Kevin Durant has reportedly asked for a trade from the Nets.
Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant has reportedly requested a trade, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The news of his request comes hours before the beginning of NBA free agency at 6 p.m. ET and just a few days after his fellow star in Brooklyn, Kyrie Irving, opted into his contract for the 2022-23 season.
Kevin Durant has requested a trade out of Brooklyn, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022
Durant requested a trade with the team today, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/BkNEHwkrc0
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022
As the Nets prepare to move one of the most valuable trade assets ever on the market, the entire roster will available to discuss in deals, sources tell ESPN. Teams have been calling on Durant, and the Nets will certainly look for a historic return on players and draft picks.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022
Durant joined the Nets via a sign-and-trade deal in the summer of 2019 and signed a contract extension with the team last summer. He is under contract through the 2025-26 season. The Nets finished 44-38 last season and were considered dangerous against the top teams because of Durant and Irving.
Their tumultuous season featured Irving missing 53 games because he was unvaccinated, James Harden forcing his way to Philadelphia, Joe Harris needing multiple surgeries on his injured ankle and Ben Simmons being unable to play after he arrived. The Nets needed to qualify for the playoffs via the Play-In Tournament and they were the only team swept out of the first round.
NBA.com will have more on this story shortly.