Report: Durant made Warriors include draft pick in sign-and-trade with Nets

The Golden State Warriors didn't want to lose Kevin Durant for nothing, but he apparently didn't let them land D'Angelo Russell from the Brooklyn Nets for free.

Durant felt that a straight swap of himself for D'Angelo Russell was an unfair deal for the Nets, sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst. With his approval needed to set the sign-and-trade in motion, the Warriors reluctantly included a first-round pick - albeit a highly protected one - in order to satisfy Durant and complete the swap.

The pick that Golden State sent Brooklyn will only convey next summer if it falls outside the top-20, Windhorst added. If it doesn't, Brooklyn will only receive a second-round pick in six years.

Durant is expected to miss most, if not all, of next season after tearing his Achilles in the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. Meanwhile, Russell is coming off a stellar season in which he averaged 21.1 points and seven assists and was a finalist for Most Improved Player.

Russell, who penned a max deal of his own in the sign-and-trade, is expected to play alongside All-Star guard Stephen Curry while Klay Thompson recovers from a torn ACL. While that could prove to be a difficult fit once Thompson returns, Russell acknowledged earlier this week he would be at ease if the Warriors elect to move him once again.