. 1 overall pick who, at times, has looked like a franchise player and primary option as a dominant – yet mobile and athletic – interior force. He and the Suns are clearly at an impasse, so Phoenix would have no problem moving him and the Nets should want to acquire his talents.
Bridges is an iron man who shows up to work every single day and competes. He's one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and he's a perfect building block for a re-tooling franchise. The same could be said about Johnson, who is coming off of a Sixth Man of the Year-type campaign.
All three of those players are younger than 27 years old and they're all yet to enter their prime. I don't see how the Nets get a better package than those three and a boat load of picks.
— Kyle Irving (@KyleIrv_)
MORE: How easy would a Suns trade for Durant be?
Kevin Durant to the Pelicans
The trade: Kevin Durant for Brandon Ingram, Herbert Jones, Jaxson Hayes
What you need to know: Brooklyn won't trade Durant unless it gets a "blue-chipper" like Brandon Ingram or Scottie Barnes in return.
Who says no? Nets say no.
While Pelicans fans would begrudgingly part ways with Jones in order to get Durant, it wouldn't be too big of an outcry with an all-time great coming in return. That said, as valuable as Jones has proven to be as an All-Defensive Team caliber player in his first NBA season, the deal lacks the potential star power that the Nets claim to seek. Ingram is destined to earn a few more All-Star selections in his career, but can he be the franchise guy? Hayes has room to develop but how much better can he realistically get with a change of scenery?
Brooklyn could try to push for rookie Dyson Daniels instead of Hayes but even then, GM Sean Marks and the front office might believe they could get a better deal from a different Durant suitor. For that reason, the answer likely remains a no.
— Gilbert McGregor (@GMcGregor21)
MORE: Why Zion Williamson, Trae Young can't be included in Durant trades
Kevin Durant to the Heat
The trade: Kevin Durant for Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Kyle Lowry, Max Strus
What you need to know: Miami is one of two teams known to be on Durant's wish list. He wants to play with Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, but it's incredibly difficult to match Durant's salary without one of them being involved. Also, the Heat can't acquire Bam Adebayo with Ben Simmons still on the roster.
Who says no? If you're the Nets, you say no. That's too many years left on the deals of Lowry and Robinson. Strus is a nice player and as good as Tyler Herro has been for the Heat, he's probably best suited as a sixth man-type. Would you really want to be accepting a package built around a great sixth man for one of the 15 best players to ever play the game? I'd think not.
— Carlan Gay (@TheCarlanGay)
MORE: Ranking the betting favorites to land Durant
Kevin Durant to the Warriors
The trade: Kevin Durant for Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, Jordan Poole, Moses Moody
What you need to know: Golden State's stars have been in conversation with Durant and would be open to a reunion, but they're not pushing the front office to acquire him. Complicating a potential deal is the Warriors can't acquire Andrew Wiggins with Ben Simmons still on the roster.
Who says no? I realize that this may sound crazy considering what the Warriors were able to do with Durant on board not that long ago, but... Golden State says no to this trade.
The Warriors have openly discussed their win-now and win-later plan. Durant will turn 34 years old in September, so unloading multiple talented players would mean throwing that strategy out of the window. Yes, some key role players did leave in free agency, but the trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are still in place to guide the youngsters as they improve.
Oh, and let's not forget the most obvious point here: Golden State just won the championship. The Warriors are operating far from desperation mode, so they should feel just fine about turning down this deal.
— Jordan Greer (@jordangreer42)
