The Nets would trade Durant and TJ Warren for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round draft picks, according to US media including ESPN, which cites unnamed sources.

The shock trade, on the eve of the NBA's trade deadline on Thursday, follows Brooklyn's trade of point guard Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday after Irving asked to be traded.

It also comes on the same day that US billionaire, Mat Ishbia, who made his fortune in mortgages, made his debut as the Suns' new owner, promising he was "not going to sit here any longer." dollars"

"I will look at how we can improve our team," he warned.

Durant, a two-time NBA champion in 2017 and 2018 with Golden State being the Finals MVP each time and a former NBA regular-season MVP in 2014, had asked to leave the New York-based franchise in June 2022, less than a year after signing a four-year, $198 million contract extension with the Nets.

The 34-year-old winger is averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game this season.

"KD" was apparently growing increasingly frustrated with the direction of the franchise, which was swept in the first round of the playoffs last season despite the star duo formed by Durant and Irving.

Last August, however, it was agreed that Durant would eventually stay in Brooklyn, but the club had a rocky start to the season marked by the dismissal of coach Steve Nash in November.

Irving was later suspended for eight matches for refusing to apologize after a social media post promoting an anti-Semitic film.

Although the Nets' situation has improved under new coach Jacque Vaughn, Durant himself has been sidelined since Jan. 8 with a sprained ligament in his right knee and will therefore not participate in the upcoming All- Star Game.

Durant and Irving both arrived in Brooklyn in 2019 aiming to form a "super team" with fullback James Harden, who was traded to the Philadelphia Sixers shortly before the trade deadline last year.

Between injuries, controversies and a simple lack of chemistry, Brooklyn's "Big Three" project failed to see them past the second round of the playoffs.

© 2023 AFP