Kevin Durant’s abrupt trade request seems to have been rescinded after the Nets announced that the two parties “have agreed to move forward with our partnership,” following a meeting between Brooklyn’s leadership and Kevin Durant and his manager, Rich Kleiman.
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) August 23, 2022
Durant reportedly requested a trade out of Brooklyn after the front office couldn’t negotiate a long-term extension with long-time friend Kyrie Irving.
Although Irving ended up signing his player option to fulfill his promise to play with KD for at least four seasons, Durant was still adamant about Brooklyn moving him to another title contender like the Celtics, Suns, or the Heat, while the Grizzlies and 76ers recently joined the sweepstakes according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
In the end, Kevin Durant and the Nets played out in a similar way to Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in 2007: A tumultuous summer after a trade request, talks with teams, no deal and ultimately a decision to return to the franchise.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 23, 2022
Durant has played 90 games in a Brooklyn uniform and has averaged 28.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game on 52.5 percent shooting from the field and 40.9 percent from beyond the arc. Durant is under contract for the next four seasons.
The Nets were a top 2 team in the Eastern Conference before Durant suffered a knee injury that kept him out of 21 games. When Durant went down on Jan. 15, the Nets were 27-15 and second in the East. When he returned, the Nets were 32-31 and in eighth place. The Nets finished the season at 44-38, good for seventh place, forcing them to beat the Cavs in a play-in game before the Celtics swept them in the first-round of the playoffs.
