The three-month long saga has ended. The Brooklyn Nets hierarchy and leadership has recently meet with Kevin Durant and told him that he WILL NOT be traded.
What a letdown this trade saga ended up being. From potentially seeing two of the NBA’s most marketable and skilled players traded for massive hauls, to not seeing either of them leave after months of trade negotiations with other teams is disappointing to say the least.
For months Kevin Durant has been linked with every single title contending team in the NBA, such as the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Phoenix Suns, who have all wanted to add the 2X NBA champion to their rosters.
Yet, the Nets asking price for the superstar has been way too high. Supposedly, the team wanted 5-6 1st-round picks, a superstar, and 2-3 role players for Kevin Durant, who is 33 turning 34 this year.
Now, I’m definitely not a basketball GM, but even I know that’s way too much for any team to give up. Even for a player like KD. That trade would simply destroy any present or future title winning chances KD’s new team would have.
Nevertheless, I feel for KD as he is now stuck having to play out another two years, at least, in Brooklyn due to the restrictive 4-year contract extension he signed back in April of last year.
Yes, I understand it is KD’s fault that he signed that long-term deal when he was 33 years old. And, yes, I realize it’s his responsibility to honor said contract as he already agreed to the terms and salary of the deal. I don’t feel bad for him because of those aspects.
I feel bad for him because his superstar teammates have let him down by throwing him and the Nets franchise under the bus time after time. Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Ben Simmons have all betrayed Kevin Durant’s trust in them in one way or another since the three joined (and subsequently left in James Harden’s case) the Brooklyn Nets.
Whether it was Kyrie Irving refusing to get vaccinated (which is his right, but it was extremely detrimental to Brooklyn’s team chemistry) and missing half the year, James Harden’s constant injuries and selfish motivations to leave (he didn’t want to play with Kyrie Irving anymore), or Ben Simmons refusal to play in general, it all mounted to a disappointing first round sweep in 2022.
I know Kevin Durant followed Kyrie Irving to Brooklyn and was his most ardent supporter for a long time, but not even he could have foreseen the utter destruction Irving’s antics was going to have on the team.
That’s why I feel bad for the guy. It’s not his fault that the Nets imploded as he played his hardest every minute he was on the court.
Anyway, it’s still really disappointing to see all of these trade rumors and negotiations amount to nothing. It would have been fascinating watching KD compete for another title on Miami, Boston, or Phoenix, but I guess we’ll have to contend with watching him in Brooklyn for a few more season.
I guess the only good thing to come out of this situation for non-Nets fans is that Kyrie Irving is heading back to the Nets too, which all but guarantees their destined to fail in the playoffs again.
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