New season, same-old Brooklyn Nets.
Joe Tsai’s team is once again under heavy scrutiny after parting ways with Kyrie Irving, finally ripping the band-aid off and getting ready to move on from the future.
But as glad as they could be after parting ways with Irving, his departure also sets the table for Kevin Durant’s exit, especially considering he demanded to be traded just a couple of months ago.
Durant backpedaled and decided to stay in Brooklyn once he realized that his leverage and trade value weren’t as high as he thought they were.
But with the trade deadline zooming in and multiple teams desperate to make a run at a player of his caliber, he could look to leave Brooklyn again.
However, Nets coach Jacque Vaughn won’t be fazed by that situation, and he recently stated that he’s not going to get into Durant’s mind and wonder whether he’ll want to leave or stay, as he’s only focused on coaching whoever’s wearing a Nets uniform:
“I won’t complicate it,” Vaughn told the media. “Like I said, I’m going to coach the group that’s in front of me and to coach the group that’s in the locker room. That won’t change. I’m not going to speculate and get in Kevin’s mind at all. Not gonna even try to do that. I’m going to coach this group. I look forward to coaching him and look forward to winning.”
Jacque Vaughn on Kevin Durant pic.twitter.com/NWDj1fsLyo
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) February 7, 2023
Vaughn has made sure to keep it all about basketball this season, which was one of the biggest catalysts behind their success.
He also claimed that Durant is all about winning, and he’s looking forward to having him back on the floor, but he knows he cannot speak for him.
At the end of the day, Durant hasn’t proven to be the most loyal guy, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him asking to leave.
But the Nets will have the final say on any potential transaction, so this new drama could be dragged all the way into the offseason… again.
NEXT: Nets Coach Comments On What It Was Like Coaching Kyrie Irving
