Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
In a stunning move, the Brooklyn Nets and superstar forward Kevin Durant have apparently mended whatever was broken in their relationship that led Durant to request a trade earlier this offseason.
The Nets brass met with Durant in Los Angeles on Monday and found a way to agree to “move forward with our relationship.”
It’s obviously a huge deal for the Nets and the team’s fans. When Durant joined the team a few years ago, it seemed like winning an NBA title was only a matter of time. The Nets got close in the 2020-21 season, losing to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in an epic Game 7 in the second round of the playoffs.
However, last season was a downright disaster. The team barely made the playoffs and lost 4-0 in the first round to the Boston Celtics.
At times this summer, it seemed likely that both Durant and teammate Kyrie Irving were going to manage to force their ways out of Brooklyn. Now, it seems quite reasonable to expect that both players will be back with the team.
Beyond that, the Nets should also have a healthy and motivated Ben Simmons on the roster as well.
Though it’s been a very winding road for the Nets over the last year or so, they could enter the 2022-23 NBA regular season as title hopefuls once again. If everyone remains healthy, the Nets should still have one of the most talented rosters in the league.
Despite the team failure last season, Durant had another miraculous campaign. In 55 games, Durant averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game. He shot 51.8 percent from the field.
He proved that he is still one of the best players in the league. He is certainly still capable of being the best player on a championship winning squad.
Perhaps the biggest question right now is what the Nets brass said to change Durant’s mind. Nothing has fundamentally changed since Durant’s trade request, so whatever the pitch was, it must have been quite impressive.
Only time will tell if those particulars will ever be known.
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