The Rush: Kevin Durant puts in trade request with eyes on the Phoenix Suns
Day 1 of NBA free agency started off with a bang as Kevin Durant put in a trade request with his sights set on the Phoenix Suns and the Miami Heat. Meanwhile, Bradley Beal, Anfernee Simons, and Devin Booker will all sign massive extensions with their current teams, while Nikola Jokic will sign the biggest extension in NBA history with the Nuggets. College Football isn’t done shifting as USC and UCLA will leave the Pac-12 and join the Big Ten as early as 2024. PLUS: The NHL delivered the Stanley Cup to the wrong address.
Video Transcript
- Like, the guy for me right now is Book. I love watching him play.
KEVIN DURANT: I was going to say Book.
- Beautiful game. Beautiful game.
KEVIN DURANT: I was going to say Book, too. I mean, he just-- this is a pretty game, for one. But I just think he's really mastering who he is right now. He's figuring it out, like how to play at elite level but still win. Because he's-- he always scoring the ball. But he knows how to win.
JARED QUAY: That was Kevin Durant a few months ago on JJ Reddick's podcast, and what an omen that might have been. The mess in Brooklyn has taken another turn as Durant is officially requested a trade according to Yahoo's Chris Haynes. And the Phoenix Suns are on top of Durant's wish list. Apparently, the Miami Heat are also in the running, but my favorite rumor that would turn the NBA on his damn head is the Lakers trading for both Kyrie and Durant.
LUKE SKYWALKER: That's impossible.
JARED QUAY: Come on, Luke Skywalker. Have a little more faith in the force. The world wants to see LeBron, Kyrie, Durant hooping on the same team.
- Anything's possible.
JARED QUAY: Wherever [INAUDIBLE] ends up, I find it hilarious that Kevin is requesting a trade to last year's number one seed in the Western Conference.
- Sounds familiar.
JARED QUAY: Sounds real familiar. Day one of the NBA free agency is in the books. And in the span of about 10 minutes, a $1,000,000,000 was handed out and re signing a few superstars.
- Cha ching. Cha ching.
JARED QUAY: Durant's potential future teammate Devin Booker, Blazers guard Anfernee Simons, and Wizards star Bradley Beal were all signed huge contract extensions.
- Huge.
JARED QUAY: But the grand prize will go to two time reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, who will sign the biggest contract extension in NBA history at 5 years $264 million. And we slowed it up for you, $264 million for basketball.
- You just can't even count that high.
JARED QUAY: Me neither, but I just want to know, how are these guys going to spend all that dough. I'm no financial advisor, but I will stay away from crypto and invest heavy in having a good time, like taking your favorite host from Yahoo out to a nice luxury vacation. Honestly, I'm starting to lose track of college football and who plays in what conference. And now, USC and UCLA are in the Big Ten.
- Is that good or bad?
JARED QUAY: Considering USC is a founding member of the conference from way back in 1915, and UCLA joined in 1928, I'd say that's not a good look. Listen, I know we live in a fast paced society, and we're always trying to cut corners, like the NHL delivering the Stanley Cup to the wrong address.
- Yep, a giant crate carrying one of sport's most famous trophies was delivered to their house by mistake. It was supposed to go to the home of the captain of the Colorado Avalanche, Gabe Landeskog. He lives nearby, and their addresses are very similar.
JARED QUAY: But you can't just ditch your conference of over 100 years and trade it in for some new shiny conference. This ain't like a dating app where you can just swipe left or swipe right on conferences. That don't make no sense, man. We're getting everything too easy, man. Where's the loyalty, man? Pac 12 is UCLA and USC. Next thing you know, they're talking about, yo, the Louisville is joining the Big East.