Kevin Durant’s tenure with the Brooklyn Nets has been a tumultuous one. KD sat out his first year in 2019-20 due to a ruptured Achilles he suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals. Ever since he came back, he has proven his elite skill on the court, being the best player for Brooklyn by far.
Durant has done a lot of heavy lifting for the team when he can, like in the 2021 Playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks. However, the inconsistency in the supporting cast around him and Kyrie Irving has taken its toll, as James Harden forced his way out of the team and replacement Ben Simmons hasn’t played so far.
According to former NBA GM and ESPN Insider Bobby Marks, there is a possibility that Durant gets traded if Kyrie Irving elects to leave the team this off-season, with Durant commanding the largest return package in league history for a trade.
But the return package on Durant would be the largest in league history.
4 years left on his contract, an MVP candidate when healthy who does not have veto power on any trade. https://t.co/CyqAw1tQd5
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 23, 2022
Despite his age, Durant is one of the best players in the league. His offensive skill-set is ridiculously well-rounded, with many arguing that KD may just be the best offensive player of this generation. Teams will be willing to break up their cores for a player like Durant, so a potential trade for him is incredibly exciting.
For this to happen, Kyrie needs to either be traded or decline his player option to become an unrestricted free agent. There is still a chance we see a final year of the pair together if Irving refuses to sign an extension but accepts his player option.
Durant would transform most teams in the league into instant title contenders, provided they still have a star or a good core left after trading for KD. As the man enters Year 16, he will be getting more impatient to win another championship, so he is probably regretting the contract extension he signed last year considering the turmoil in Brooklyn over the last season.
