It’s not about money,” Durant said after practice Tuesday at Barclays Center. “You guys know I don’t want no money. I just want to play ball and win championships.”
Durant was asked specifically if he would take less than $25 million per year to sign with his hometown team, New York Knicks. He replied, “Yeah, I’m straight. I’m going to make sure they know that.”…
The Nets offered Durant $21.9 million over four years, according to league sources. The offer included two players — DeMarre Carroll and Thaddeus Young — who could have been traded for Durant’s rights. Durant balked at the idea of signing with New Jersey without those assets.
Durant
“I haven’t talked to nobody,” Durant told reporters after practice. “Not even my agent, man. Nobody. Nothing. I ain’t got nothing to say to none of y’all.”
Marks said the Knicks were confident they’d get back into the Durant sweepstakes before the 4 p.m. deadline today. But that won’t happen unless they find a way to convince him to sign now, rather than waiting until training camp begins Sept. 28.
“We’re going to keep working on it,” Marks said. “… We’re going to continue to try and work out something that makes sense.”
Durant, 27, said he knows how the Nets feel about him. He said the Knicks tried to sign him last summer.
“They came to me last year and we couldn’t do anything,” Durant said. “… I got nothing bad about them. They wanted to come down here and talk to us…. They told me they liked me, they loved me. They thought I was really good player. They weren’t trying to make any moves with me. They just wanted to speak to us. That’s what happened.”
Carmelo Anthony says he’s optimistic that the NBA lockout will end soon.
Anthony said Tuesday he thinks the owners and players should agree on a deal before the start of the season in October.
“I think, as long as everybody’s willing to sit down and discuss it, then hopefully we’ll get something done,” Anthony said before playing the Brooklyn Nets.
Anthony
