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Kevin Durant demanded a trade out of the Brooklyn Nets last summer, but rescinded it when Kyrie Irving opted into his contract. However, Irving has reportedly requested to be traded ahead of the Feb. 9 deadline. Can Irving's demands make Durant also put in a shock trade request?
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Friday that Irving wants out of the Nets. The polarizing guard prefers to get traded at the deadline rather than wait for his contract to run out at the end of the season. The request came after the Boston Celtics dominated Brooklyn on Wednesday to get the 139-96 win.
Given that Durant was out with an injury, the Celtics' blowout victory showed how far the defending East champs are from other contenders. The Nets might be playing much better this season, but the Celtics, as well as the Milwaukee Bucks, might be a notch higher in quality.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that several teams are monitoring the Brooklyn Nets' situation and are interested in Kevin Durant. The Nets might be better off getting rid of both Durant and Kyrie Irving, with all the drama from the past year alone.
It makes sense for all the parties involved to move on from each other and get a fresh start. When Durant requested a trade in the offseason, there were plenty of suitors, and that might not change despite his current injury.
The Nets were unable to trade KD because they wanted to receive more for one of the best players in the world. With the number of assets the Utah Jazz received from trading Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell in the offseason, Brooklyn are looking at a historic haul.
Durant is also signed through the 2026 season, so it makes sense for contenders to trade for him rather than the enigmatic Irving, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. Nevertheless, the trade market went from quiet to one of the most interesting in recent memory.
Which teams could make a run for Kevin Durant if he requests a trade?
If Kevin Durant requests a trade and the Brooklyn Nets accept, which teams could realistically offer the best package? The Golden State Warriors come to mind due to their abundance of young players and draft picks.
The Warriors could offer Draymond Green, James Wiseman, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, and at least three first-round picks. Trading Green finally ends the drama created by his offseason incident, while the Nets got an expiring deal to free up cap space.
Wiseman, Moody and Kuminga are all former lottery picks full of potential. The first-round picks are just icing on the cake for the Nets, given that they could also get something for Kyrie Irving.
Once Durant is healthy, he'll join forces with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole. The Warriors' depth might not be the same as previous seasons, but a core like that could win multiple championships in the next few years.
Other teams that could realistically acquire Durant include the Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks. All of these teams have matching pieces, assets and draft picks that could convince Brooklyn to part ways with their best player.
Guess the Lakers players!
