Kevin Durant’s latest NBA endeavor has seemingly gone up in smoke. Enter: the Brooklyn Nets. In this piece, I will be discussing my thoughts on what the organization should do with their box office star, as it relates to present and future moves for their season. The drama-filled season thus far is bar none an understatement on the grounds of “surprise” factors.
The Kyrie Irving/Kevin Durant saga was initially seen as a combatant to the Big Three down in Lake Town. Ironically, both teams are turning belly up for going after big name athletes. Even Steve Nash took a blow in the crossfire. From the looks of things, he couldn’t truly galvanize the Nets. But where does Kevin fit into all this? Firmly supplanted between a rock and a hard place.
Why? His partner and friend was suspended indefinitely in Irving, and they made up one of the most electrifying 1-2 punches in the league. Toss in 3 point sharpshooter Joe Harris as well as perpetual enigma Ben Simmons, and the Nets have a good front 4.
That is, only the front is good. No roster depth or parity whatsoever. Durant has also taken public jabs in interviews, although indirectly. Asking what is expected of his starting lineup? The same man who wanted to lead a team to take on the supposed Lakers super team?
I believe it best for the Nets to trade Kevin Durant while he still has blockbuster value. He’s not injury prone either, staying relatively healthy through his career. He’s also a premiere scorer, and in today’s game, you can’t have enough of them. A lot of teams would (and should) be ringing the phones profusely for any kind of trade package that involves #35.
The Nets may very well go into full-on rebuild, as Nash has been replaced by an in-house name, Jacque Vaughn. Their otherwise young core could be bolstered by developing a chemistry with some fresh, hungry draft picks as compensation for KD. The ball is, unironically, in the Nets court.