The Brooklyn Nets have been the focus of the entire NBA community this offseason. After getting eliminated in the first round of the 2022 playoffs, many believed that the superteam of the Nets would break up. And for the most part of the offseason, it seemed like that would be the case.
Kevin Durant had already asked for a trade, which meant Kyrie Irving would ultimately get traded as well. Well, that’s what most thought until a few hours ago when it was unveiled that Durant apparently had a long conversation with key figures in the team and has now withdrawn his trade request.
This ultimately means Kyrie Irving will not get traded as the Nets give their superteam experiment another shot. Before the official confirmation, most fans were confused about what the future might have in store for them. But NBA analyst Skip Bayless recently revealed that he always believed KD and Kyrie would stay with the Nets.
https://twitter.com/undisputed/status/1561739230417666051
“I told you from day one that they’re both going to be Nets. In large part because Joe Tsai is going to say, ‘Kevin, I’m sorry, you have four more years that haven’t even kicked in yet, and they start on opening night – I’m sorry, Kevin, but you’re going to be there as a Net on opening night.'”
Making sure that the core remains intact was step one for the Nets. But the next step is very difficult for them. Considering the fact that Kevin Durant essentially gave up on the team by requesting a trade, he must have lost some trust in the locker room.
Head coach Steve Nash will need to make sure that the chemistry of the roster isn’t hindered and that the entire team can play together like a well-oiled machine. Otherwise, fans might see a repeat of this offseason’s drama next season as well.
