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Weeks after 2-time NBA Champion Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets and reports of the Los Angeles Lakers interest in trading for Kyrie Irving were announced, the NBA free agency season seems to have lulled itself. Most fans are interested in the upcoming rookie seasons of Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero, while the biggest headline regarding the biggest franchise, the Lakers, is a phone call between LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook “vowing to make it work.” Yes, it’s the off-season, but the lack of movement between these specific star players in free agency are all a part of a big chess game between these teams’ GMs and ownership.
Durant cares about his legacy, this much is clear, with his decision to leave the Golden State Warriors dynasty in favor of building a winning culture with the Brooklyn Nets. Where it became an issue was the fact that any team with him and Kyrie Irving is thinking “win now,”, especially with the trade for James Harden, who was pretty soon traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons for reasons that remain unclear. Three headstrong perimeter players dealing with egos and injuries amongst them led to their failure to compete in the playoffs, but it’s astonishing that it actually didn’t work out between two MVP-caliber players and one of the most skilled point guards to ever play. The fact that the Nets landed those three players suggests their ability to acquire all-star talent, as incapable of holding on to them as they may be.
Him leaving a situation after it went south again (he left the Warriors after Klay Thompson got hurt in the finals and he had an ugly midseason argument with Draymond Green) in favor of a number one seeded team wouldn’t earn respect from those he is trying to impress. His leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder wasn’t ever the issue, it was joining the 73-win team, and while he doesn’t have much to prove to any sports analyst on TV, he certainly wants to win as many championships as possible. He’s arguably the most gifted offensive player to ever play, specifically on the perimeter, but the competitor in him wants to surpass LeBron and Kawhi Leonard, the two players he’s most often compared to at his position at small forward. Those guys won as the clear main guy, and that is what Brooklyn has going for them in their attempts to keep him and add the right supporting pieces around him. It’s what the Lakers did with Magic and Kobe. It can be done.
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