Kevin Durant trade race: Raptors, Suns, Heat opt out

After the news of Kevin Durant requesting a trade from the Brooklyn Nets emerged, several teams such as the Miami Heat, the Phoenix Suns, and the Toronto Raptors, were rumored to be his trade destinations. However, all three teams have pulled out of the race to acquire Durant, as Fox Sports’ Chris Broussard reported. Check out the best new bookmakers for betting on the NBA.

As a result of the teams’ withdrawals, there is a big possibility that both Durant and the Nets might have to compromise on the situation. The Nets will have no choice but to keep Durant on the roster, and he will start the 2022-23 NBA season with the Nets.

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Durant’s trade drama

To trade their asset, the Nets demanded an equal exchange. Earlier this month, the Nets announced their high demand price for the trade and said that it was “unnegotiable.”

Over the past two seasons with the Nets, KD has played in 90 games and scored an average of 28.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. He was also shooting 52.8 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three.

According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Bobby Marks, Durant’s trade depended on many factors, which included the remaining contract with the Nets. KD’s contract expires in four years, with $189 million guaranteed and an annual average salary of $48 million.

The remaining contract and its value had become the deciding factors for teams interested in acquiring Durant.

“As such, Brooklyn wants an unprecedented return. However, few teams can both provide that asking price and still be a championship contender once the trade is done,” Bontemps said.

Bontemps also added that both conditions need to be met or KD’s trade would not make any sense.

In addition, the Nets were also looking for a perfect package with four first-round picks, three pick swaps, and one player on a rookie-scale contract in exchange for Durant. However, Tim asserted that such a package did not exist up until now.

Other trade possibilities

With the Heat, the Suns, and the Raptors leaving the trade saga, there is still an alternative trade scenario for Durant where he could be traded to the Boston Celtics. However, the trade will require a great number of assets to be sacrificed to realize the trade.

“If they want to give up Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, if I’m the Nets, I’m demanding Robert Williams III and three first-round picks,” Broussard commented. “If they want to give up some type of deal like that, then maybe it happens. But outside of that, where in the world is he going?”

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Putting KD as Jayson Tatum’s partner might give the Celtics the best 1-2 punch in the NBA. However, losing Brown, Smart, and a third rotation player like Williams III may take away three key players in the Celtics’ deep playoff run.

According to Broussard, the 33-year-old player will end up going back to the Nets and start the upcoming season with the team that he requested a trade with.

“There just aren’t the deals out there worth a superstar like Kevin Durant,” he said.