Nets Seeking Likes Of Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes In Kevin Durant Trade

As expected, the Nets are seeking the sun, moon and the stars — and perhaps a few other planets — in exchange for Kevin Durant, who requested a trade last week.

More accurately, the Nets won’t begin to entertain proposals on Durant unless they consist of “a package in return that starts with a blue-chipper,” according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Who’s a blue chipper in the NBA? Per Stein, the Nets will want a package centered on aa young rising star — such as the Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram or the Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, who just happens to be the reigning Rookie of the Year.

And that would be just the start.

Along with a young centerpiece, the Nets would want multiple assets — even more than the “absolute hauls” the Spurs received from the Hawks for Dejounte Murray or the Jazz received from the Timberwolves for Rudy Gobert, Stein wrote.

This isn’t to say the Nets and Raptors have engaged in talks about a Durant trade involving Barnes. But it wasn’t the first report to suggest as much. ESPN’s Bobby Marks even went as far as to call the Raptors “the leader in the clubhouse” in a potential Durant trade. Without question, the Raptors have plenty of interest and assets, The Raptors also have plenty of assets, and perhaps interest, added ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Still, everything appears very much up in the air at the moment. For now, all we know is the Nets want as much of a haul as is possible in exchange for Durant.

“Nets general manager Sean Marks and owner Joe Tsai had agreed to work with Durant and business partner Rich Kleiman to try to trade him to one of his preferred landing spots,” Lewis wrote. “But in the end, Durant and Irving are expected to be moved where and when it works best for Nets management.”

With that in mind, things could drag out. Durant may not be traded until closer to training camp. Or maybe the Nets will try to change his mind. Surely, more conversations between the Nets and rival executives are about to take place at the Las Vegas Summer League over the next few weeks. Some have speculated the Pelicans have even more to offer than the Raptors.

Durant has reportedly listed the Suns and Heat as his preferred spots. 

As for the Raptors rumors, former NBA forward and current ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson said they should do the deal even if it means surrendering Barnes.

“You could get Kevin Durant for four years!” Jefferson said on ESPN, via NetsDaily. “Are you kidding me? Scottie Barnes? I’d sent Scottie Barnes like … his dogs, I’ll pack them up myself … I’m giving Scottie Barnes a private plane. ‘Hey Scottie, I love ya, Congratulations on the Rookie of the Year,’ but I’m getting him everything to get and I’m not saying that in a negative sense. I’m saying look at the guy you’re going to be dealing with. (Raptors president) Masai Ujiri who has been part of these blockbuster trades for superstars over the past.

“I would not be surprised if this one of those ones where Masai is like, ‘I’ve done this before. Shoot, I’ve done this a couple of times.’ If he’s willing to get rid of DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi, Scottie Barnes? That’s collateral damage for Kevin Durant.”