Kevin Durant, a ahead for the Brooklyn Nets, has been traded to the Phoenix Suns, in step with an nameless supply. The 2 groups have reportedly agreed to a sign-and-trade trade in that incorporates more than one gamers and draft selections. The main points of the commerce aren’t but recognized. The proceed comes next Durant opted out of his agreement with the Nets and enters isolated company.
Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets (right) looks to face Coby White of the Chicago Bulls in a Jan. 4 game in Chicago.
Paul Beaty/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
Paul Beaty/AP
Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets (right) looks to face Coby White of the Chicago Bulls in a Jan. 4 game in Chicago.
Paul Beaty/AP
NEW YORK — Kevin Durant’s stay in Brooklyn ended early Thursday when the Nets agreed to trade him to the Phoenix Suns, a person with knowledge of the details said.
The Suns will send Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks and additional draft compensation to the Nets for the 13-time All-Star.
The Suns are also getting forward TJ Warren as part of the deal, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade is not yet official.
It was first reported by ESPN.
Durant, 34, still plays at the elite level, averaging nearly 30 points per game this season. He asked for a trade last summer and the Suns were interested, eventually getting it before Thursday’s trade deadline at 3:00 p.m. EST.
He’s recovering from a sprained knee ligament, and when he does return, it’ll be in a Phoenix roster that could suddenly be one of the best in the Western Conference.
Durant was moved just days after the Nets traded Kyrie Irving from Dallas, an incredibly quick end to the superstar era in Brooklyn. James Harden was traded at last year’s deadline, leaving the Nets with little to show for the brief time they had the Big Three together.
Now it’s the Suns with a big collection of talent, Durant joining Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton.
The trade comes just hours after the Suns’ new majority owner Mat Ishbia was introduced to Phoenix. The self-proclaimed basketball nut, who was a walk-on at Michigan State under Tom Izzo, wasted no time shaking up the NBA.
Phoenix has never won an NBA championship. The Suns made the NBA Finals two seasons ago but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. They also made the finals in 1976 and 1993.
The Suns have suffered several injuries this season but have been playing better in recent weeks and are looking like contenders again. They moved to fifth in the Western Conference with a 30-26 record. Booker (groin) and Paul (hip) both recently returned.
When Irving heard the news, he said, “I’m just glad he got out of there.”
Irving scored 24 points in his Mavs debut against the Clippers on Wednesday. The Nets refused to give him a contract extension last summer, around the same time Durant was telling the team he wanted the deal.
Finally, it was Irving and Durant too.
“We had a lot of conversations throughout the year about what our future would look like,” Irving said. “There was still a level of uncertainty, but we just care about seeing each other as places where we can thrive. Whether it’s together or whether it’s apart, there has never been a time where I have felt like he was mad at me for the decisions I made or I was mad at him.
“I love the competition now that we can be in the same conference.”
Bridges used to be the runner-up to Boston’s Marcus Subtle for the Defensive Participant of the Age award closing season and his offensive sport continues to develop. The swingman scored 21 issues on Tuesday because the Suns beat the Nets 116-112 in Brooklyn.
His acquisition, in conjunction with Dorian Finney-Smith, who got here with Spencer Dinwiddie from Dallas, will have to construct the Nets a far more potent defensive group. However it kind of feels unimaginable to interchange the firepower they misplaced with Durant and Irving, two All-Megastar starters.
npr
Don’t miss interesting posts on Famousbio
