Kevin Durant explains trade request from Nets
What’s next for KD and the Brooklyn Nets now that Durant has explained his trade request? Can they get back to normal?
Speaking out publicly for the first time since he requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant had some explaining to do.
After all the offseason drama, KD explained what we all basically expected: he didn’t want to be part of the team once it failed to meet his expectations. “I committed to this organization four years ago with the idea that we were going to play with that group,” said Durant.
“That group” being himself, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving. Of course, things happen in the NBA. Players get traded, refuse to get vaccinated, injuries happen, and so on. Nothing is guaranteed…well, except that $200 million contract extension, but I digress. The point is, things don’t always work out as you expect, and in KD’s case, he decided to bolt when they didn’t work out as he expected.
Durant requested for coach Steve Nash to be fired and accused the management of not holding players accountable. I rarely agree with Stephen A. Smith on anything, but that Durant could have had some influence on the team instead of just running away at the first sign of problems, I actually do.
As we all now well know, KD is staying with the Nets anyway. Oh, sweet Karma. And Nash is claiming that all the drama is behind them. Training camp has begun, Harden is still gone, Simmons is in, and Irving is still saying outlandish things. But the Nets are still projected to be one of the best teams in the NBA in the upcoming season. So what’s next?
What’s next for the Nets
Durant is still one of the best players in the league and if he can step up and be a leader, he could take the Nets even further. Surrounded by Irving and Simmons, KD and the Nets have the potential to make it to a championship, but the unpredictability of those two makes things less certain. Last year, the Nets were 10th in the NBA in three-point percentage, even without key player Joe Harris, who will be back in 2022. In theory and on paper, the Nets should dominate on offense.
But doubts still remain. Will Irving continue to miss time for some other random reason? Can Simmons stay healthy? Who will back up Nic Claxton at center? And perhaps one of the even bigger questions - how will the defense fare?
At least, according to Durant and Nash themselves, they’re ready to move on, and the Nets better hope that’s true. Because if it isn’t, they have bigger problems to worry about.
“It was a year of growth,” Durant said. “And a year of us looking in the mirror of, like, we f---ed up. As a team. And that only makes you better. So, I’m banking on that.”