After months and months of rumors and endless speculation, the drama with the Brooklyn Nets is over: Kevin Durant is sticking around with the team, despite repeated demands to be traded.
It feels like we have been through a lot, doesn’t it?
Steve Nash, Joe Tsai and Sean Marks met with Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman in Los Angeles on Monday and have decided to move forward with partnership, Nets say.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 23, 2022
The news broke on Tuesday morning, seemingly putting an end to a saga that left all sides exhausted.
It also left all sides in the exact same position they were in a few months ago: Durant will remain in Brooklyn and the Nets will rely on him, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, and the rest of the squad as they had always planned.
So, nothing has changed.
Durant Remains
The reactions to Durant’s major news were swift and varied greatly.
In the statement from Nets GM Sean Marks: "We are focusing on basketball, with one collective goal in mind: build a lasting franchise to bring a championship to Brooklyn."
This reads the plan is for a long-term commitment. Durant’s under contract for four years (the extension).
— Chris Milholen (@CMilholenSB) August 23, 2022
As Chris Milholen points out, the statement released by General Manager Sean Marks reads like two parties that are agreeing to a long-term commitment.
Just a reminder: Durant is under contract for four years so it sounds like he’s going to be in New York for some time.
Brooklyn Nets and Kevin Durant shocked that no team in the league wanted to give up their first born child and 30 first round picks for 4-6 years of prime basketball.. until the next drama drops. 🫠
— Frankie Merrick (@YaTurtleFrank) August 23, 2022
Frankie Merrick highlighted a very important fact: any trade involving Durant started to seem very unlikely when it became apparent that the Nets wanted an awful lot for the superstar.
They weren’t asking for first-born children but they were getting pretty close to requesting that.
The Kevin Durant novel is over. We celebrate. pic.twitter.com/DGdHGbS4Zd
— The Bill Russell's Celtics ☘️ (@PaintedCeltics) August 23, 2022
Other fans across the league were joyous upon hearing that Durant was remaining in Brooklyn because it meant their own stars, such as Jaylen Brown, would also stick around.
This Kevin Durant saga was like a really bad movie, all that drama and build-up for nothing to actually happen.
— Damian Adams (@TheRealDealwDA) August 23, 2022
Finally, some fans felt like all of the hubbub and build-up and speculation were a disappointment because they led to nothing.
It was all a bunch of wild expectations with no exciting conclusion, like a bad movie.
Now the movie is over and the Nets – and the rest of the NBA – are looking ahead to the upcoming season.
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