It came as a surprise to everyone when Kevin Durant asked Brooklyn Nets owner Joseph Tsai to choose between keeping him or retaining general manager Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash. Many NBA athletes and analysts have given their two cents on the superstar’s situation and I’m not here to defend the guy, but I would rather want to make sense of his precarious position and the possible direction where his career is headed.
What happened in Brooklyn?
Kevin Durant’s three-year run with the Nets was supposed to be a masterful plan for a shot at the title as it involved star point guard Kyrie Irving. The goal was to establish themselves as a dynamic duo of scorers that would threaten anyone who would go up against them. The public expected them to reach great heights for the Nets but unfortunately, it ended up being a massive letdown.
Out of 247 games, the supposedly indomitable tandem of Durant and Irving played in only 58 games together. This occurred as a result of their respective injuries, but Irving's opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine played a major role as well. In an attempt to start a super team, the high-graded scorer James Harden was even added to the roster. However, the Nets’ so-called “Big 3” only played 16 games together until Harden tapped out and moved to the Philadelphia 76ers.
With the lack of playing time together and the absence of Irving in the postseason, Durant had a hard time carrying the Nets. Currently, he now wants out of Brooklyn despite having a contract of four years and $194 million remaining on his deal. This opting out was expressed after recently inking the agreement with the Nets that is in effect until 2026, so he is indeed posing a huge challenge for them.
Understanding the Brooklyn debacle
It appeared that all the Nets’ loose ends had been tied when Irving decided to opt in, so it was shocking to learn that KD had asked for a trade. Even though it's absurd that his loyalty to Kyrie led to this huge offseason drama, it actually makes sense why he felt compelled to leave the Nets. He obviously didn't have the experience that was perhaps promised to him, which must be the primary reason. He was left alone to carry the squad by himself instead of managing a championship-caliber team alongside Irving, and we all know how that panned out.
Durant is turning 34 years old soon and will enter his 16th season in the NBA. He is bound to enter the last leg of his prime and it could be a big waste of time if he stays in Brooklyn with players like Irving and Ben Simmons who are unsure if they will carry their share of responsibilities. A player with Durant's age and skill level would undoubtedly still try to search for a team that has a good chance of winning another NBA title.
Another source of dissatisfaction for Durant can be the team’s culture. Telling Tsai to either keep him or Marks and Nash can be proof of that. Some analysts are assuming that the scarred relationship between KD and the Nets started when they signed DeAndre Jordan for the main purpose of giving KD and Irving what they want. Or when Brooklyn traded good support players for James Harden, leading to the slow disintegration of the team’s core. Or when they decided to acquire Simmons, who was unable to play even a minute last season. The management’s decisions, always favoring the superstars, ultimately led to a severed team dynamic.
Possible trade destinations
If the Nets would give in once again to KD’s liking, there are possible trade destinations that can be favorable to him.
The most talked-about team is Boston, with rumors of the Celtics willing to give up Jaylen Brown to see a KD and Jayson Tatum pairing. However, analysts are saying that is unlikely to happen as Brooklyn is also asking for Marcus Smart and future picks to be put in the mix and Boston is unwilling to sacrifice their foundational players to that extent.
Another destination can be the Toronto Raptors. They can throw in one future first-round pick and reigning Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes. But then again, Brooklyn might not be content with just future All-Stars in replacement of a phenomenal talent like Durant.
We also have Miami as one of the teams that can be good for KD’s presence. The Heat can offer Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro or give up Bam Adebayo and future first-round picks.
The Nets won't let Durant go for offers that won't give them quality players, so whatever team he ends up with must be a sure contender in the league?which is something that this superstar would only concur with, given his reputation.
