In news first broke by NBA Insider Shams Charania from the Athletic on Thursday afternoon, Kevin Durant has requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets.
Durant listed the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat as possible destinations. Durant joined Brooklyn in 2019 along side Kyrie Irving, with their eyes set on a championship run. The Nets were swept by the Boston Celtics this past season in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, after a tough regular season. The team also traded fellow All-Star James Harden mid-season o the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons, who is yet to play a game with Brooklyn.
Irving only played in 29 regular season games for the Nets this past year, after failing to comply with the New York COVID-19 regulations. Brooklyn General Manager Sean Marks said at the conclusion of the season that he wants players that are going to be available. Irving earlier this week opted into his 36.9 million dollar player option to stay with the team, but the transaction leaves open the possibility of a trade as the two sides haven’t agreed on a long term deal. Durant and Irving came as a package deal three seasons ago, and now it seems Durant wants to move on. Durant, who is a 12 time All-Star, is set to enter a four year, 194 million dollar extension that begins in the 2022-23 season with Brooklyn and he is under contact through 2025-26.
