Before teaming up with Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, Kevin Durant made sure to bring along another asset to the Nets.
Durant’s acquisition came via sign-and-trade with the Warriors, who received D’Angelo Russell in the deal. Before the deal went through, however, Durant made sure the Nets also retrieved a first-round pick from Golden State, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“First, Durant initially balked at being traded for Russell straight up, multiple sources said,” Windhorst reported Thursday. “He didn’t think it was a fair deal, and in this case, the Warriors had to not just satisfy the Nets, but also Durant.