With the NFL trade deadline getting closer by the day, all eyes are on teams like the New Orleans Saints to see if they’re willing to sell off their stars to acquire draft picks for a potential rebuild. 

One of those stars is running back Alvin Kamara, but he made it clear what he would do if general manager Mickey Loomis were to trade him. Kamara said he and Loomis are on the same page, but in the unlikely event it does happen, he threatened to retire.

“If I was a GM, I guess I would go to the player and be like, ‘Hey, we’re trading you. Just to let you know.’ If Mickey comes down and says that, then I’ll go drink a piña colada somewhere,” Kamara told reporters recently.

As someone who knows Kamara quite well, Saints legend Drew Brees loved hearing that answer from his old running back. 

“Look, all of this is unfortunate and wouldn’t even be a topic if the Saints weren’t 1-6,” Brees told Fox News Digital, while discussing his flag football organization, Football ‘N’ America, partnering with Unrivaled Sports. “Immediately, when people think the season is ‘lost,’ or a high unlikelihood, all of a sudden you start dealing these pieces to get draft picks to build for the future. That term rebuilding, right? 

ALVIN KAMARA THREATENS RETIREMENT IF SAINTS TRY TO TRADE HIM: ‘I’LL DRINK A PIÑA COLADA SOMEWHERE’

“I know Alvin obviously, but for those who don’t know Alvin, I think you should read into his comments as he loves being a part of the New Orleans Saints, and he loves the city of New Orleans and loves the people. He doesn’t want to go anywhere. So, when the topic is broached with him, ‘Hey, what would you think about…’ He doesn’t want to go anywhere else. ‘This is my team, I want to play here in front of these fans.’ I just think that’s a testament to his loyalty and that’s kind of rare nowadays, to be honest with you. That should be celebrated more than anything.”

Kamara isn’t the only attractive Saints star in the building. Wide receiver Chris Olave is another name swirling in trade speculation, while players like defensive end Cam Jordan and linebacker Demario Davis could be viewed as trade candidates as well. 

Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints hands the ball off to Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Oct. 4, 2020, in Detroit, Michigan. (Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

But Brees doesn’t like the thought of selling just because of what the record says. Having leaders like those in the locker room goes a long way. 

“I think the reaction for everybody, especially when you’re not winning, that something must be really wrong and who do we blame it on?” Brees explained. “Everybody seems to want dysfunction – makes for a better story. I would almost argue there’s a heck of a lot more dysfunction I know on some winning teams right now than there is on teams like the Saints, who are 1-6. 

“I think everybody loves the coach. I think the coach has really endeared himself to a lot of the team. They love playing for him despite the record, and I think we got guys who care about the organization, the city, the community. They love being a part of the team, they love being leaders on the team. They take real pride in it.”

Alvin Kamara and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints look on against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Jan. 20, 2019, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Brees feels his former team is “close,” but they may still need to find their identity. The coach he mentions is new head coach Kellen Moore, who is a first-year head coach that New Orleans really likes. 

No one expected the Saints to turn around quickly this season, but Brees and others feel the pieces are in place, especially those like Kamara who want to remain in place to get the Saints back to their playoff ways. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

After seven months away from the Philadelphia Eagles, Brandon Graham has the itch to play again. 

Graham, who spent all 15 years of his NFL career with the Eagles, is tacking another one on as he is finalizing a deal to rejoin his old squad, according to multiple reports. The Eagles are expected to make the move official on Wednesday. 

Graham, a two-time Super Bowl champion in Philadelphia, was the longest-tenured player in Eagles history when he retired following the team’s Super Bowl LIX win over the Kansas City Chiefs. 

But, with the Eagles facing some depth issues on their defensive line, especially with Za’Darius Smith surprisingly announcing his own retirement midway through the year, Philadelphia is calling on an old friend to help them out. 

The Eagles have just 11 sacks through seven games, which is toward the bottom of the league. Graham totaled 76.5 sacks over his career and 487 combined tackles through 206 regular-season games. He tallied 126 tackles for loss and 153 quarterback hits over his record-setting game total. 

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION BRANDON GRAHAM CONSIDERING EAGLES RETURN AFTER RETIRING: REPORTS

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (55) after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome.  (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

Graham not only brings the experience, but also the natural leadership experience to a franchise where he is adored. 

While Smith is retired, the Eagles have seen Nolan Smith placed on the injured reserve, while Jalen Carter missed a good amount of time due to injury. Azeez Ojulari is also dealing with a knee injury. 

Graham said that he would answer some questions on his “Brandon Graham Unlocked” podcast, which one would believe includes the thinking behind his decision to return. 

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (55) against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome.  (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

While it was a Super Bowl-winning final season for Graham at the time, he tore his triceps which rendered him unable to play until the Super Bowl. He had 20 tackles and 3.5 sacks through 11 regular-season games before his injury last season. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

They remain two of the NBA’s biggest stars, and whenever LeBron James and the Lakers face Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors it is must-see TV.

The Lakers and Warriors will open the regular season against each other Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, but James will not play because he’s dealing with a sciatica nerve injury on his right side.

Nevertheless, the rivalry between the Lakers and the Warriors will continue to shine.

“Obviously, going against Steph is very exciting,” Lakers star Luka Doncic said after practice Monday. “It’s going to be tough. I don’t know if it’s a rivalry, but it’s for sure an exciting game.”

When the Lakers and Warriors played on Christmas last season, James and Curry put on a show.

James had 31 points and 10 assists in the Lakers’ victory and Curry had 38 points.

The two had proved again that they can captivate sports fans.

“Lakers against Warriors has been intense,” Lakers forward Rui Hachimura said. “We’ve always played pretty intense games, playoff-like. So this is going to be [the same]. … So even with LeBron out, it’s going to be a great game. Of course, we got to compete and we’re trying to get this dub [win].”

The James-Curry rivalry reached its zenith from 2015-2018, when their teams met in the NBA Finals four consecutive years. James, who was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers during those years, won just one championship against Curry.

“Steph-LeBron rivalry, whatever you want to call it, matchup has always been awesome — for whatever teams they’ve been on and for the league itself,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I know we had some great games against those guys last year. Being a part of that was really cool. I think when you’re the Lakers and you play on national TV more than any other team, you’re generally going to play against great teams and that’s what tomorrow is. I think it’s just a general excitement about the start of the year. I don’t know if there’s anything extra to that.”

With James out, Doncic said there is “nothing specifically” he has to do extra.

“I just try to win every game,” Doncic said. “Obviously, it’s going to be hard with LeBron out. But when he’s ready to return, he’s going to help us a lot for sure.”

Doncic will have help from Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and the rest of the Lakers.

Curry will have help from longtime teammate Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.

But a lot of eyes will be on Curry, someone Doncic immensely respects.

“For sure. As an opponent, obviously [it is] very hard to guard him,” Doncic said. “He’s moving all the time. He can shoot from anywhere, so I feel like it’s hard but always exciting. Going against a player like that is very exciting.”

Etc.

Redick said James, who is expected to be out until November, did “individual work” during practice Monday. Redick said Lakers backup center Jaxson Hayes (right wrist contusion) was “trending” toward playing Tuesday, as was Bronny James (ankle) and Maxi Kleber (quad).