2022 NBA Free Agency Update Week 3
Crickets.
Tune back next week for another in-depth update.
Not true of course, as anyone who follows the NBA knows by now, Deandre Jordan received a substantial offer from the Pacers which was in the end, matched by the Suns. What that means is the Suns are out of the Kevin Durant sweepstakes and the Raptors replace them as the number one most likely landing spot for Durant. Or does it?
You see the Nets have been emphatic that they must have Scotty Barnes as part of the deal and the Raptors have been equally emphatic that Scotty Barnes will be part of no deal. Is it posturing? From either side? Well the Raptors are very confident that their ROY is going to be a very good player for a very long time, and although it’s not likely he will approach Durant levels this year, or perhaps any year potential being only that – potential, his long term potential far outweighs what Durant has left in the tank.
And that is really debatable. He has a 4 year contract but he’ll turn 34 years of age as the 2022 season begins and has missed considerable time in the past due to injury. His risk of injury and career ending injury is real and it’s unlikely Durant will actually play a substantial number of the 328 games for which he is contracted to play. Sure, it’s possible but if history teaches us anything, it’s that he’ll be injured again and that certainly plays into the thinking of Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster. There is no way they are bluffing when they say that all that long term potential, that great character is worth far more than a risky move on an injury prone, aging superstar with questionable temperament.
On the other hand, if not Barnes, what possibly could the Raptors offer them that wouldn’t entirely gut the team and waste the few precious years Durant might have to offer? Siakam would have to be in there just as he got back to his All NBA status and a lot more besides. Without Barnes, the Raptors offer is too weak for the Nets. They aren’t bluffing either.
So if not the Raptors, who is the most likely home for Durant come October? The Nets. Kyrie has already come out publicly and said he hasn’t asked to be traded and is entirely happy in Brooklyn. And since the Nets can’t find the return they seek for Durant, it is most likely he will reunite with his buddy and hope that Ben Simmons comes to play this year. One solid year of that trio might well be sufficient to capture a championship after all and that has to be of interest to all of them.