Kevin Durant Trade Rumors: Nets Told Teams They're Not Moving Star After Kyrie Deal

The Brooklyn Nets already sent one of their superstars out in a blockbuster trade, but it doesn't seem like they will deal the other ahead of Thursday's deadline.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that the front office and Kevin Durant "are having ongoing conversations on the direction of the franchise" after the Nets traded Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.

Notably, Brooklyn has told other teams it has no plans to trade Durant before Thursday, per Wojnarowski.

Durant remains one of the biggest question marks in the league.

He and Irving are known friends, and Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported Tuesday that there are a "number of front offices quietly preparing for" him to land on the trade market during the offseason.

That he requested a trade from the Nets in the offseason before walking it back only adds another layer to the situation, and Wojnarowski provided more context:

It is notable that the Nets are apparently holding discussions with Durant regarding the direction of the team. He is under contract through the 2025-26 campaign and will be a key if they are going to contend this season and beyond.

It is not a stretch to suggest a supporting cast of Nic Claxton, Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Joe Harris and others can compete with Durant leading the way as one of the best players in the league. Role players such as Cam Thomas have also turned heads of late, and Brooklyn is still the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference even with Durant having been out since Jan. 8 with a sprained right MCL.

Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday that the Nets' "main desire was to ensure their current team would be competitive around Kevin Durant" during Irving trade discussions, and Brooklyn could always add another impact player or two ahead of Thursday's deadline.

Still, things may change.

Perhaps Durant will become disillusioned with the direction of the franchise without Irving and request to be moved again, which would dial up the pressure on the front office and make immediate contention all the more difficult.

On the other hand, he might return and lead the team on a deep playoff run, only increasing optimism for the near future.

For now, though, it doesn't seem like there will be a megadeal involving the 13-time All-Star.