KD & Kyrie Era of the Brooklyn Nets Coming to an End. What’s Next?

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Hours before the start of the 2022 Free Agency period, Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets requested a trade, with the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat being two preferred destinations. Reports have already come out that almost half of the league has contacted the Nets about trading for KD. This comes off the news of Kyrie Irving opting into his contract to return to the Nets next season, even though he’ll most likely be traded before the beginning of the season. With KD requesting a trade and Kyrie most likely being gone from Brooklyn before the start of the season, the question everyone is asking is “what went wrong?”

The Kyrie Irving Saga

Kyrie Irving has been one of the most significant points of tension for the Nets over the last season. Irving missed over half of the 2021-22 season, with this frustrating management, teammates, and the fanbase. This caused tension not only with Kevin Durant but James Harden as well. This was seen as a key factor in Harden’s request to move. Irving’s decision to not play and get vaccinated during the 2021-22 season created plenty of tension with management. In turn, they said they would not be giving him a long-term deal come free agency. In the last few weeks, Irving has been connected to several teams including the Lakers, Clippers, and Knicks. When a move could not be made due to the fact they could not work with the cap, Irving decided to opt into his contract to return to the Nets next season. While he opted in, it’s almost guaranteed that he will be gone before the start of the season.

Irving has been seen as a controversial figure in recent years due to his history with his previous teams. He requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers after frustrations grew with the team. Many called Irving out after he said he was never going to leave Cleveland, only to request a trade from the team. Fans of the Boston Celtics hoped for the same after Irving was traded to Boston. Although he had a couple of good seasons with the team and told fans he’d return if they’d have him, Irving left the team following the 2018-19 season. With Brooklyn, Irving noted the goal was to win a championship alongside Kevin Durant and could’ve had a great chance to during the 2020-21 season when James Harden joined the team and if Irving played the full season. Many NBA personalities have criticized Irving for his decision to not play most of the season calling him selfish and not dependable. With Irving wanting a long-term contract and the Nets wanting to give him a shorter, incentive-loaded contract, Kyrie’s time in Brooklyn is over. The only questions left with Kyrie Irving are “where will he go” and “what effect will this entire situation have going forward not only for Kyrie but the league?”

James Harden and Ben Simmons Drama

Two players that were around and were another piece of the overall drama during the KD and Kyrie era were James Harden and Ben Simmons. Harden joined the Nets in the middle of the 2020-21 season making the Nets look like one of the best teams in the league. Harden played a chunk of games for the Nets as they reached the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Although they lost in the second round in seven games, the team still had one of the best odds to win the 2022 championship prior to the season starting. Then the drama with Kyrie Irving happened. Harden’s frustration grew with Irving’s absence. At the same time, Harden was not playing at the MVP-type level that he had been playing at the last couple of seasons. With the Kyrie Irving situation not looking good, Harden forced his way out of Brooklyn, which landed Brooklyn Ben Simmons.

Alongside Irving, Ben Simmons was the biggest storyline of the 2021-22 NBA season. Simmons had not played since Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals due to a broken relationship with the Philadelphia 76ers and their fanbase, as well as mental health issues. He was determined to sit out for the entirety of the season just to get traded. When he was traded to Brooklyn, not much changed, unfortunately. Simmons was rumored to return to play against the Sixers and that did not happen. Simmons was rumored to return towards the end of the season and that did not happen. Simmons was even rumored to return in Game 4 of the Nets’ first-round series against the Boston Celtics who led 3-0 and did not return. Simmons received much of the same criticism that Irving did, being called selfish and unprofessional. Simmons has still not played a game in the last year and recently posted he was feeling incredible after months of back issues and mental health issues. Unfortunately, Simmons may be the only star on the Nets when the season starts, or he may be traded from the Nets as well.

KD’s Frustration

While many fingers have been pointed at Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Ben Simmons, and Nets management, Kevin Durant’s frustration has played into his trade request and the end of the Durant/Irving era in Brooklyn. Ever since Durant left the Golden State Warriors in the summer of 2019, he has been criticized for not being able to win a championship without the Warriors. The Warriors made it to the finals all three seasons Durant was there and they won two championships. It is possible that the Warriors would’ve won their third championship in a row if Durant did not get injured in the 2019 Finals. Since then, Durant has missed an entire season, lost in seven games in the second round in 2021, and was swept in the first round in 2022. With the Warriors winning the 2022 NBA championship, many NBA media personalities and fans have argued that the Warriors did not need Durant to win, but he needed them in order to be a champion. With Durant choosing the top teams in each conference as a preferred destination, Durant has garnered even more criticism for NBA personalities and fans.

What’s Next?

Everything that has happened since the signings of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving has led to this moment. Harden’s trade, Simmons’ inactivity, Kyrie’s decision not to play and growing tensions with management, and more. Several teams have been rumored to be in the Hunt for KD including Miami and Phoenix, who could make offers for KD, but core players such as Bam Adebayo and Devin Bookers have been rumored as targets for Brooklyn. Miami and Phoenix would not move either of those players. The latest rumors have noted that Durant and Irving would still like to play together in the future, but not on the Nets. One team that is rumored to be interested in both Irving and Durant is the Los Angeles Lakers. A deal could work between the team, but if the Lakers truly wanted Durant and Irving, it would come at the cost of Anthony Davis Westbrook. Los Angeles was already trying to move Westbrook, but it is unlikely Brooklyn would trade for him. Davis has had many injury-riddled seasons and this season was no different. Brooklyn may decline this trade. Half of the league has called about Durant and the Nets do not have to trade Durant to his preferred destinations. The era of Kevin Durant and Kyrie in Brooklyn is over and will be official once the two have been moved.