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Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant squashes rumor he pushed James Harden deal

ByAdam Weinrib|
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 08, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 08, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant commented on his conversations with James Harden in recent weeks.

After a year and a half of working overtime to establish their brand and belong with the NBA’s big boys, the Brooklyn Nets further buoyed their legitimacy by becoming the talk of the pre-NBA Draft cycle rumor mill.

Days before the big night, it looked like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving might be adding a monstrous third member to their budding Big Three before they ever took the court as a duo. Not even a twinkle in Nets fans’ eyes before November, suddenly it appeared that the idea of James Harden in Brooklyn was verging towards an inevitability.

Things have since quieted down, and The Beard will likely at least open 2020-21 in Houston, brainstorming creative ways to ship Russell Westbrook out of town.

The possibility of a massive Harden blockbuster is still on the table, though, and Durant used his media availability on Tuesday to squash the rumors that claimed he and Harden were secretly driving the bus in this situation.

We respect Durant’s authority here, but if the front office was seeking to blow up their core with an earth-shattering move like this, you’d hope that they at least consulted Durant and implored him to speak to Harden on the matter.

Was the origin of the rumor a whispered conversation during a pickup game? Probably not. But it’s hard to believe Durant and Harden weren’t coming at this from a unified front.

This also comes on the heels of Landry Shamet saying he’d worked out repeatedly with Durant, which resulted in a draft night trade to acquire him. By now, it’s clear that personnel moves are at least a passion project for Durant, following in the footsteps of LeBron James and his Klutch Army.

Nets fans weren’t able to go anywhere over the past few weeks without hearing Harden’s name shouted from either the rooftops or the playing field, and you have to believe the two were in cahoots (at least minorly).

Right now, it seems like it’s the Nets or a Rockets rebuild for Harden, and the buzz has definitely simmered.

Perhaps it’s time for Durant to place another call to his confidante?