At this point, it’s no secret that Kevin Durant wants out of Brooklyn — and the Nets are doing their best to control the fallout.
Unfortunately, no matter how all of this plays out for the franchise and their disgruntled star, it’s going to have a major impact on their bottom line.
In a recent article, Bob Raissman of the Daily News explained how this whole situation would ultimately affect Brooklyn’s profits for the upcoming season.
(via Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News):
While this story has provided sizzle to the NBA offseason, it’s bad for business.
No one likes uncertainty. And that’s what Durant, one of the NBA’s marquee attractions, has served up. Now, even Durant, or [Joe] Tsai, cannot provide guidance to the league’s national TV partners (Turner Sports, ESPN) on when, or how many times, they should schedule the Nets next season.
Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network (TV home of the Nets) suits cannot tell advertisers if Durant, who signed a four-year, $198 million contract extension in 2021, will be in Brooklyn to start the season. Without Durant, the value of the Nets to YES, and what it can charge advertisers to purchase commercials, takes a hit. Without Durant, the arrow also points down when it comes to selling Nets season ticket subscriptions and corporate sponsorships.
The uncertainty surrounding the team and their future will loom over the franchise for the foreseeable future. Will they keep KD and Irving? If they do, will they accept it and suit up this season?
It’s obviously hard for any GM to give up on two of the game’s best players, and it’s why the asking price is so steep for Durant. But some stability might actually do some good for the team, given how wild things have gotten.
Either way, Durant is definitely hurting the Nets in more ways than one, and it remains to be seen how the team, and specifically owner Joe Tsai, will respond.
