However, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about the idea of the Warriors emerging as a legitimate suitor for Durant. Appearing on ESPN Radio (Twitter audio link) Spears suggested a package that would include Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman, but the Nets would not be eligible to acquire Wiggins without trading Ben Simmons. An indication that they intend to move Simmons, especially given that they would have to sell him for pennies on the dollar at this point. Without Wiggins, either Klay Thompson or Draymond Green would be needed for salary-matching purposes, and it’s hard to imagine the Warriors breaking up their long-term championship to reunite with Durant, who opted to leave the organization as a free agent . years ago. Earlier this week, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer cited sources with knowledge of the situation who said Golden State is the only team not a “tangible option” for Durant. As we await further developments on the Durant front, we also have a few notes to pass on him and his Nets teammate – and fellow prospect – Kyrie Irving:
League personnel who spoke with The New York Post’s Brian Lewis said the Nets are “adamant” about getting All-Star talent back in any Durant deal and are in no rush to make a move. League sources tell Lewis that nothing is close to being done at this point. Appearing on The Rally on Bally Sports ( Twitter video link ) on Saturday, Shams Charania of the Athletic suggested the Sixers are among the teams to watch for Irving. It’s pretty hard to imagine Philadelphia making a serious play for Kyrie — it would require either parting ways with James Harden or moving Tobias Harris in order to reunite Irving with Harden, whose trade request from the Brooklyn was said to be motivated in part by Kyrie’s decision to vaccinate. For what it’s worth, FS1’s Nick Wright ( Twitter link ) reports that there is “no appetite” for Irving in Philadelphia and the Sixers have not engaged in trade talks for him. According to Lewis, the 76ers are watching Irving and have spoken briefly to the Nets, but he’s hearing from a source that “nothing happened there.” Charania also identified the Mavericks as potential suitors for Irving, but Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News isn’t convinced, writing that Kyrie is “the acquisition of a desperate team.” Townsend doesn’t think Dallas is that desperate. The Lakers remain the most likely trade partner for Irving. According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv ( Twitter video link ), there has been some optimism on the part of the Lakers that they are gaining momentum toward reaching a deal with the Nets. In his latest article on Substack, Marc Stein says he thinks Irving is destined to end up with the Lakers. As Stein writes, he’s heard “repeated rumblings” that LeBron James is pushing the team to sign Irving, and it’s “impossible to ignore the growing expectation around the league” that Kyrie will land in Los Angeles.
