The NBA is finally able to rest easy now that everyone knows Kevin Durant will remain with the Brooklyn Nets for the foreseeable future.
He repeatedly demanded a trade and seemed adamant about making it happen but, in the end, Durant had a change of heart after meeting with Steve Nash, Joe Tsai, and Sean Marks.
He saw Memphis would not give up Desmond Bane for him and decided to fold. https://t.co/XZp5bYPKIZ
— Sean Deveney (@SeanDeveney) August 23, 2022
We don’t know exactly why Durant decided to retract his trade demands but Sean Deveney has a funny idea, saying, “He saw Memphis would not give up Desmond Bane for him and decided to fold.”
Deveney is making a joke but his comment actually touches upon a good point: the entire league was exhausted from making offers to the Nets and it became painfully apparent that no package would make them happy.
Durant Turns Around
Sure enough, the Memphis Grizzlies were one of the last teams trying to get Durant before it was announced he was remaining in Brooklyn.
But they were just the last of many others.
Since Durant’s demand became public back in June, it seems like every single squad in the NBA offered something for Durant.
In fact, most of them offered an awful lot.
Yet, again and again, the Nets said “no thank you” to proposals and instead just sat on their hands awaiting a dream deal that would never come.
It’s likely that Durant changed his mind about leaving New York when it became apparent that the Nets would never be pleased by a deal.
Durant saw that the Nets had all control in this situation and they weren’t going to make any moves.
So instead of stomping his feet and making more of a fuss, Durant decided to play nice and see if he could make it work with the Nets.
NEXT: Kevin Durant Salvaged His Legacy By Ending His Trade Request