NBA Rumors: Latest on Kevin Durant Trade Buzz, Warriors, Lakers and More

The NBA offseason continues to roll on, and while July 4 made for a slow sports news day, it didn't stop the speculation or put a halt to the rumor mill.

The first wave of free agency has ended, and most of the big names have been signed. However, there's plenty brewing behind the scenes, as much of the basketball world remains fixated on the Brooklyn Nets and the futures of both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Durant officially requested a trade at the onset of free agency, making him the biggest name on the trade market since perhaps the 2019 offseason—when Anthony Davis forced his way off the New Orleans Pelicans.

And with Durant on his way out of Brooklyn, Irving is largely expected to be traded, too. What's the latest buzz on the NBA trade front? Let's take a look.

'No Traction' on Durant, Irving Trades, as Nets Allow Market to Develop

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Brooklyn - April 25: The Nets Kyrie Irving (left) has a pat for teammate Kevin Durant (right) as the Celtics were expanding their lead in thee second half. The Boston Celtics visited the Brooklyn Nets for Game Four of their first round NBA playoff series at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on April 25, 2022. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

With two standout players to consider moving, the Nets have several options to weigh. According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Irving's deal may have to wait until Brooklyn finds a home for Durant.

"I think Kyrie is going to have to wait this out because we're not going to really know what the Nets are going to want to trade him for until we see what Kevin Durant gets traded for," Windhorst said on Get Up (h/t ClutchPoints).

Thus far, though, it doesn't appear that Brooklyn is close to resolving either situation.

"So far right now, there's no traction really on deals with either Irving or Durant," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said on SportsCenter (h/t ClutchPoints).

This shouldn't come as a major surprise, as Brooklyn has no reason to rush either deal. Durant and Irving are both under contract. The Nets can sit back and allow interested teams to engage in a bidding war and essentially set the market for Durant—which appears to be the strategy.

"I think the Nets are trying to create an outline for the rest of the league about the kind of package they would want back in a Kevin Durant trade," Wojnarowski said on SportsCenter (beginning at the 1:05 mark). "The market is still taking shape,"

Durant, a 12-time All-Star and two-time Finals MVP, is undoubtedly a hot commodity. The Nets can and should allow teams to bid up his price point and then take whichever package benefits the franchise most. Once they know what they're getting back in a Durant deal, the Nets can then determine what makes sense for an Irving trade.

Warriors Would Welcome a Durant Reunion, but It's Unlikely

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 13, 2021 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Don't expect the Golden State Warriors to be one of the teams that dictate Durant's market. The Warriors won two championships with Durant and are fresh off another title run—and they do have the trade pieces to bring Durant back.

Some of the players would also welcome a Durant reunion by the Bay, and they've discussed it.

"The Warriors superstars have been in conversations with Durant," Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic wrote. "In addition to catching up, the Hall of Fame-bound peers did entertain the idea of a reunion. It was mostly about the stunning nature of it even being possible."

While it's possible that we could see Durant back in San Francisco, it's unlikely.

"According to multiple sources in the Warriors organization, a reunion is highly unlikely," Thompson added. "Nothing about the last three years suggests the Warriors would be willing to pay the price for a KD return. That price is likely (and reportedly) an All-Star-caliber player, young talent and a heap of draft picks."

For the Warriors, it may be fun to think about bringing back Durant, but it's unnecessary. Golden State was already the best team in the NBA this past season and could be even better with young pieces like Jordan Poole still developing and plenty of draft capital with which to continue building.

Why mess with what is working? The Warriors probably won't.

Lakers Have Engaged on an Irving Trade but Haven't Been Aggressive

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

BROOKLYN, NY - APRIL 25: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets smiles during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Once the Nets are willing to pivot to Irving's situation, the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be the most likely suitor. In fact, the two franchises have already engaged in exploratory talks.

"The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets are actively engaged in discussions on a trade package that would send star point guard Russell Westbrook to Brooklyn in exchange for star point guard Kyrie Irving, league sources told Yahoo Sports," Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports wrote.

According to Wojnarowski (h/t ClutchPoints), however, the Lakers have "yet to be aggressive" in their pursuit.

This is also unsurprising. The Nets aren't going to move quickly on an Irving trade, and therefore, Los Angeles has no reason to press the issue. The Lakers also don't appear to have competition in the early Irving market.

At least, rumors of other serious suitors have yet to emerge.

The fact that Los Angeles isn't going all-in to force a fast deal doesn't mean that the Lakers don't want Irving. They do, and Irving's former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate, LeBron James, is leading the charge.

"James, I’m told, wants to see Irving in Lakerland more than anyone," NBA insider Marc Stein recently wrote (h/t Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen and Roll).

L.A.'s lack of trade aggression also doesn't mean that the Lakers won't eventually land Irving in a trade for Russell Westbrook. What it means is that the Lakers understand, as the Nets do, that this is going to be a process. The unknown is how long L.A. will be willing to wait before turning to other options for the 2022-23 season.