Only a couple of days after Kyrie Irving opted into his contract with the Nets, Kevin Durant has told the franchise he wants out.
It is a stunning move considering KD left a perfect situation with the Warriors to be THE MAN with the Nets but it hasn’t worked out for him, so he is looking to move on to greener pastures without Kyrie.
Kyrie Irving is in, but Kevin Durant wants out.
Durant requested a trade from the Nets on Thursday, according to multiple reports, before the start of NBA free agency.
ESPN reports Nets GM Sean Marks is working with Durant and his agent Rich Kleiman on finding a trade destination. Durant, 33, prefers to be traded to the Suns, according to Yahoo Sports.
Just last offseason, Durant signed a four-year, $194 million contract extension with the Nets that was set to kick in during the 2022-23 season.
This comes after reports that Nets really don’t want Kyrie on the team.
Appearing on ESPN’s Get Up, NBA insider Brian Windhorst explained that the issues between Kyrie and the Nets last year extended beyond his refusal to get vaccinated in compliance with New York City ordinances. Windhorst revealed that Kyrie’s treatment of his fellow players and coaches was an issue too.
“[The Nets’ front office] made it clear the status quo from last season is not acceptable. And it wasn’t just about the vaccine mandate, it was about the way Kyrie Irving treated his teammates… his coaches,” Windhorst said.
Windhorst said that while Kyrie intends to see the Nets again in the fall, the Nets want to straighten things out with Kyrie first. And if Kyrie refuses to meet, then Kyrie could still get moved.
One would imagine the Suns would have to give up Devin Booker to get Durant?
That is the only way I’d do the deal if I was the Nets.
KD reportedly also wouldn’t mind going to the Miami Heat.
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