Kevin Durant Could Join Nets To Play Alongside D'Angelo Russell, LeVert Says

Kevin Durant will enter free agency in the summer when he opts out of the final year of his contract with the Golden State Warriors. Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Caris LeVert is hoping the small forward would consider joining the franchise and teaming up with 2019 All-Star point guard D’Angelo Russell.

The New York Post recently revealed Durant would get a tour of Brooklyn from Russell as part of his new video series “Fly By” where the Warriors forward will get a tour of three different cities — San Francisco, Brooklyn and Los Angeles — from three different players.

The Nets shooting guard is hoping that via the walkthrough, Russell could also get some recruiting done and show Durant and other big stars of the NBA the benefits of joining the Brooklyn franchise, which already possesses a young talented core. LeVert, who has worked out with Durant in the past few summers, believes players like the two-time NBA Finals MVP want to play alongside players like Russell, who will share the burden of carrying a team.

“It’s pretty cool,” LeVert said of the walkthrough, as quoted on the New York Post. “It speaks to not only what we’ve done this season as a team, but to what D’Angelo has done on the court and also being a leader off the court that guys like Kevin Durant want to be close to him and a part of what he’s doing.”

“I don’t think superstars, especially Kevin, want to be the one who has to carry the whole team, the full load on his own. He’s in his 30s now, so he definitely wants to go to a team that has a good core, has a good culture, has good guys on the team, and we fit all those categories.”

“[Russell’s] played at an All-Star level. Everybody wants to play with a great point guard, a great floor general, and he’s put himself in that conversation for sure. That lessens the load for a guy like Kevin Durant or another superstar who wants to come play with us. They don’t want to be the only one on the team, so that’s very attractive that D’Angelo has elevated himself to that level to play with,” the 24-year-old shooting guard explained.

Durant has given no indication thus far as to his plans after he enters free agency this summer. The Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers and the New York Knicks have been mentioned as potential destinations. One his main focuses during free agency will be on money, and the Warriors can offer him the best deal.

The reigning NBA champions can offer the small forward a five-year deal worth $221 million, while any other interested suitor can only offer him a four-year deal worth $164 million. The Warriors are favored to win their third straight title in 2019 and many believe Durant could leave in search of a new challenge.