Kevin Durant forced the hand of the Warriors into the business of D & # 39; Angelo Russell



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Before teaming with Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, Kevin Durant made sure to bring another advantage to the Nets.

The acquisition of Durant intervened in writing with the Warriors, who received D'Angelo Russell. Before the agreement was reached, however, Durant made sure the Nets also picked up a Golden State first-round pick, ESPN's Brian Windhorst said.

"First of all, Durant initially hesitated to be traded against Russell," said several sources, "said Windhorst. "He did not think it was a fair deal and in that case, the Warriors were not only going to satisfy the Nets, but also Durant.

"The player used leverage, and Golden State had to include a first-round pick before Durant agreed to sign. The Warriors have reluctantly abandoned it and have done so with a hefty condition: if the choice is in the top 20 next year, they will not be forced to send it in and out. will only give Brooklyn a second round choice … in six years. "

An exchange of signs involving the two stars played in Golden State's favor, allowing him to cover Durant's departure with one of the league's best young guards. On the other hand, the Nets had created enough space to sign Durant. In addition, Durant did not have any tangible advantage to take part in the negotiation and help the Warriors. It also did not help Russell, who would have had many potential contenders if the Nets had made him an unrestricted free agent.

As a result, Durant and the Nets owned the heights and were able to convince the Warriors to part with their first-round pick. In addition to the choice, the Nets forced the Warriors to take Shabazz Napier and Treveon Graham, giving them the extra space to sign DeAndre Jordan, Durant's good friend, and the key element to attract him to Brooklyn.

Whether Durant – known to be sensitive to the way he was perceived – found it too good to be traded against Russell, wanted to give his new employer an added edge to build the team around him, or even kept a certain animosity towards the end of things in the state of gold is only known to him. Whatever the case may be, the Nets recruited Durant and a first round pick, while the Warriors signed a $ 117 million deal with Napier, Graham and Russell.

Durant's demands followed a tendency of the players to exert their will against their teams, while Anthony Davis and Paul George managed to land on the championship's competitors after asking for trades.

After defeating the rest of the NBA for years, the Warriors have been on their backs this season.

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