NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz on Kevin Durant Trade, Deandre Ayton and Donovan Mitchell
Over the past decade or so, the NBA offseason has been filled with big-name players switching teams. Mostly gone are the days of stars sticking with one team for the entirety of their careers, as players typically move once or twice (if not more).
So far this summer, there haven't been a ton of standouts swapping teams. At least not yet. Plenty of time remains, and rumors continue to swirl surrounding numerous big-name players. That group includes Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, a pair of Brooklyn Nets stars.
It will be interesting to see how the next few weeks unfold and how greatly the landscape of the league could change prior to the start of the 2022-23 season.
Here's some of the latest buzz from around the NBA as the offseason continues.
Heat Continue Reported Pursuit of Durant
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Durant has made it known he wants to be traded, and reports have indicated that the Nets are working to find a deal. Nothing has yet materialized for the 33-year-old forward, but that doesn't mean there aren't teams trying to land him in a trade.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported on Monday that the Miami Heat are "determined to exhaust all options" to trade for Durant before they pursue "anything else significant." Jackson also noted that Heat general manager Andy Elisburg and Nets GM Sean Marks were spotted talking at a hotel in Las Vegas, where the NBA Summer League is taking place.
Even though Miami may be trying to acquire Durant, it likely isn't alone in its pursuit of the 12-time All-Star. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on Get Up on Monday that more teams could be in the mix if Durant's market drops, and a reunion between him and the Golden State Warriors still can't be ruled out.
Meanwhile, if the Heat are unsuccessful in landing Durant, they could make another move to replace P.J. Tucker, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency. Jackson noted that the Phoenix Suns' Jae Crowder or the Sacramento Kings' Harrison Barnes may then become potential targets for Miami.
But it's possible nothing will happen until Durant is moved. Either he'll go to Miami and the Heat will have a new star forward, or Durant will go elsewhere and they'll have to pivot.
Ayton 'Very Close' to Getting Moved to Indiana
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The Suns may soon be moving on from one of the core players who's led the franchise to recent success. Deandre Ayton, who is a restricted free agent, could be leaving Phoenix after spending his first four NBA seasons with the team.
On ESPN's Get Up on Monday, Windhorst reported that the Indiana Pacers are "very close" to either giving Ayton an offer sheet or completing a sign-and-trade deal with the Suns. The Pacers are in a position to do so after they traded Malcolm Brogdon to the Boston Celtics and cleared the remaining $22.6 million on his contract from their payroll.
"That is opening enough cap space to almost give Deandre Ayton the max contract he is looking for," Windhorst said on the show. "The whole league is waiting to see if this is the next big domino to move."
Since getting selected by Phoenix with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, Ayton has continued to get better. The 23-year-old averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds in 58 games last season while shooting a career-best 63.4 percent from the field.
If Ayton ends up in Indiana, that could mark the end of Myles Turner's time with the Pacers. Meanwhile, Ayton could pair with former Suns forward Jalen Smith to give Indiana an upgrade in the frontcourt.
Could Jazz Decide to Trade Mitchell After All?
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Since the Utah Jazz traded Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this month, there's been speculation about whether the team could also deal Donovan Mitchell. But reports suggest that Mitchell isn't requesting a trade and the Jazz aren't looking to move him.
Things could change, though. And it seems that Utah may not be so set on keeping Mitchell for the long term after all.
"Justin Zanik, the Utah Jazz general manager, talked over the weekend and said that while they still want to build around Donovan Mitchell, he is not untouchable," Windhorst said on ESPN's Get Up on Monday. "And that is what league executives believe. He is not currently on the market, but at some point, they believe he will be."
ESPN's Tim MacMahon said on The Hoop Collective podcast with Windhorst that there are "whispers around the league" that Jazz CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge isn't convinced that Mitchell can be "the face of a contending franchise." If that's the case, then it wouldn't be surprising to see the 25-year-old guard get traded, even if a move isn't imminent.
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