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REPORT: Brooklyn Nets ‘Angling’ for Young Raptors Starlet as Kevin Durant Exit Talks Intensify

Published 08/02/2022, 12:30 PM EDT

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Most of the trade rumors in the NBA this season revolve around Brooklyn Nets and their two superstars. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have become the talk of the trade window. Kyrie has been paired with the Lakers for the longest time now. On the other hand, Kevin Durant is linked with three teams for a trade. Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat are the three possible destinations for Durant. However, Toronto Raptors also joined the trade talks for the former MVP.

The Brooklyn Nets have given up on their ‘Win Now’ strategy and taken a rebuilding approach. They are looking for as much draft capital as possible for their two stars. Another strategy is for the Nets to acquire young stars and create a roster around them. Several youngsters have exited the Brooklyn roster to make space for Irving and Durant.

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D’Angelo Russell and Jarett Allen were the souls of the 2019 team that eliminated the Lakers from a playoff spot. However, that team has disappeared now; clearly, the Irving-Durant experiment has been a catastrophic failure. Kevin Durant is not getting any younger, and Kyrie Irving has not played a full season of basketball in three years. 

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Kevin Durant and the Toronto Raptors rumor have gained a lot of traction. Scottie Barnes will be the sole focus of the trade as the Rookie of the Year has caught the eye of the Brooklyn Nets front office.

Kevin Durant may be traded for a rookie

According to Sports Illustrated, until recently, The Toronto Raptors were unwilling to make any trades packaging Scottie Barnes. The price names by the Brooklyn Nets were too steep for the Raptors. According to Brian Windhorst, adding Durant would be priceless; however, there would be a lack of depth in the roster to compete for a legitimate championship.

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Windhorst told ESPN’s NBA Today,” If you execute a trade that makes your team weaker, then the point of you calling to acquire Kevin Durant has failed, So here we have something that’s extremely valuable that nobody wants to buy. At its price.”

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Getting Scottie Barnes may be a stretch, but the Nets are in no hurry. The two stars may play the upcoming season if the Nets do not find any suitors for them. Commissioner Adam Silver also addressed the Kevin Durant trade and the fact that players are not acknowledging their contracts anymore.

Why are the Raptors unwilling to give up on Scottie Barnes?

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Raptors are known to invest in their draft prospects. Fred Vanvleet and Pascal Siakam are two incredible stories than can give evidence to this fact. Scottie Barnes has immense potential and is a Rookie of the Year winner. Scottie will be a long-term piece for Toronto to nurture as compared to Durant’s few years of the contract.

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Scottie will be eligible for a rookie contract extension, creating cap space and breathing room for other contracts to build the roster. Nevertheless, it would be interesting to see Kevin Durant play for Toronto,

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Written by:

Shrey Gupta

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Shrey Gupta is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. He is currently a third year undergraduate student at Krea University in Andhra Pradesh earning his degree in Economics, while also creating content for ES and gaining his first experience in the field of sports journalism and writing. An avid basketball fan, his current favorites are Stephen Curry and D'Angelo Russell.
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Edited by:

Pritam Priyedarshi