The NBA free agency is in full swing as a lot of huge moves are being done left and right. By big, we mean the amount of money splashed around by numerous teams to various stars and key players.
There have also been trades that were completed, particularly from playoff contenders as they’ll aim to make a deeper run next year.
But besides the huge signings and trades, the biggest headline this free agency is Kevin Durant’s surprising trade request to the Nets.
This development certainly has rocked the whole basketball world, and this decision from Durant would surely transform the NBA for years to come.
Without further ado, continue to read on below as SBOTOP reviews the latest NBA 2022 news.
Kevin Durant wants a change of scenery
Players of Kevin Durant’s ilk rarely become available. So following his bombshell, almost all NBA teams have at least inquired about what it would take to get him.
Durant has asked out of Brooklyn because things haven’t worked out the way he wanted to, especially since he came from Golden State where he won back-to-back titles and Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018.
In hindsight, he shouldn’t have left the Warriors, who recently won their fourth title in the last eight seasons without him. But instead, he chose to join forces with Kyrie Irving, who has been unreliable due to a variety of reasons – from his unwillingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine, injury history, and random absences.
Irving is likely to leave next season anyway since he only has one year left with the Nets after opting in to his $36-M player option recently and is reportedly keen on joining the Lakers, so Durant might be stuck in Brooklyn if he didn’t make his trade request since he’s currently on a four-year deal.
Kevin Durant would prefer to move to a contender as he continues his pursuit for more rings. Several reports indicate that the Suns and the Heat are his preferred destinations.
The Nets, though, aren’t obligated to honoring Durant’s wish and they plan to make a deal that would benefit them in the long-term. Since Durant is still one of the best players today, Brooklyn are going to demand a king’s ransom for his services.
Nikola Jokic and Bradley Beal just became quarter-billionaires
Jokic and Beal are prime examples that staying loyal still pays off (literally) as they bagged two of the biggest contracts in NBA history.
They took home more than $250-M each in extensions as Nikola Jokic signed for five years at $270-M, while Bradley Beal got $251-M for also five years.
Nikola Jokic is the reigning NBA MVP for the past two seasons, while Bradley Beal is a three-time All-Star who is in his physical prime at 29 years old.
Several other stars have followed in Jokic and Beal’s footsteps as Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine, Zion Williamson, and Ja Morant also signed lucrative extensions north of $200-M.
Booker and Towns got four years for $224-M each, LaVine had five years for $215-M, while Morant and Williamson also extended five years for $231-M each.
Several notable trades and signings
The Celtics, Hawks, and Timberwolves have made massive swings this free agency and all of them saw their NBA 2022 odds improve following their moves.
Boston acquired Malcolm Brogdon from Indiana in exchange for seldom-used players in Aaron Nesmith, Nik Stauskas, Daniel Theis, Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan and a 2023 first-round pick.
Atlanta and Minnesota, meanwhile, took Dejounte Murray and Rudy Gobert in separate deals with the Spurs and the Jazz respectively.
The Hawks traded away Danilo Gallinari – who just joined the Celtics after being waived – and three first-round picks to the Spurs to give Trae Young an elite backcourt partner in Dejounte Murray.
The Timberwolves got Rudy Gobert from the Jazz in exchange for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Leandro Bolmaro, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt and a boatload of first-round picks.
In other news, the Knicks’ questionable pursuit of Jalen Brunson is finally over as he has agreed to a four-year, $104-M deal with a player option on the final season.
Brunson, 25, was the second option behind Luka Doncic last season with career-high averages of 16.3 points and 4.8 assists per game during the regular season to help lead the Mavs to their first WCF appearance since 2011.
Over at Philadelphia, James Harden hasn’t signed his new contract yet, but he reportedly agreed to give up part of his salary to help his team become more flexible. They’re having a nice offseason so far with the additions of De’Anthony Melton and PJ Tucker.
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