NBA Atlantic

The Brooklyn Nets announced an agreement with All-Star forward Kevin Durant to "move forward with our partnership," bringing an end to the NBA offseason's top remaining storyline.

Now the Nets, who were a potential seller in wake of Durant's trade request in June, are back in the buyer category as they look to round out their roster behind the trio of KD, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons to open the 2022-23 campaign.

Let's analyze a couple possible targets for Brooklyn before it tips off the regular season Oct. 19 against the New Orleans Pelicans.

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Trade: Indiana Pacers Center Myles Turner

The Nets will utilize a lot of small-ball, free-flowing lineups with Durant, Irving and Simmons sharing time leading the offense. They lack a proven center who can handle work in the post when they go more traditional, though.

A combination of Nic Claxton, Royce O'Neale and Day'Ron Sharpe would likely be called on to handle the 5 in those situations.

A trade for Turner would help fill that void and give the already versatile Nets another well-rounded option to create defensive matchup problems.

The 2015 first-round pick averaged 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.5 threes while shooting 50.9 percent from the field across 42 appearances for the Pacers last season.

Turner recently told Andscape's Marc J. Spears the constant speculation he's faced since arriving in the NBA no longer bothers him.

"This is my fifth offseason with trade rumors going on. 'He's going to land here; he's going to do this. He going to do that.' I am finally numb to it, in a sense," Turner said.

He'd be a nice fit to fill one of the Nets' few roster holes, and that could help him find a more permanent home with less time in the rumor mill.

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Free Agency: Forward Carmelo Anthony

It took awhile for Melo to find his comfort zone as a role player rather than a go-to scorer, but now that he's more accustomed to a complementary spot in the rotation, he can provide strong value for a contender like Brooklyn.

The 10-time All-Star averaged 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 threes while shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc in 69 games for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22.

He'd represent a great fit for the Nets' small-ball lineups, joining Durant, Irving, Simmons and Joe Harris or Seth Curry for basically a positionless style of basketball.

Anthony also brings some versatility, with plenty of experience on the wing and a couple of years recently when he's transitioned more toward the stretch 4 role.

Whether it's the former Syracuse standout or someone else from the free-agent market, the Nets are a strong bet to add a sharpshooter before the season gets underway.

The Brooklyn Nets have reportedly "made clear to interested teams" that they don't plan to trade point guard Kyrie Irving ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Monday that Irving, who's been heavily linked to a potential reunion with LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers, has been "holding constructive dialogue" with the Nets' front office throughout the offseason.

Brooklyn appeared to be on the precipice of blowing up it's star-studded roster for most of the summer, but it now may be trying to keep the band together.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Thursday (h/t HoopsHype) that Irving is "invested" in remaining with the Nets and the focus has shifted to Kevin Durant's decision following his trade request in late June.

"Right now, I think the Nets want to run this team back and they're hoping Kevin Durant agrees," Windhorst said. "The way they're conducting trade talks and the prices they are asking has teams out there thinking they don't really want to trade Kevin Durant anyway. They want to bring this team back."

Brooklyn is coming off a 2021-22 campaign that was riddled by injuries and drama, but the talent on the roster is enough to keep the team in the championship conversation.

Durant, Irving, Ben Simmons, Joe Harris and Seth Curry is a strong core, and Brooklyn also has plenty of depth, including Royce O'Neale, Nicolas Claxton, Cam Thomas, Patty Mills and T.J. Warren. Day'Ron Sharpe and Kessler Edwards could also push for playing time.

There are still questions about Durant's level of investment after seeking an exit and Simmons' ability to make an impact after sitting out all of last season, but the skill in that rotation is enough to make a deep playoff run.

The other interesting aspect of the recent reporting is it appears Irving may stay in Brooklyn this season even if a Durant trade eventually comes to fruition. It sounds like the point guard has found common ground with the franchise after picking up the player option for the final season of his four-year, $136.5 million contract.

An adjustment period is on the horizon as he gets prepared to play alongside Simmons, another traditionally ball-dominant player. But having two players with vast experience running an offense on the floor together could create a lot of issues for opposing defenses.

A lot could still change for the Nets before they tip off the regular season on Oct. 19 against the New Orleans Pelicans, but an Irving trade appears to be growing more unlikely.

The Phoenix Suns appear to be trailing in the race for Kevin Durant.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Monday that the Suns' offer of Mikal Bridges and a "handful" of future draft picks has "not picked up any steam" with around a month remaining before training camps open.

The Suns appear to be a distant contender for Durant, as the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat remain engaged in talks with the Brooklyn Nets.

In the days following Durant's June trade request, Phoenix appeared to be the favorite to land the 12-time All-Star. Armed with Bridges, Deandre Ayton, Cameron Johnson and several future first-round picks, the Suns seemingly had a palatable offer as well.

That all changed when Ayton signed an offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers on July 14. While the Suns matched the four-year, $133 million offer to retain Ayton, that move took him out of any potential Durant trade offers. Ayton cannot be traded for a full year without his permission, and can't be traded until Jan. 15 at the earliest.

With no other realistic offers on the table—the Suns aren't trading Chris Paul or Devin Booker—Phoenix seemed to bow out of the race for the time being.

Charania's report only confirms what we all essentially knew as soon as Ayton signed that offer sheet from Indiana.

While Boston Celtics big man Robert Williams III battled a knee injury during the team's run to the NBA Finals, he is reportedly on track to be healthy at the start of the 2022-23 campaign.

According to Brian Robb of Mass Live: "There is no long-term concern about his knee injury. No surgery was needed, so ample rest this summer should have him at 100 percent in camp."

The Celtics will likely be counting on Williams to assume more responsibility during the upcoming campaign.

After all, the team's biggest move in the offseason to this point came in the backcourt with the acquisition of Malcolm Brogdon, and Al Horford will be 36 years old throughout the season. Boston also signed Danilo Gallinari, but he is more likely to stretch the floor as a matchup problem for opposing forwards.

Williams figures to be the one banging down low for rebounds and protecting the rim, much like he did as a 2021-22 All-Defensive second-team selection.

The Texas A&M product averaged 10.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 73.6 percent from the field last season. Those were all career-best totals, and he's still just 24.

During the postseason, he missed the first two games against the Brooklyn Nets in the opening round and the final four games of the second-round showdown with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Williams has the potential to be the best rim-protector in the league in 2022-23 after opponents shot 11.2 percent worse than their normal averages when he was defending them within six feet of the basket last season, per NBA.com.

Having him healthy is the first step toward ensuring he can live up to that potential, and it has apparently been nothing but good news on that front this offseason.

If the New York Knicks do make a trade for Donovan Mitchell, head coach Tom Thibodeau apparently has a preference for which of the team's young players should be included.

Per Marc Berman of the New York Post, there is a belief around the NBA that Thibodeau would prefer to include RJ Barrett in a deal instead of Quentin Grimes because he is a better defender and three-point shooter.

By not wanting to include Grimes, the Knicks appear to be decreasing their chances of pulling off a deal for Mitchell at this point.

Berman noted Utah Jazz CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge is "hot" to add Grimes as part of his rebuilding plan for the franchise.

"One individual believes Grimes would likely be amenable to joining Utah since a Brunson-Mitchell backcourt would be a roadblock to ever becoming a Knicks starter," Berman wrote.

Earlier this week, Shams Charania and Tony Jones of The Athletic that the Knicks and Jazz have had a "fresh conversation" about a Mitchell trade recently, but there's "no traction" on a deal right now.

Charania and Jones added the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards are also pursuing Mitchell, but a trade involving the three-time All-Star is not imminent.

When rumors about Mitchell potentially being on the trade block began in July, SNY's Ian Begley reported the Knicks had "no interest" in moving Barrett in any deal.

Begley also noted the Knicks were reluctant to trade a combination of picks and players because people within the organization were concerned they wouldn't have enough left on the roster to field a competitive team.

Barrett and Grimes are both 22 years old, but their contract status is very different. Barrett, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, can become a restricted free agent after this season. He averaged a career-high 20.0 points per game in 70 starts last season.

Grimes was the No. 25 overall pick in the 2021 draft and has two team option years left on his rookie contract before hitting restricted free agency after the 2024-25 season. The 6'5" shooting guard averaged 6.0 points in 46 games as a rookie, but he shot 38.1 percent from three-point range on 4.1 attempts per contest.

The Knicks finished 37-45 in 2021-22 and have missed the playoffs in eight of the past nine seasons.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving took part in a star-studded workout Saturday as their futures with the Brooklyn Nets continue to hang in the balance.

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young posted photos from the session, which also featured Miami Heat forward Victor Oladipo and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert, on Instagram.

Ice Trae, Uncle Drew and KD in the lab 🔥

(via @TheTraeYoung) pic.twitter.com/Irdmc0oMSJ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 20, 2022

Durant requested a trade from the Nets in late June, but there has been little progress toward a blockbuster deal ahead of the 2022-23 season.

That's reportedly not because of a lack of interest but rather Brooklyn's sky-high asking price after the Utah Jazz acquired a package that included four first-round draft picks and a pick swap for center Rudy Gobert.

While Gobert is one of the league's best defenders, he's also an old-school center in a modern NBA mostly dominated by wings, guards and versatile bigs. So, that trade set the bar for a KD deal at an extraordinarily high level.

With rival teams so far hesitant to meet the Nets' demands, the front office may be looking to keep the band together despite a drama-filled 2021-22 campaign.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Thursday (via HoopsHype) that Durant's "level of buy-in" remains in the biggest question mark.

"But right now, I think the Nets want to run this team back, and they're hoping that Kevin Durant agrees," Windhorst said. "The way that they are conducting trade talks, and the prices that they are asking, has teams out there thinking they don't really want to trade Kevin Durant anyway."

Irving's future is heavily reliant on Durant's. If KD is moved, it seems like there's a strong chance the seven-time All-Star point guard will also leave Brooklyn following a summer wherein he's been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers.

So, the Nets hold the keys to just how chaotic the remainder of the offseason will be.

Brooklyn will open the regular season Oct. 19 when it hosts the New Orleans Pelicans. How its starting lineup will look remains a mystery as KD and Kyrie continue to get in their offseason work.

Carmelo Anthony has reportedly emerged as a potential free-agent target for the Brooklyn Nets if the franchise retains Kevin Durant, who requested a trade in late June.

"There has been some talk about them signing Carmelo Anthony, maybe as a nod to Kevin Durant, but obviously that has not gotten anywhere, at least not yet," an unnamed NBA executive told Heavy's Sean Deveney.

Melo, a 10-time All-Star forward, spent last season with the Los Angeles Lakers after previous stops with the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers.

No team has more questions to answer before the 2022-23 season tips off in October than the Nets.

It starts with Durant, who could significantly shift the NBA's balance of power if traded to a ready-made championship contender like the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat.

His exit from Brooklyn would likely jumpstart a chain of events that may ultimately be followed by the departures of Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons if the front office decides to embark on an arduous rebuilding process.

If Durant stays, however, the Nets' focus probably shifts toward all-in moves to hunt a title.

Anthony could fit into those plans following his development into a reliable role player in recent years with the Lakers and Blazers.

It took a while for the 2013 NBA scoring champion to transition into a lesser offensive role, including failed stints with the Thunder and Rockets, but he's found a comfort zone typically playing as a stretch 4 after starting his career on the wing.

The 38-year-old New York City native averaged 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 three-pointers across 69 appearances for L.A. last season. He shot 44.1 percent from the field, including 37.5 percent on threes, and 83 percent from the free-throw line.

A small-ball lineup of Irving, Durant, Anthony, Seth Curry and Joe Harris would be quite lethal offensively, though there would be defensive concerns.

All told, the Nets hold the key to the remainder of the NBA offseason, which has basically ground to a halt since Durant's trade request. Either that domino needs to fall or he must confirm his intention to return before the last flurry of moves take place.

Anthony will be part of that final wave of signings, and he should be a solid secondary contributor whether he lands in Brooklyn or elsewhere.

James Dolan is shutting down any speculation that he's looking to sell the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.

Speaking to TMZ Sports about the rumors, Dolan laughed them off and said "no" about selling the two sports franchises.

The rumors began earlier this week when MSG sports analyst Jonathan Boyar said on CNBC's Closing Time that it's "likely" Dolan would sell the teams after the construction of MSG Sphere, a music and entertainment arena being built in Las Vegas, is completed in 2023.

There have been rumblings in the past that Dolan was looking to sell the iconic New York franchises.

Aaron Elstein of Crain's New York reported in June 2018 that Dolan "may be laying the groundwork" to sell the clubs after announcing he "was exploring a spin-off that would separate the Knicks and the Rangers from the rest of Madison Square Garden."

One analyst told Elstein that Dolan wanted to "be more Elon Musk than George Steinbrenner."

MSG released a statement denying there was any interest in selling:

Madison Square Garden Company releases statement: “There are no plans to sell the Knicks or the Rangers.”

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) June 29, 2018

Dolan is the executive chairman of Madison Square Garden Sports and Madison Square Garden Entertainment. He is also the executive chairman of MSG Networks, which is the main broadcast home for Knicks and Rangers games.

After Cablevision, which Dolan was CEO of from 1995-2016, bought out ITT Corp. in 1997, the Dolan family gained full control of the Knicks. Dolan was named MSG chairman in 1999 after taking over for his father, Charles.

Dolan has been running the Knicks and Rangers since 1999. Madison Square Garden Company also used to be the governor of the WNBA's New York Liberty from 1999 until Jan. 2019 when the franchise was sold to Joseph Tsai.

Per Mike Ozanian of Forbes, the Knicks' $5.8 billion franchise valuation is the highest among all NBA teams. The Rangers are currently the only NHL team with a franchise value of at least $2 billion.

The Knicks have made eight playoff appearances under Dolan's leadership, including an appearance in the 1999 NBA Finals. The franchise's two worst seasons by winning percentage have come in the past eight seasons (.207 in 2014-15 and 2018-19).

The Rangers have made 13 playoff appearances since the 1999-2000 season. They have also won two division titles and reached the Stanley Cup Final after the 2013-14 season, losing to the Los Angeles Kings in five games.

The Toronto Raptors hope continuity is the key to maintaining their upward trajectory after an impressive 2021-22 season.

They went an ugly 27-45 in 2020-21 and didn't seem to be a realistic Eastern Conference contender heading into last season. That was especially the case with franchise legend Kyle Lowry no longer on the roster and a number of other question marks hanging over the team.

All the Raptors did was finish 48-34, make the playoffs and set the foundation for promising years to come.

While they have been connected to Kevin Durant rumors at times, Toronto didn't make any league-altering moves this offseason as it looks to build on its 2021-22 efforts. It re-signed Chris Boucher and Thaddeus Young and added veteran Otto Porter Jr. after he helped lead the Golden State Warriors to the title.

That could be enough to contend for a playoff spot once again, presuming Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes takes a second-year jump and the combination of Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam can carry the offense for extended stretches.

Here is a look at some schedule details for Toronto as it looks to make the postseason for the ninth time in 10 years.

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2022-23 Raptors Schedule Details

Season Opener: Oct. 19 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Championship Odds: 40-1 (via FanDuel)

Full Schedule: NBA.com

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Top Matchups

Philadelphia 76ers (First game: Oct. 26)

There is no doubt Raptors fans will be circling the matchups against the Philadelphia 76ers this season.

After all, Philadelphia ended its Atlantic Division rival's season in the first round of the playoffs, and there wasn't much love lost with Joel Embiid criticizing Toronto fans for vulgar chants and seemingly cheering for his injuries.

Play also got chippy at times with players talking trash and growing frustrated during the series, which the 76ers won in six games.

Yet the matchups against Philadelphia will be important for the Raptors for more than just revenge.

Embiid and Co. will be something of a measuring stick since Philadelphia has enough talent to contend for a championship if it fulfills its potential. Whether Toronto will be a middle-of-the-road contender that loses in the first round again or a legitimate Eastern Conference threat will likely come down to how it performs against teams like the 76ers.

Philadelphia also had home-court advantage as the No. 4 seed and quickly seized control of the series with two wins on its floor. Winning these head-to-head games could help Toronto be the one with home-court advantage this time around if there is a playoff rematch.

It is fair to wonder if the Raptors have the combination of size and ability in the frontcourt to contain Embiid, and figuring out a way to do so could determine where they ultimately fall in the Eastern Conference picture.

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Cleveland Cavaliers (First game: Oct. 19)

It would be a stretch to call the Cleveland Cavaliers and Raptors rivals when LeBron James was busy knocking Toronto out of the playoffs with relative ease seemingly every year, but that could change in the future.

That's because both teams have young cores that could be primed to contend in the Eastern Conference for years to come.

Cleveland made the play-in tournament last season and finished with a winning record for the first time since James left after the 2018 NBA Finals. Darius Garland (22) and Evan Mobley (21) could be regular All-Stars for the next decade, and there are enough secondary pieces to challenge most teams in the league.

Toronto has its own star of the future in Barnes (21) to go along with a core of players in their 20s in VanVleet, Siakam and OG Anunoby.

It isn't a stretch to envision these two franchises squaring off in the middle of the Eastern Conference race multiple times starting with the upcoming season, which makes these games so intriguing as they each attempt to carve out a spot in the playoffs.

Cleveland is looking to avoid the play-in tournament entirely by leapfrogging one of the top six seeds, and Toronto will be looking to keep Garland and Co. at bay by playing well in these matchups.

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Season Forecast

The Raptors were 48-34 and the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference a season ago, and the expectation here is they will turn in a similar effort in 2022-23.

It is only natural to expect improvement from Barnes with more experience even though he was excellent as a rookie and a double-double threat during his initial NBA action. Anunoby is an underrated two-way difference-maker, and VanVleet and Siakam have championship pedigree and the ability to take over a game.

Throw in a deep supporting cast with Gary Trent Jr., Young, Porter and Boucher, among others, and there is plenty to like about Toronto.

However, there is still a ceiling on this team in part because it doesn't have the elite firepower to match up with other Eastern Conference stars such as Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler and Kevin Durant.

That will prevent the Raptors from being a top-notch championship contender in a loaded East, but they are still dangerous enough to make the playoffs and perhaps even make a run into the second round or beyond.

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Record Prediction: 49-33

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The Brooklyn Nets know their 2022-23 schedule, but there is uncertainty surrounding the rest of the franchise.

Kevin Durant requested a trade in June despite having four years remaining on his contract. Kyrie Irving, who opted into the final year of his contract, will also likely be moved as the team tries to start afresh.

It's been a slow process for the Nets to find trade partners, but they likely can't count on either player being a part of the roster next season.

Durant gave the team an ultimatum to trade him or fire head coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Brooklyn entered last season as a favorite to win the title thanks to the trio of Durant, Irving and James Harden. One year later, there are few sure things on the roster going forward.

What we do know is the Nets will remain a team to watch heading into 2022-23.

https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets/status/1559979795873685504

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2022-23 Nets Schedule Details

Season Opener: Oct. 19 vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Championship Odds: 15-1 (FanDuel)

Full Schedule: NBA.com

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Top Matchups

Los Angeles Lakers (First Game: Nov. 13)

If Durant and Irving stay on the team, there is no bigger matchup than the ones against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Both the Nets and Lakers were extreme disappointments last season. The Nets got the seventh seed in the East and were swept out of the first round by the Boston Celtics. The Lakers didn't even reach the play-in tournament with a 33-49 record.

Despite the struggles, the squads are loaded with superstar talent, including LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Durant, Irving and Ben Simmons.

There is also plenty of history with these players, including former teammates James and Irving as well as Westbrook and Durant. Adding the head-to-head battle between two of the best forwards in NBA history in LeBron and KD, this game is must-see television regardless of their records.

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Philadelphia 76ers (First Game: Nov. 22)

The biggest trade of last season was James Harden going to the Philadelphia 76ers for a package that included Simmons. The deal was expected to shift the landscape of the NBA, although Harden was inconsistent with Philadelphia and Simmons never suited up for Brooklyn.

It could be a different story for both sides this year if the players stay healthy.

Simmons will especially be a player to watch in 2022-23 after missing all of last year. He sat out to focus on his mental health at the start of the year and was limited by a back injury after the February trade. He is still an elite player when healthy, earning three All-Star selections with two first-team All-Defense honors.

This game will give the guard a chance to show what he can do against his old team.

The Simmons saga got ugly at times last year, and the 26-year-old shouldn't expect a welcoming crowd when he goes to Philadelphia, but there will certainly be a lot of excitement in this matchup.

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Season Forecast

It's almost impossible to know what to expect from the Nets considering we won't know if two players with a combined 19 All-Star selections will be on the roster the entire year.

The team could still be competitive even without Durant or Irving.

Simmons will finally have the chance to show what he can do as a go-to offensive weapon, looking to replicate the production at LSU that made him the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2016.

Veterans Patty Mills, Seth Curry and Joe Harris can all pick up the scoring slack without the team's stars. Young players Nic Claxton, Cam Thomas, Kessler Edwards and Day'Ron Sharpe will also be exciting to watch as they try to develop into a new young core for the team.

It won't be enough to compete with the top teams in the East, but the Nets can start building toward the future.

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Record Prediction: 39-43

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