It has been a roller coaster ride of emotions for the Brooklyn Nets the last week or so. Last week, they reached an impasse with NBA superstar Kyrie Irving as they were unwilling to sign him to a long-term contract.
Irving gauged his market as six teams, the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers, emerged as potential landing spots. However, the market was colder than Irving believed, as nothing emerged for him.
As a result, Irving opted into his contract for the 2022-23 season. Throughout that entire ordeal, Kevin Durant was keeping a close eye on the situation. Well, it seems that he had seen enough even after Irving opted in, as Durant formally requested a trade from the Nets today.
That sent shockwaves throughout the entire NBA, as teams are now going to line up and submit offers to the Nets for one of the best players in the league. With Durant requesting a trade, there are going to be some major changes, including Irving being on the move as well.
LATEST NBA FREE AGENCY AND TRADE RUMORS: 3 Best Trade Destinations For Brooklyn Nets Superstar Kevin Durant
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, we very well could have seen Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in a Nets jersey for the final time as they were getting swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
This is quite a fall for the Nets, who entered the 2021-22 season with title aspirations. Injuries and Durant’s shoe size are what kept the team from advancing in the 2021 postseason, which provided optimism for what lay ahead.
But, things began falling apart when Irving remained steadfast in his stance to not receive the COVID-19 vaccine. That put a lot of pressure on Harden and Durant to carry the team, but this wasn’t what Harden signed up for.
LATEST NBA FREE AGENCY AND TRADE RUMORS: 3 Best Trade Destinations For Brooklyn Nets Superstar Kevin Durant
Once Kevin Durant went down with an injury, Harden sought an escape plan and he received one, being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Just a few months later, the Nets look like they will trade the other two members of their Big 3.
That James Harden trade is one that is going to haunt the Brooklyn Nets for a long time, as the Rockets have five unprotected first-round picks and swaps heading their way.
