Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant. SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Nets star Kevin Durant shuts down retirement rumors

By Eduardo Solano | Last updated 8/15/22

Teams are paying close attention to the situation with Nets superstar Kevin Durant, who has denied rumors that he may retire. “I know most people will believe unnamed sources over me but if it’s anyone out there that’ll listen, I don’t plan on retiring anytime soon. S— is comical at this point,” Durant tweeted on Monday.

NBA insider Marc Stein explained on Monday that he could see Durant refusing to report to training camp.

“Attaching the R-word (retirement) to Durant still comes across as serious hyperbole, but it is certainly getting easier to envision him refusing to report to training camp when the Nets get back together in six weeks for Media Day (Sept. 26) and their practices of the new season (Sept. 27),” Stein wrote.

The Celtics were mentioned as potential landing spots for Durant as soon as the two-time NBA champion requested a trade from the Nets. According to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium on July 25, the Nets want reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart in a trade for Durant.

“The Celtics offered Brown, guard Derrick White and a draft pick to the Nets for Durant, sources said," said Charania. "The proposal was rejected, and Brooklyn has asked Boston — in any proposal — to include Brown, Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, draft picks and potentially one more rotation player, those sources added.”

Smart’s value for Boston

Smart is not going to give you 20-30 points per game but his physical defense, playmaking and toughness make him an extremely important player for the Celtics. He can guard multiple positions and while he won’t carry the scoring load, he can still make an impact on offense as well.

Just because Smart doesn’t score as many points as Stephen Curry and Trae Young on a nightly basis that doesn’t mean that he’s not a good point guard. After all, he just helped lead the Celtics to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010 and he became the first guard to be named Defensive Player of the Year since 1996.

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