After a protracted trade saga, the Nets have declared that they’re running it back with the same core as they have agreed with Kevin Durant to move forward with their partnership.
Durant caught everyone in the NBA by surprise when he demanded for a trade on the eve of free agency. But with no viable offers for the Nets, the 33-year-old swingman will remain in Brooklyn for the time being.
Elsewhere, the Lakers made a move to get a serviceable veteran, while one of the top rookies in this year’s draft suffered a huge injury blow recently.
Continue to read on below as SBOTOP keeps you up-to-date with the latest around the Association.
Kevin Durant rescinds trade demand, Nets pull out Kyrie Irving in trade talks
The Nets training camp before the start of the 2022-23 season is going to be awkward to say the least.
Kevin Durant was adamant on moving out of Brooklyn but the market was dry for the 2014 MVP, and it got so ugly to the point that he reportedly made an ultimatum to the Nets’ top management – making them choose between him or GM Sean Marks and HC Steve Nash.
Team owner Joe Tsai was firm that he’ll stick with Marks and Nash, and perhaps he made Durant realise that staying in Brooklyn was his best chance of winning another title given their high NBA 2022 odds.
Many have also pointed out that the Rudy Gobert trade to the Timberwolves indirectly ruined Durant’s chances of getting traded to another team.
The Jazz got a massive haul from the said deal which included five first-round picks and several rotation players, so the Nets wanted more given Durant’s calibre.
Ultimately, the high trade value set by Brooklyn worked in their favour, and Durant now has no choice but to fulfill his ongoing four-year contract with them.
Kyrie Irving has also been the center of trade talks in the NBA 2022 news, but the Nets have told interested teams that they plan on keeping the 2016 NBA champion, at least for now.
The 30-year-old guard exercised his $37-M player option last month so he’s locked in for one more season. However, there’s still a chance that he could get dealt ahead of the midseason trade deadline.
Lakers get a 3-and-D guard, Russell Westbrook’s status in limbo
The Lakers have acquired Patrick Beverley from the Jazz in exchange for Stanley Johnson and Talen Horton-Tucker last Thursday.
Beverley returns to Los Angeles after playing for the Clippers in 2017 to 2021. Last season, he was vital for the Timberwolves’ playoff return before going to Utah as part of the Rudy Gobert trade.
The 34-year-old is well-known for his defencive presence and leadership which the Lakers badly need. He is also a good three-point shooter with a career average of 38-per cent.
On its face, Beverley is going to be the backup point guard behind Russell Westbrook. But Beverley and Westbrook have shared a near-decade long beef and the idea that these two will suddenly put their differences aside seems unthinkable.
Now with Beverley on board, several reports claim that his arrival makes it more likely that Westbrook will not be on the Lakers’ active roster come training camp, either through a trade or he’ll get the John Wall treatment by the Rockets.
Russell Westbrook has been in numerous trade rumours after a difficult first season with the Lakers. One of which is a possible deal with the Pacers, involving Myles Turner and Buddy Hield.
Chet Holmgren to miss debut season due to foot injury
The Thunder announced that the No. 2 pick of this year’s NBA draft, Chet Holmgren, is going to be out indefinitely due to a Lisfranc injury on his right foot.
Holmgren suffered the injury while playing at a pro-am in Seattle. He attempted to defend a fast break layup by LeBron James, but came up limping and was eventually held out. The game, though, was cancelled in the second quarter because of the condensation buildup on the court.
The 20-year-old center was one of the NBA players to participate in the games hosted by former NBA player Jamal Crawford, along with James, Jayson Tatum, Dejounte Murray, Paolo Banchero, and Aaron Gordon.
Several notable top picks have also missed their first years in the NBA due to injuries: Greg Oden (2007), Blake Griffin (2008), Ben Simmons (2016), and Joel Embiid (2014). Griffin, Simmons, and Embiid are still in the league today while Oden last played in 2014.
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