Suggestions around the NBA water cooler are that Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant could team up with the Brooklyn Nets.
The two are considered good friends and have already met to talk about free agency since the 2018-19 season ended.
Brooklyn will likely sign Irving some time shortly after free agency opens next week. This has led to rumors that they could be the leader in the clubhouse for Durant.
SNY’s Ian Begley is here to throw some cold water on that idea.
“Sources familiar with the matter told SNY that the Nets are not the front runners or favorites to sign Durant at the moment,” Begley reported.
Durant himself has given no indication about his free-agent plans, which were uprooted when he suffered a ruptured Achilles in the NBA Finals.
What we do know is that the former MVP is held up in New York City and could potentially take meetings with teams at the outset of free agency Sunday evening.
Durant is just as likely to re-sign with the Golden State Warriors as move on to another team. They can offer him $57 million more in guaranteed cash. That includes a fifth year no other team can offer valued at an estimated $50 million for KD’s age-35 season.
Given Durant’s serious injury, he might seriously consider taking Golden State up on that offer.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks are two other teams said to be interested in the all-world player.