Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets showed some kind of interest in being involved in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes earlier this summer, per Shams Charania. Durant requested a trade just before the start of the free agency period.
Both teams wanted to “gauge the price tag” on the 12-time All-Star in June and early July, but Charania noted that “none of those conversations gained much traction,” in the same fashion with other teams, both backed away when the Nets revealed the price.
The Nets are willing to trade Durant, but their demands are considered “pricey” for the rest of the NBA. Brooklyn wants an All-Star caliber player, multiple draft picks and good young players in exchange for Durant.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets inquired with the Nets earlier this summer to 'gauge the price tag' for Kevin Durant, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/IxGRcJUbwA
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 22, 2022
The Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks also reportedly contacted the Nets, although there weren’t advanced talks in any case. The Sixers resurfaced at some early in August, but there was no traction.
Per Charania, the Celtics, Toronto Raptors, and Miami Heat “remain among the most serious threats to land Durant because they have the types of pieces necessary to satisfy the Nets’ asking price” — though none have shown any inclination to do so as of yet.
In any case, there is no real development, as the Nets are standing pat to the enormous demands they seem to have to let any deal be concluded. Talks likely happened, how serious they were is likely being filtered through the lenses of sources with an agenda.
