Nets prioritizing KD trade; Kyrie trade talks 'frozen'?

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Nets prioritizing completing Kevin Durant trade, Kyrie Irving trade talks 'frozen'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 7/11/22

As the NBA offseason enters the second full week of July, one Brooklyn Nets superstar now appears much more likely to be traded than the other one.

Teams have been unwilling to meet the Nets' asking price for Kevin Durant, per @windhorstespn.

KD's value "may not be as high as the Nets wanted" pic.twitter.com/uRHm1k5dWW
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 11, 2022

Trade talks for Kyrie Irving are 'frozen,' per @WindhorstESPN

The Nets are prioritizing completing a trade for Kevin Durant. pic.twitter.com/IfVLopOqPr
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 11, 2022

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the remaining four years on Durant's contract have been causing some teams to hesitate in their pursuit of the 12-time All-Star. ESPN's Nick Friedell meanwhile, noted that a Durant trade "could take a long time" and within the Nets' organization, there's "hope" that he'll reconsider his trade request.

Windhorst on Get Up re Durant: "As I talk to teams, the four years on his contract is not necessarily viewed as an asset. If he was 24 instead of 34, I think we'd be looking at differently." Says NBA is dealing with "sticker shock" after hearing what Nets want for KD.
— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) July 11, 2022

Nick Friedell on Get Up: "This could take a long time and the hope is, inside that organization, is that the longer it takes, Kevin pulls back a little bit and says 'I really do like it here ... I like the team that is around me. Maybe Ben Simmons is going to get healthy.'"
— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) July 11, 2022

The situation is clearly a fluid one, as it was only Friday when Windhorst said he believed a trade involving Irving and Russell Westbrook of the Los Angeles Lakers was "eventually going to happen." Earlier last week, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Brooklyn was expecting "one of the biggest trade returns in league history" for Durant.

Irving opted into his $37 million player option with the Nets in late June and over the last two weeks it's seemed that only the Lakers have had potential interest in trading for the former No. 1 overall pick. Since requesting a trade from the Nets, rumored teams for Durant's possible next landing spot have included the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns among others.

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