Kevin Durant may not necessarily ask for a trade if Kyrie Irving leaves

Later Thursday, Woj went on ESPN to say “I’m told that Kevin Durant has not told the Nets that if Kyrie Irving leaves, that means he’s going to ask for a trade.”Source: Net Income @ NetsDaily

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBSI have no idea what Kevin Durant will actually net in a trade if it comes to that.I think he’s worth as much as basically any star ever traded. I don’t know how much power he’ll have to force a destination. I don’t know how fearful teams are of his age and flight risk status. – 6:47 PM

Dan Favale @danfavalenot sure i ever truly understood deja vu before the kyrie irving news cycle – 6:46 PM

StatMuse @statmuseKyrie Irving career:.721 in games with LeBron.477 in games without LeBron@LeGoatMuse pic.twitter.com/gZXhUrEare – 6:32 PM

Eric Pincus @EricPincusBump this again -> Latest @BleacherReport A 3-Team Kyrie Irving Trade Between Lakers-Nets-Thunder Could Make Everyone Happy – I mean, this is the internet, no single thing is going to make everyone happy. Nonetheless, I dug into why it could add up bleacherreport.com/articles/10039… – 6:27 PM

Chris Herrington @ChrisHerringtonIf you ranked all 29 teams (someone will do this if they haven’t already) in terms of most realistic Durant trade destinations, the Grizzlies are a lot closer to the top than the bottom. Still not all that realistic, but … – 6:21 PM

Sean Deveney @SeanDeveneyThe Nets were just hanging out with a young team that had improved by 14 wins in the spring of 2019 when Kyrie Irving and Durant told them, “Hey, you guys, get excited, we’re coming to play for you!”Oh.Lucky us. – 6:18 PM

Dan Favale @danfavalekyrie and the nets negotiating against each other pic.twitter.com/mRrr4QQ4JX – 6:18 PM

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynoldsMy official prediction for tonight:“The Orlando Magic have decided to trade the No. 1 pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Tom Brady and three tires from Jimmie Johnson’s last car. But how will that affect Kyrie? Let’s discuss.” – 6:13 PM

Story continues

Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzzNEW: Exploring potential stretch four options if Heat loses free agent priority Tucker. And Miami again on Kyrie Irving’s list: miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 5:57 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeckThe Sixers are reportedly on Kyrie Irving’s short list of sign-and-trade preferences if he makes his way out of Brooklyn. So here are my thoughts on whether it’s worthy being in the Irving business in 2022 phillyvoice.com/nba-trade-rumo… – 5:43 PM

Brad Townsend @townbradReport: Kyrie Irving lists Mavs as possible destination if he can’t reach deal with Nets dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 5:40 PM

David Hardisty @clutchfansI expect Nets to work this out with Kyrie/KD, but this year may be the only season they can struggle and be fine. This is #Rockets last year they expect to lose. Their pick will be high. They only have swap rights this year. BKN could finish #7 in the draft and still keep it. – 5:18 PM

The Ringer @ringernba💯 The leaks and rumors surrounding Kyrie💯 Three most likely teams for Kyrie if he does leave Brooklyn💯 Real One of the Week#RealOnes: open.spotify.com/episode/1W9wH5… – 5:17 PM

Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoriaNow on @njdotcomIf no deal can be reached with Nets, Kyrie Irving’s list of sign-and-trade candidates includes Knicks, Sixers and Lakers: Report nj.com/knicks/2022/06… – 5:16 PM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalkReports: Irving gives Nets list of potential destinations, Durant considering Nets’ future nba.nbcsports.com/2022/06/23/rep… – 5:05 PM

StatMuse @statmuseNets wins in the last 4 seasons:2019 — 42*add Kyrie and KD2020 — 352021 — 482022 — 44They have only been a top 4 seed once in the Kyrie era. pic.twitter.com/BIKg8dpvNM – 5:04 PM

Eurohoops @EurohoopsnetSix teams are among Kyrie Irving’s preferred destinations if he leaves the Netseurohoops.net/en/nba-news/13… – 5:03 PM

BasketNews @BasketNews_comKyrie Irving has named 6 teams he would like to play for 👀Kevin Durant is monitoring the Nets situation, which opens a window for Irving to find a new team via opt-in and tradebasketnews.com/news-174044-ky… – 4:58 PM

Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeatHeat linked to Kyrie Irving’s latest NBA wandering eye, as Nets situation grows muddled. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… Also: The Heat’s ongoing Chet Kammerer impact; and Jimmy Butler getting his international kicks. – 4:58 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothersFor the sickos who like to watch, Thursday’s @LockedOnLakers pod, YouTube version. Topics include Kyrie giving up $30M (spoiler: he won’t), Darvin Ham’s staff, and what the Lakers could do w/a second round pick. @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPodsyoutu.be/NZko5wJZD3I?t=… – 4:58 PM

Wes Goldberg @wcgoldbergOn the Heat and Kyrie Irving youtu.be/tSaDriH1074 – 4:51 PM

Andrew Sharp @andrewsharpThink the Wiz are kicking the tires on Kuzma, Rui and KCP for KD? I sure hope they are – 4:51 PM

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynoldsTrade machine: everything your team has for Kevin Durant.This trade works! – 4:50 PM

Andrew Sharp @andrewsharpIs Kyrie spiteful enough to opt out and take the midlevel with another contender? Literally any other star and the answer is no. But Kyrie… Maybe! – 4:47 PM

Anthony Puccio @APOOCHI understand they’re in the middle of a negotiation battle, but let’s say they do lose KD and Kyrie — they fired Kenny Atkinson, his staff, fired Nash’s staff, traded away all their core pieces.What’s next?A rebuild with Nash leading a young core? – 4:42 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBSFor the record the Kevin Durant trade I would hope for as an objective basketball fan would be Memphis. – 4:37 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBSWould Boston give up Jaylen Brown for Kevin Durant?Would Toronto give up Scottie Barnes?Would Denver give up Jamal Murray?I think the answers here are probably “no,” but there’s a real opportunity to vault to the top of the title picture if someone is ready to go all in. – 4:36 PM

The Ringer @ringernbaJames Harden seeing Kevin Durant and Kyrie potentially on their way out of Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/BSDkjmqSxs – 4:34 PM

Vivek Jacob @vivekmjacobKyrie’s done it again pic.twitter.com/YQq8Djn5jl – 4:31 PM

Krishna Narsu @knarsu3Kyrie getting traded to the Sixers and KD getting traded to the Warriors would be by far the funniest outcome – 4:31 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBSI think the Nets are going to figure this out. I think Durant, Kyrie and Simmons are gonna be in the opening day lineup.But if they don’t, this immediately becomes one of the greatest disasters in roster-building history. To go from favorites to this in ONE YEAR is unheard of. – 4:29 PM

Bill Simmons @BillSimmonsUh-oh Kyrie needs a ride again pic.twitter.com/MaBbkmlSY5 – 4:28 PM

Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46Kevin Durant is monitoring the Brooklyn Nets’ situation and considering options with his future. Kyrie Irving is set to leaving the Nets this summer and everything is going to change for the franchise. Nothing will be the same in Brooklyn #NetsWorldsdna.gr/mpasket/978547… – 4:26 PM

Austin Krell @NBAKrellPersonally find it all too convenient that the 2 top insiders reported at the same time for it to be much more than a threat to BKN.But, Kyrie has to be like the only in-prime star whose risk exceeds his reward? – 4:24 PM

Jon Johnson @jonjohnsonwipIf you like drama, conspiracy theories, occasional disappearances, but one hell of a guard, Kyrie Irving is for you. Let’s check in with Daryl Morey. – 4:22 PM

Alex Kennedy @AlexKennedyNBACould Kevin Durant be on the move this offseason?! The NBA is insane, man. – 4:21 PM

Ian Begley @IanBegleyWe noted earlier this week that people around Kyrie Irving have viewed NYK as potential destination if things went awry in his negotiations w/BKN; @Adrian Wojnarowski reports that NYK is among teams Irving would like BKN to consider in sign-&-trades in that scenario: on.sny.tv/gv3roJd – 4:21 PM

Fred Katz @FredKatzI wrote earlier this week about the Knicks’ route to acquiring Kyrie Irving, if they want to sign him.They are over the cap today, but they don’t need to do a sign-and-trade to bring Kyrie in. There are moves that can open up max space.Story here: https://t.co/8YYWzSHnlu pic.twitter.com/zxfDnS6drD – 4:21 PM

TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAThe idea of Brooklyn sign-and-trading Kyrie to Philly to get Harden back after he demanded out of Brooklyn to get to Philly is so funny that I’m refusing to acknowledge how utterly insane and improbable it is. – 4:19 PM

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynoldsThe team I’d watch on the Kyrie front, just based on the list @Adrian Wojnarowski put out: the Los Angeles Clippers. – 4:19 PM

Brian Robb @BrianTRobbIntriguing leverage play here by Kyrie/KD to get Irving his max deal with the Nets. We will see if Sean Marks blinks first even though he’s holding most of the cards. Durant is signed through 2025-26 and Kyrie can’t go anywhere he wants to in free agency without Nets’ help. – 4:18 PM

Rob Perez @WorldWideWobif you are someone who roots for armageddon: it’s not Kyrie for Russ, it’s Kyrie AND Russ. – 4:17 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothersGreat viewer comment on the @LockedOnLakers YouTube page! AK @LockedOnNBAPods“LeBron’s GOAT case grows considerably stronger if he talks Kyrie into taking a massive pay cut to link up again. Nobody would take that sort of cut in pay to be abused by Jordan on a daily basis.” – 1:57 PM

StatMuse @statmuseMost career points at each draft pick position:#1 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar#2 — Kevin Durant#3 — Michael Jordan#4 — Russell Westbrook#5 — Kevin Garnett#6 — Adrian Dantley#7 — Steph Curry#8 — Robert Parish#9 — Dirk Nowitzki#10 — Paul Pierce pic.twitter.com/H9aKWPEa0Q – 1:05 PM

Bill Oram @billoramKyrie Irving is suddenly, maybe available but disciplined teams with structure and a clear identity know better than to pursue him. That’s what makes the Lakers his ideal landing spot. theathletic.com/3379101/2022/0… – 12:06 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothersThursday’s @LockedOnLakers podcast! Would Kyrie *really* take $30M less to join the Lakers? Jordan Ott joins Darvin Ham’s staff. Can the Lakers buy into the second round of the draft? #FirstListen @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPodsSubscribe, fools!podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wou… – 11:39 AM

StatMuse @statmuseFirst overall picks to play on a team with LeBron James:— Joe Smith— Shaquille O’Neal— Greg Oden— Kyrie Irving— Andrew Bogut— Derrick Rose— Anthony Davis— Dwight HowardThat’s 28% of #1 picks since 1992. pic.twitter.com/fn33o07FTQ – 11:12 AM

Justin Kubatko @jkubatko📅 On this day in 2011, the @Cleveland Cavaliers selected Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft.Players in this draft have accounted for 31 All-Star nods:7 – Irving6 – Jimmy Butler5 – Kawhi Leonard5 – Klay Thompson4 – Kemba Walker2 – Isaiah Thomas2 – Nikola Vucevic pic.twitter.com/vY8aFVBKXY – 11:01 AM

Anthony Puccio @APOOCHHopped on ESPN Radio last night to discuss Kyrie Irving reaching Nets’ Impasse, Kevin Durant, and the repercussions that might come with it.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbj46Y… – 10:39 AM

Wes Goldberg @wcgoldbergNew @LockedOnHeat pod– Final Heat draft board– Draft-night predictions– Why the Heat didn’t trade for Jerami Grant– Latest on Kyriepodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/loc… – 10:24 AM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_StilesIt’s draft day. Here is a fun Chet Holmgren interview on NBA Tik Tok admits he was a “bandwagon, big LeBron guy, Big KD guy.” More about him personally: pic.twitter.com/5p8usbU4U1 – 5:39 AM

BasketNews @BasketNews_comIf the rumours are right, can we potentially see Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in LA next season? 👀 pic.twitter.com/aQA9SLF6Y8 – 3:04 AM

Eric Pincus @EricPincusLatest @BleacherReport A 3-Team Kyrie Irving Trade Between Lakers-Nets-Thunder Could Make Everyone Happy – I mean, this is the internet, no single thing is going to make everyone happy. Nonetheless, I dug into why it could add up bleacherreport.com/articles/10039… – 1:09 AM

Alex Kennedy @AlexKennedyNBAWhat’s the latest on Kyrie Irving’s future? @Michael Scotto is discussing that now: twitter.com/i/spaces/1RDGl… – 11:08 PM

David Hardisty @clutchfansSaid @Kendrick Perkins: “It’s not going to be a ‘might’ that Kevin Durant ‘might’ want out. He’s GOING to want out if the Brooklyn Nets don’t offer Kyrie that long-term extension.” – 9:54 PM

Zach Lowe @ZachLowe_NBAICYMI: Lowe Post podcast: Steve Kerr goes behind the scenes on GSW’s title run, then @Jonathan Givony on all things draft/trade rumors/Kyrie/free agency, more:Spotify: spoti.fi/3O99jdOApple: apple.co/3biyGv5 – 9:22 PM

Bill Oram @billoramIn which I say — through gritted teeth — that the Lakers should pursue Kyrie Irving if he’s really available, but only because they’ve backed themselves in such a corner they can’t afford to ask themselves the most important questions. theathletic.com/3379101/2022/0… – 8:27 PM

StatMuse @statmuseThings Kyrie needs to do to join the Lakers:— Leave his hometown— Leave his best friend— Leave $30 million on the tableIf LeBron pulls this off, he is the greatest GM of all time. pic.twitter.com/bHYQ06sSr1 – 7:33 PM

More on this storyline

Shams Charania: Sources: Kevin Durant is monitoring the Brooklyn Nets’ situation and considering options with his future. This now opens the path for Kyrie Irving to proceed on finding a new home via opt-in and trade. -via Twitter @ShamsCharania / June 23, 2022

Kevin Durant: Can I take a victory lap or I gotta wait until I retire? @ColinCowherd -via Twitter / June 23, 2022

Here’s a better question: how likely is it that Durant retires with the Nets? His loyalty was always with Irving more than with the organization. According to comments made by ESPN’s Nick Friedell on SportsCenter, Durant and Irving aren’t as close as they used to be. “At every turn publicly, [Kevin Durant] has been there to support [Kyrie Irving], to say we need Kyrie, to say Kyrie can win a title with me here in Brooklyn. But I can tell you, I’ve been talking to people in the organization the last couple of weeks, when they finally sit down and talk to Kevin throughout the summer, they are trying to figure out if Kevin saw what everybody else saw. … The reason that whole season got sidetracked was because they couldn’t count on Kyrie, and they didn’t know if he was going to be out there. And the issue with Kevin is, he wants to win badly, he wants to be loyal to his friend. But I’ve been told that relationship, while very close, isn’t always as close as it appears to be.” -via SB Nation / June 23, 2022

Adrian Wojnarowski: Those are teams who Irving has interest in, but he isn’t necessarily a priority for all of them, sources said. -via Twitter @wojespn / June 23, 2022

Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: If Kyrie Irving can’t reach an agreement to stay with Brooklyn, he has a list of teams he’d like them to consider on sign-and-trades, including Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Heat, Mavs and 76ers. None of those teams have cap space to sign him without Nets’ help. Those are teams who Irving has interest in, but he isn’t necessarily a priority for all of them, sources said. -via Twitter @wojespn / June 23, 2022