NBA News: Memphis Grizzlies join an array of teams that have expressed their interest in a trade for Kevin Durant

Memphis Grizzlies believed to be interested in a trade for twelve-time All-Star Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant during his time with the Nets Image credit: Twitter/Brooklyn Nets
By Godwin Matthew | Aug 22, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Kevin Durant has been in the headlines throughout the offseason. The forward requested a trade away from the Brooklyn Nets more than a month ago. Many teams have expressed their race in acquiring his services. A team that has been newly added to that list is Memphis Grizzlies. The young side is believed to have up to five first-round picks that are ready to include in a trade.

Although they are interested in Kevin Durant, the Grizzlies are ruling out involving Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane as part of any package. No doubt, KD would considerably increase their chances of winning a championship. However, their young core is special and giving that up for a 34-year-old star would not be the most sensible of moves.

The Grizzlies have one of the most energetic franchises in the NBA. Led by Ja Morant, the team made it to the second round of the playoffs. They certainly will have higher hopes for the upcoming season. Pairing Kevin Durant with a player like Ja Morant would be a great move for the franchise. It would attract a lot more fans to the stadiums and help increase the value of the team. But the culture that is being built in Memphis is special and dismantling that at this point would affect their future.

Will Kevin Durant stay with the Brooklyn Nets next season?

Kevin Durant is one of the biggest stars in the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets signed him in hopes of landing their first championship. Along with him the team also brought in James Harden and Kyrie Irving, but the idea of “The Big 3” failed. The trio was never able to play a lot of games together due to multiple reasons.

Kevin Durant’s trade request could be because of all the uncertainty that the Nets team is always surrounded by. However, heading into the next season, Kyrie Irving is believed to be fully committed to the franchise. To add to the excitement, the likes of Ben Simmons and Joe Harris are also returning to the team. With all of these players available, the Nets are certainly looking like the favourites to win it all.

However, Kevin Durant is determined to leave the team and take his talents elsewhere. A problem that has come up in his trade situation is the demands of the Nets. The team are asking for a monumental exchange for him and not a lot of teams are ready to give that up for Durant, understandably because of his age and injury history.

With just a little over a month left for training camp, there is still no certainty as to where he could end up. If no team is able to trade for him, Kevin Durant would have to stay with the Brooklyn Nets. It would not be the worst decision as the franchise look great with all their players available.