NBA Trade Deadline 2023: Nets ‘now willing to deal Kevin Durant after sending Kyrie Irving to Mavs’

With only a day until the NBA’s trade deadline, the Brooklyn Nets have reportedly done an about-face on Kevin Durant, and are now willing to deal the injured superstar.

Teams began inquiring about Durant’s status after the Nets agreed to send disgruntled point guard Kyrie Irving to Dallas, according to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who mentioned Boston as one of the interested teams.

Now, Smith’s ESPN colleague Brian Windhorst is reporting that the Nets are willing to move Durant, but are more likely to do so in the off-season, when teams will have more salary cap flexibility.

‘Now that Kyrie has been traded, maybe the Nets’ position on not trading Durant as it really was kind of last summer may change,’ said Brian Windhorst. ‘That is an interesting development that has happened over the last 48 hours since the Kyrie trade from people that I’ve talked to.’

Durant, who is out with a sprained knee, requested a trade out of Brooklyn prior to the season. However, he rescinded that demand after sitting down with owner Joseph Tsai, general manager Sean Marks and then-coach Steve Nash to hammer out his issues with the Nets. Nash has since been fired and the Nets responded by going 30-17 under his replacement, Jacque Vaughn.

Kevin Durant (black sweatshirt), who is out with a sprained knee, requested a trade out of Brooklyn prior to the season. However, he rescinded that demand after sitting down with owner Joseph Tsai, general manager Sean Marks and then-coach Steve Nash to hammer out his issues with the Nets. Nash has since been fired and the Nets responded by going 30-17 under his replacement, Jacque Vaughn

The potential for a Durant trade does not necessarily preclude the Nets from adding top-level talent ahead of Thursday’s 3pm EST deadline.

Windhorst also reported that the Nets have shown interest in pairing Durant with Toronto Raptors stars OG Anunoby or Pascal Siakam. Other rumors have mentioned the Nets’ potential interest in Toronto guard Fred VanVleet.

‘There’s definitely trade discussions happening between the Raptors and teams about their players,’ Windhorst said on ESPN. ‘And definitely concepts going back and forth. That is absolutely true. I’ve talked to several teams who have talked to me about this.

‘At the same time, from what I understand, the Raptors are also saying, ”Well, we haven’t decided whether we’re going to do this or not. Or we may wait until summer.” They’re definitely hedging.

‘The Nets absolutely had interest in doing business with the Raptors after this trade, whether it was OG Anunoby, it was Pascal Siakam.

‘The Raptors have had interest in some Nets’ players in the past, including Nic Claxton, who they almost traded for last year at the deadline.’

Windhorst also reported that the Nets have shown interest in pairing Durant with Toronto Raptors stars OG Anunoby (left) or Pascal Siakam (right). Other rumors have mentioned the Nets’ potential interest in Toronto guard Fred VanVleet

And there remains a possibility that the Raptors could go after Durant, making him the centerpiece of a rapid rebuild in Toronto.

‘But if you’re Toronto, if Kevin Durant comes back to market in the summer, Toronto has a very compelling potential offer for him,’ Windhorst said. ‘And I’m wondering how much the Durant – and I say wondering because I don’t know – but I wonder how much Durant’s availability is affecting Toronto and how they’re doing business. And how Toronto is doing business is dramatically affecting the deadline right now.’

As for other potential trades, the Denver Nuggets are rumored to be shopping Bones Hyland, who was recently dropped from coach Mike Malone’s rotation.

The 6-foot-3 guard is averaging 12.1 points a game off the bench in Denver, while making nearly 38 percent of his 3-point attempts.

According to the Denver Post’s Mike Singer, the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans and Raptors have all shown interest in Hyland.

According to the Denver Post’s Mike Singer , the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans and Raptors have all shown interest in the Nuggets’ Bones Hyland

Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets controls the ball against the Toronto Raptors during the first half at Toyota Center on February 3

Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets are exploring deals involving veteran Eric Gordon and third-year forward Jae’Sean Tate.

The Athletic is reporting that Gordon has drawn interest from the Phoenix Suns and his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers. Furthermore, if he’s still in Houston after Thursday’s deadline, Gordon is expected to finish the season with the Rockets rather than accepting a buyout and signing elsewhere.

Furthermore, The Athletic is also reporting that the Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, Suns and Nuggets have all inquired about Tate, an athletic and versatile wing.

Tate is in the first year of a three-year, $20.6 million contract that contains a $7 million team option for the 2024-25 season.

The Athletic is also reporting that the Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, Suns and Nuggets have all inquired about Jae’Sean Tate, an athletic and versatile wing