The soap opera that is the NBA offseason turned it up a notch Monday as another report regarding Kevin Durant’s future surfaced.
According to Bleacher Report, Durant has met with Kyrie Irving about signing with the same team not once, but twice.
According to the report by Ric Bucher, the first meeting between the two superstars occurred while Durant was dealing with a strained right calf suffered against the Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals, with the second meeting happening after Durant underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon suffered in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors.
Irving has been linked to the Nets in recent weeks following news broke of his intention to sign with Roc Nation after splitting with longtime agent Jeff Wechsler. Brooklyn has created space for two max contracts, and according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Nets should be considered the front-runner for Durant.
“The Nets are gaining confidence that they can pull this off,” Windhorst said Friday on “The Jump” in reference to Brooklyn’s bid to add two max players. “I think the Nets are the front-runner to land KD. ... I’m not ruling out the Knicks, but I think the Nets are the front-runners and people are not giving them their (respect)."
Durant can become an unrestricted free agent if he declines his $31.5 million option with the Warriors, which seems likely, as according to Bucher, a league executive said Durant is “really pissed off at the Warriors" for their handling of his calf injury that may have led to the Achilles tear.
The Knicks and Clippers have also been mentioned as teams interested in signing the forward in free agency, which begins June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.