NBA Atlantic

The Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics reportedly haven't had any serious talks regarding a trade of Kevin Durant to Beantown.

According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, league sources say there "have not even been any real discussions of substance" between the Nets and Celtics about KD.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported last month that Boston offered a package of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and a draft pick for Durant, but the Nets turned it down.

However, the Durant chatter picked up again this week after the release of photos that showed him and Celtics star Jayson Tatum working out together on the court:

KD and Tatum in the lab together 🤝

(📸: @bredhampton) pic.twitter.com/1wj1IgayC0

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 16, 2022

While it's likely that the two friends and former Olympic teammates were just getting some work in, it was inevitable that observers would read into it.

Durant's business manager, Rich Kleiman, told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski (h/t ESPN's Tim Bontemps) in June that KD had requested a trade out of Brooklyn. Wojnarowski reported at the time that the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat were Durant's preferred landing spots.

The offers apparently haven't been to Brooklyn's liking, and the chances that the Nets keep Durant have seemingly increased.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported last month that the Nets would prefer to keep Durant because of the lack of strong offers.

Durant may try to force the Nets' hand, though. Windhorst reported last week that the situation is "headed toward" KD holding out of training camp if he isn't traded by then.

The Nets are under no obligation to trade Durant since he signed a four-year contract extension with them last year, but if he refuses to play, it could cause them to reconsider.

The Nets would have to consider an offer headlined by Brown. The 25-year-old guard has one All-Star selection to his credit and is coming off a season in which he averaged 23.6 points per game.

Meanwhile, Durant is a logical target for Boston. He is a four-time scoring champion, two-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP and one-time NBA MVP who averaged 29.9 points per game last season at age 33.

Durant could be the missing piece that puts the Celtics over the top after they fell to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals last season, but current indications are that the two sides aren't engaging in serious talks.

If Kevin Durant remains a Brooklyn Net, he'll open the 2022-23 season against Zion Williamson.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported the Nets are set to open their regular season against the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 19. The game should also mark Zion Williamson's return to the floor after missing the entire 2021-22 campaign with a foot injury.

Ben Simmons is also slated to make his return after he missed all of last season because of a holdout from the Philadelphia 76ers and a back injury.

There may be no game on the NBA's early slate with more proverbial balls up in the air.

Durant requested a trade in June and has not backed down on his stance. The 12-time All-Star met with Nets governor Joe Tsai earlier this month and demanded head coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks be fired if the team wanted Durant to return, sources told Charania. Tsai refused and took to social media to back Nash and Marks.

While the Nets have focused on Durant talks, there is also the possibility Kyrie Irving has played his last game for Brooklyn. The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to an Irving trade for months, though their lack of available assets has made things difficult. Irving's future with the franchise will likely be impacted, at least in part, by the end result of Durant's trade demand.

As training camp draws closer, it's increasingly likely a disgruntled Durant and Irving will be on the floor for opening night.

The statuses of Simmons and Williamson remain great enigmas, ones that will determine how their respective teams fare next season.

Simmons' shattered confidence on the offensive end was the most glaring aspect of his game that stood out the last time we saw him on an NBA floor. If he was able to get his mental health and body right with a season off, it's likely Simmons will return to All-Star form and rank among the best defenders in basketball.

Williamson landed a max contract extension in New Orleans despite playing only 85 games over his first three NBA seasons. If he stays healthy, the Pelicans will be a clear playoff team that could sneak into the top half of the Western Conference. If the injury issues continue flaring up, Oct. 19 will be the start of another long season in New Orleans.

Twitter erupted on Monday night after photos showing Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant and Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum participating in an on-court workout together surfaced.

KD and Tatum in the lab together 🤝

(📸: @bredhampton) pic.twitter.com/1wj1IgayC0

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 16, 2022

It normally wouldn't be big news for two NBA players who are friends to get some offseason work in together, but since the Celtics have been linked to a Durant trade, the circumstances are far from normal.

Durant's business manager, Rich Kleiman, told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski (h/t ESPN's Tim Bontemps) in June that KD had requested a trade out of Brooklyn.

While nothing has gotten done on that front, several teams have been linked to Durant, and the Celtics are among them.

Last month, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Celtics offered the Nets Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and a draft pick for Durant, however, the offer was rejected.

The fan reaction to the photo of Durant and Tatum primarily focused on Brown, with both serious and comedic tweets about how he may have reacted to seeing the photos:

If I’m Jaylen Brown this doesn’t sit right with me knowing the franchise tried to trade me for me for him and my right hand man shooting around with him

— True Visionary (@NickHallVision) August 16, 2022

https://twitter.com/KreoleKidAlex/status/1559353717568192515

Jaylen Brown doesn’t like this post

— J (@smith8982) August 16, 2022

That got JB tight af

— Kyle Haschak (@KHashtagNBA) August 16, 2022

Where Jaylen at?? 😳😳

— Omar King (@OmarKin01119481) August 16, 2022

Jaylen Brown you are a Brooklyn Net

— ☔️ (@klutchagent) August 16, 2022

As is always the case on social media, the GIFs, photos and videos rolled in as part of the reaction as well:

Jaylen brown : pic.twitter.com/9DhAeCpQ9K

— Primo (@Supreme_takes) August 16, 2022

https://twitter.com/StudentOfRap/status/1559350816548470786

Jaylen Brown: traitor! pic.twitter.com/fJAybs3yoo

— Rafa Silva (@Rafa_Silv4rs) August 16, 2022

Jaylen Brown rn https://t.co/UCSs8ikGlo pic.twitter.com/pGdAUHCUxB

— Brassy ⭐️☘️ (@BrassyDFS) August 16, 2022

At 33 years of age, Durant is still one of the NBA's top players. He averaged 29.9 points per game last season.

He also has a Hall of Fame resume to his credit with 12 All-Star nods, four scoring titles, two NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards and one NBA MVP award.

KD was the missing piece to the puzzle that helped the Golden State Warriors win two more championships in the past, and it is fair to wonder if he could serve a similar purpose for a Celtics team that reached the NBA Finals last season before falling to the Warriors.

Tatum is Boston's unquestioned top star after averaging 26.9 points per game during the 2021-22 regular season and 25.6 points during the playoffs, but Brown was integral to the team's success as well.

The one-time All-Star put up 23.6 points per contest in 66 regular-season games last season, plus 23.1 points per game during the postseason.

He is also just 25 years of age, which suggests he may still have plenty of growing and developing left to do.

Trading Brown for anyone would be a risky endeavor because of his potential to become an MVP-caliber player, but if the Celtics can land Durant and make a strong run at a championship, it could be worth it.

Durant and Tatum were teammates on the 2020 United States men's basketball Olympic team, so Monday's photos may be much ado about nothing. However, that won't stop speculation from running rampant.

Jalen Brunson's first game at American Airlines Arena against his former team is reportedly going to happen on Dec. 27.

Per NBA reporter Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks will host the New York Knicks two days after the Knicks play the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day.

Several key games from the 2022-23 regular season have been reported in recent days. Stein noted the NBA will release the official schedule on Wednesday.

Brunson was the Knicks' big offseason acquisition. The 25-year-old signed a four-year, $104 million contract at the start of free agency to boost their backcourt.

Expectations for New York are still modest, though that could change depending on what happens with Donovan Mitchell. FanDuel Sportsbook has the team's over/under at 39.5 wins.

Mitchell has been heavily linked to the Knicks throughout the offseason if the Utah Jazz decide to trade the three-time All-Star.

Per Fred Katz of The Athletic, the Knicks "know no one is coming close to them" in terms of trade offers for Mitchell right now. There's no indication at this point that Utah is going to deal him anytime soon.

Brunson earned a long-term contract from the Knicks on the basis of what he did in Dallas last season. He was primarily a role player off the bench in his first three seasons before emerging as a key piece in the starting lineup for the Mavs.

Per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Mavericks attempted to re-sign Brunson on a five-year, $106 million contract before he ultimately decided to join the Knicks.

Brunson averaged 16.3 points and 4.8 assists per game in 79 appearances during the 2021-22 season. He has shot 51.0 percent from the field overall in the past two seasons, including 38.7 percent from two-point range.

Dallas reached the Western Conference Finals last season for the first time since winning the NBA championship in 2010-11. The team lost to the Golden State Warriors in five games.

The Knicks are hoping Brunson can get them back to the postseason after a disappointing 37-45 record in 2021-22. They have posted losing records in eight of the past nine seasons.

The 2022-23 NBA season will reportedly kick off with a showdown between two title contenders in the Eastern Conference.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Jayson Tatum's Boston Celtics and Joel Embiid's Philadelphia 76ers will be part of an opening night doubleheader on TNT on Oct. 18.

The second game will be a previously reported clash between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.

This is another piece of the puzzle as the 2022-23 schedule begins to come into view.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported the full schedule will be released Wednesday, and Charaniaoe previously provided a look at an intriguing slate of games that will take center stage on Christmas Day:

Sources: NBA’s 2022 Christmas Day schedule:

Bucks at Celtics
76ers at Knicks
Suns at Nuggets
Lakers at Mavericks
Grizzlies at Warriors

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 14, 2022

That the Celtics and 76ers will be nationally featured on opening night and Christmas Day was no surprise.

Boston was in the NBA Finals last season and features one of the best one-two punches in the league in Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Philadelphia hasn't made it past the second round of the playoffs since the 2000-01 campaign, but it has its own talented pair in Embiid and James Harden who could change that this season.

Throw in the rivalry between these Atlantic Division teams that always serves as the backdrop when they square off, and there is plenty to look forward to with the reported first clash.

Boston and Philadelphia fittingly split their four matchups last season, and whichever team comes out on top in the 2022-23 campaign could have the inside track for a higher seed and home-court advantage in what figures to be a tightly contested Eastern Conference race.

Fans won't have to wait long for the next chapter of the rivalry.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons reached a settlement in his grievance regarding the salary the team withheld amid his absence during the 2021-22 NBA season, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark added the terms of the deal are confidential, so it's unclear how much money Simmons will collect. He reportedly sought to regain almost $20 million of his $33 million salary from last year.

The Sixers contended the three-time All-Star was in breach of his contract when he failed to arrive in time for the start of training camp and didn't play in the preseason or regular season.

Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer provided more context last October: "Philadelphia views Simmons' refusal to report to training camp as not fulfilling the terms of his contract. In dialogue with league-office personnel and players union officials, the Sixers appear to be within their rights to withhold that lucrative check."

Simmons' agent, Rich Paul, said an interview with The Athletic's Shams Charania last November the fines and overall scrutiny "has furthered the mental health issues for Ben." Paul added his client was in a place mentally to where he could return to the court:

This is no longer about a trade. This is about finding a place where we can help Ben get back to his mental strength and get back on the floor. I want him on the floor playing the game that he loves. I want Ben on the floor whether that’s in a 76ers uniform or any other uniform, that’s not up to me, but I want him in a state where he can resume play. We want to cooperate and want to work him back on the floor.

By February, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported Simmons forfeited more than $19 million in fines and hadn't received a paycheck since collecting the $8.3 million owed to him on Oct. 1, 2021.

"Every two weeks the team sends a notice with an explanation of all the fines he has accumulated for failing to render services, instead of a $1.375 million paycheck," Shelburne wrote.

The Sixers finally traded Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 10. The 26-year-old has yet to make his debut for the Nets due to a lingering back problem. He underwent back surgery in May with the hope he'll be ready for the start of training camp this fall.

Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons is coming off a lost 2021-22 season in which he sat out because of a combination of mental health struggles and back injuries. But it appears he's prepared to bounce back this year.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said on Monday's episode of First Take that he spoke directly to Simmons recently and liked what he heard.

"He's ready to go," Smith declared. "He swears he's ready to go."

While still a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Simmons cited a need to address his mental health as the reason he took time away from the team at the start of the season.

After being part of a trade that sent James Harden to Philadelphia, Simmons continued to sit out because of mental health, and he later aggravated a back injury while ramping up his conditioning.

Simmons received an epidural shot midway through the season to relieve pain from a herniated disk, but he never made it in a game. After the Nets were swept out of the playoffs in the first round by the Boston Celtics, Simmons underwent successful microdiscectomy surgery in early May and was expected to need 3-4 months of recovery time.

A healthy Simmons is crucial for the Nets in a time of uncertainty surrounding the team.

Star forward Kevin Durant requested a trade in June and reportedly reiterated that request last week in a meeting with team governor Joe Tsai. The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Durant gave Tsai an ultimatum to choose between him and the duo of head coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks.

If Simmons is able to return to form, he could make Brooklyn a legitimate title contender on paper. The three-time All-Star should fit nicely alongside point guard Kyrie Irving, who should be motivated to prove himself while playing on a one-year option. The Nets used free agency to add defense and three-point shooting around them, so they should fare better in the competitive Eastern Conference this season.

Perhaps Durant could be enticed at the prospect of playing alongside a healthy Simmons and rescind his trade request in hopes of vying for an NBA title.

Don't expect a reunion between the Brooklyn Nets and Kevin Durant.

The superstar forward reportedly believes his trade request is justified because the organization has altered its relationship with its star players, per NBA reporter Marc Stein:

Brooklyn's change in approach since the season ended is thus believed to be a key driver in Durant's sudden desire to leave. For all the criticism he is taking for trying to force his way out, and most recently taking the extreme step of calling for the ousters of [general manager Sean Marks] and coach Steve Nash if the Nets refuse to trade him, Durant appears to be operating under the belief that he is justified in making all these rebel demands because the Nets have abruptly changed the terms of their deal.

Stein reported Durant and Kyrie Irving were believed to have originally picked the Nets as a free-agent destination over the New York Knicks because "they perceived Brooklyn, as much as anything, to be willing to bend to their will far more than James Dolan-owned New York would. That is no longer happening, hence the chaos."

Irving even told reporters in late April, after the team was eliminated from the playoffs by the Boston Celtics in a first-round sweep, that he and Durant had a "co-management relationship" with the organization.

"When I say I'm here with Kev, I think that it really entails us managing this franchise together alongside [team governor Joe Tsai] and [Marks] and just our group of family members that we have in our locker room and our organization," Irving added at the time. "I think we just got to make some moves this offseason and really talk about it and really be intentional about what we're building and have some fun with it."

But given that the Nets either didn't offer Irving a long-term contract extension or didn't offer Irving the extension he was expecting—instead, the mercurial point guard exercised his $36.9 million player option for the 2022-23 season and has been the source of trade rumors, with free agency now looming in a year—it's become fairly clear that the organization has had enough of the "co-management relationship."

And given Irving has ghosted the team entirely at points, barely played last season since he was ineligible for home games as an unvaccinated player throughout much of the year and has missed his fair share of time due to injuries across three seasons, the Nets fearing they couldn't rely on him—and not wanting to commit to him long-term—didn't come as a huge surprise.

The bigger surprise has been that Durant—who has dealt with his own share of injuries but hasn't been a distraction for the organization beyond that, at least publicly—is now the one sowing discord.

And he may be prepared to bunker down to secure his exit, with Stein reporting that one team executive told him during July's Summer League that he believes Durant is more inclined to retire than to ever play for the Nets again.

Durant pretty quickly shot down that rumor:

I know most people will believe unnamed sources over me but if it’s anyone out there that’ll listen, I don’t plan on retiring anytime soon. Shit is comical at this point.

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 15, 2022

Stein added that if Durant isn't traded by training camp, "there is a growing expectation in league circles that he will continue trying to cause as much of a ruckus behind the scenes to try to prod the Nets into lowering their asking price at last to facilitate a deal."

Durant, at least reportedly, believed he joined the Nets in a truly collaborative management situation. The Nets, after just one playoff series win in three seasons and more than a few headaches caused by the superstar duo of Durant and Irving, no longer seem interested in such a setup.

A divorce feels like the natural and inevitable conclusion. Until that happens, this particular drama will remain at the epicenter of the NBA universe.

Kevin Durant might be prepared to play some serious hardball in order to get the Brooklyn Nets to acquiesce to his trade request.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported Monday that one team executive told him during the NBA Summer League that Durant "was more apt to retire than play again for the Brooklyn Nets."

Stein followed up to write the situation hasn't improved since then:

"If Durant hasn't been traded by [training camp], there is a growing expectation in league circles that he will continue trying to cause as much of a ruckus behind the scenes to try to prod the Nets into lowering their asking price at last to facilitate a deal. If it wasn't apparent by now, he really wants that trade to Phoenix or Miami or maybe even Boston or Philadelphia, no matter what it does to his reputation when he hasn't played a single game yet under the four-year, $194 million contract extension signed in August 2021."

The 12-time All-Star issued a them-or-me ultimatum to Nets team governor Joe Tsai, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. Charania reported Aug. 8 that he "reiterated his trade request and informed Tsai that he needs to choose between Durant or the pairing of general manager Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash."

Tsai wasted little time in addressing the story and making it clear he's behind Marks and Nash:

Our front office and coaching staff have my support. We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets.

— Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) August 8, 2022

The fact that Durant remains a member of the Nets seems to illustrate that the team won't accept less than what it believes is fair market value. Charania noted the Nets "made clear privately that they will take every last asset from a team that trades for Durant."

Threatening to retire—or at least refusing to play—is the kind of tactic that could force Brooklyn's hand. Taking the best trade offer on the table, even if it's below what Marks is demanding, is better than getting nothing.

However, Durant potentially puts himself in a no-win position if he goes down this route and the Nets remain steadfast. In that scenario, he either backs down and makes his entire protest pointless, or he retires and allows that to be the last image of his legendary career.

Whether it's an accurate critique or not, Charles Barkley spoke for more than a few fans when he described the 6'10" forward as "riding the bus" in reference to the two titles he won with the Golden State Warriors.

"If you ain't driving the bus, don't walk around talkin' bout you a champion!"

Chuck sounds off on KD's playoff performance. pic.twitter.com/NSULRff4nD

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 24, 2022

Walking away would only provide more ammunition to Durant's loudest skeptics. As much as his legacy is cemented, retiring and leaving behind a mess he helped create would hang around him for years to come.

The Brooklyn Nets will not allow themselves to be bullied into trading Kevin Durant on his schedule.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst appeared Monday on Get Up (28-second mark) and indicated there has been zero progress in trade talks despite Durant attempting to exert pressure on the Nets behind the scenes:

"Ten days ago, Kevin Durant and Joe Tsai met in London. Durant really tried to apply the pressure by asking for Steve Nash and Sean Marks to get fired. And guess what has happened? Nothing. Nothing has happened. The dynamic around Kevin Durant hasn't changed at all. There hasn't been an urgency in trade talks. There hasn't been a change in strategy by the Brooklyn Nets.

"I think what we have here is really a study of leverage. First off, the Nets do not have leverage in trade talks with other teams. They are not giving them the offers that they want. They see no reason to increase them. And so they're not making any progress there. And Kevin Durant clearly does not have leverage with the Brooklyn Nets. He is asking for things: 'Get me traded. Fire the coach. Fire the GM.' He is being told no. So when you have denied leverage, you have a stalemate."

Durant originally requested a trade in late June. The situation has moved at a glacial pace in the ensuing weeks, with the Nets setting a massive price tag in trade talks and teams consistently falling short of those demands.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported last week that Durant met with Tsai earlier this month to again reiterate his desire for an exit or to have the team replace Nash as coach and Marks as general manager. Tsai went on the offensive on social media after word of that meeting leaked, saying he plans to stick by his coach and GM.

Our front office and coaching staff have my support. We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets.

— Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) August 8, 2022

Barring a team giving the Nets a more palatable offer, the tension may simmer on the backburner until training camp starts next month. That's the next time Durant can attempt to exert any power, potentially holding out of camp—or by showing up and creating a media circus.

Durant's best potential leverage play is, at this point, to make the situation as difficult as possible. By creating a constant distraction, Durant could force Tsai's hand into approving a deal simply to end the fiasco. If the Nets start acting with some level of urgency, it may create a bidding war to allow them to save some face in trade talks.

There is no way the Nets' original asking price of two All-Star players was ever going to be met. It was an unrealistic, pie-in-the-sky ask.

That said, teams may be willing to budge if they start to feel momentum is actually building to send Durant elsewhere. Until the pace of talks increases, there's no reason for teams to move off their already established offers.