Caris LeVert thinks Kevin Durant should consider signing with the Nets.
The 30-year-old forward can opt out of his contract and become a free agent after this season. LeVert, the third-year wing, said his team has all the pieces to lure Durant to Brooklyn.
“I don’t think superstars, especially Kevin (Durant), want to be the one who has to carry the whole team, the full load on his own,” LeVert told the New York Post. “He’s in his 30s now, so he definitely wants to go to a team that has a good core, has a good culture, has good guys on the team, and we fit all those categories.”
Nets guard D’Angelo Russell, who made his first career All-Star team in 2018-19, will give Durant a tour of Brooklyn during the Warriors star’s new video series “Fly By,” according to the Post. LeVert said Russell’s improved play could be a major selling point to impending free agents.
“(Russell’s) played at an All-Star level,” LeVert said. “Everybody wants to play with a great point guard, a great floor general, and he’s put himself in that conversation for sure. That lessens the load for a guy like Kevin Durant or another superstar who wants to come play with us.
“They don’t want to be the only one on the team, so that’s very attractive that D’Angelo has elevated himself to that level to play with.”
The Nets have exceeded expectations this season and entered play Sunday in seventh place of the Eastern Conference standings with a 38-36 record. Russell is averaging a team-high 20.7 points and 6.9 assists while shooting 36.6 percent from 3-point range in 2018-19.
“It speaks to not only what we’ve done this season as a team, but to what D’Angelo has done on the court and also being a leader off the court that guys like Kevin Durant want to be close to him and a part of what he’s doing,” LeVert said.
Meanwhile, LeVert is fourth on the team in scoring at 13.1 points per game.
