The Brooklyn Nets may be in the mix for a couple of marquee free agents this summer: Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard.
Things are about to get very interesting for the Brooklyn Nets.
Recently, current Net Jared Dudley sat down with the New York Times’ Marc Stein to gush about his team’s potential during the summer free agency period.
“I’m not here just to toot Brooklyn’s horn” said Dudley. “I’ve sold Brooklyn to other players just because you’d want the same thing. Players want to know the good organizations from the bad.”
Dudley said he would “shocked” if the Nets don’t get a sit down with one of the marquee guys. It appears that he isn’t the only one thinking along these lines.
In his Tuesday column, SNY’s Anthony Puccio stated that Brooklyn had entered the big leagues, and that “several league sources have told SNY that top-tier free agents, including Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Tobias Harris, will at least consider Brooklyn this upcoming July.”
The idea of Kevin Durant joining Brooklyn has been floated around Nets’ threads since December, but it was interesting to see a big name reporter lay it out in stone. Puccio mentioned that Kevin Durant’s tie with Caris LeVert would be instrumental in potentially bringing KD to Brooklyn.
Puccio also expanded on Kawhi Leonard, specifically.
“Kawhi Leonard is another top free agent expected to at least give the Nets a look. Marks has solid rapport with Leonard’s uncle and advisor, South Orange, N.J.-based Dennis Robertson. It should be noted that Marks spent time with Kawhi in San Antonio, as well as Brooklyn’s assistant coach/scout Tiago Splitter who played with him for four seasons.”
This is the first time that Brooklyn has been mentioned as a major interest point for Kawhi. The Brooklyn Nets currently have around $60 million in cap space. If they were able to trade Allen Crabbe‘s remaining $18 million in salary, let D’Angelo Russell walk, and renounce their free agents, the team would have enough money to sign both major players.
Exciting times ahead for the young Brooklyn Nets franchise.
