Grizzlies Among Teams Asking About Nets’ Kevin Durant

Add the Grizzlies to the list of teams that speaking to the Nets about a Kevin Durant trade.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Memphis has made “new inquiries” about Durant, joining the Celtics, Raptors, Heat and Suns. The 76ers, Nets, Bucks, Pelicans, Nuggets and Hawks have also been in the mix recently, Charania reported.

As for the Grizzlies specifically, they have plenty to offer, including up to five first-round draft picks. That list consists of their own 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029 first-rounders, as well as the Warriors’ 2024 protected selection. 

Of course, they also have all sorts of young talent that clearly proved it could play after advancing to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. We can assume that Ja Morant would be unavailable, but the likes of  Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Ziaire Williams, Brandon Clarke, Kennedy Chandler, and David Roddy could all potentially be had in a Durant deal.

“Grizzlies executive vice president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman, the NBA’s reigning Executive of the Year, has done a masterful job building the team’s foundation around the All-NBA star Morant and a strong supporting cast while securing assets for the present and future,” Charania wrote. “The Grizzlies will not include Jackson or Bane in a potential offer for Durant, sources said, but rather a package built around their bevy of draft picks.”

Durant, 34, reiterated his June trade request with Nets owner Joe Tsai in a meeting earlier this month, reportedly saying he wanted to be traded if GM Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash are to return. Tsai responded on Twitter by saying Marks and Nash have the organization’s full support.

Durant has four years remaining on his contract.