On June 30, 2019, the Nets pulled off what ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski referred to as a "clean sweep." Brooklyn opened free agency by acquiring Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan, seemingly positioning the Nets to be a contender for years to come.
On June 30, 2022, Durant reportedly requested a trade out of Brooklyn.
Irving is on the trade block, but the Nets are having trouble finding suitors.
The Artist Formerly Known as DeAndre Jordan has been long gone. The only "clean sweep" to speak of is the one the Celtics completed against the Nets in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
The moment Durant's trade request went public, it felt as though Brooklyn had reached the end of an incredibly disappointing era in the franchise's history. The injuries, the coaching changes, the James Harden trades (yes, multiple), the Irving drama, the lack of postseason success — Durant sharing his preferences with the organization was just the final piece that brought down what had been a wobbly Jenga tower.
But are we absolutely sure Durant has burned that bridge back to Brooklyn?
On Wednesday's edition of "NBA Today," Wojnarowski noted that the Nets are looking for "one of the biggest trade returns in league history." With Durant under contract for four more years, they can afford to take their time and seek out the best possible offer.
"They don't have to take a deal that they don't want to do. They don't have to talk themselves into a deal," Wojnarowski said. "But then, at the same time, Kevin Durant, as he looks at the situation, could he look at it differently over time? That's certainly a possibility. ...
"Maybe at some point the Nets come to Kevin Durant with a trade and say, 'Hey, here's something we're about to do.' And he looks at it and says, 'Maybe I'd rather stay here.'"
The idea of Durant staying on board sounds farfetched, but an examination of recent NBA history and his current situation tells us that Durant starting the 2022-23 season in a Nets uniform isn't that crazy. In fact, it might be his best option.
The Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan departures that almost happened
You think the Durant request was a bombshell? How about an in-his-prime Kobe telling ESPN's Stephen A. Smith on-air that he wanted to be traded?
Back in May 2007, years removed from a three-peat and not long after the Suns eliminated the Lakers in a 4-1 first-round series win, Bryant declared that he was done. He couldn't rebuild trust with the franchise because he felt that the front office had not been honest with him about the team's future plans.
"Yeah, I would like to be traded," Bryant told Smith on ESPN Radio. "And as tough as it is to say that, as tough as it is to come to that conclusion, there's no other — there's no other — there's no other alternative, you know. They obviously want to move in a different direction in terms of rebuilding.
"I wish they would have told me that prior to me re-signing with the team. They obviously want to move in a different direction."
When asked if there was anything the Lakers could do to change his mind, Bryant simply responded, "No." He didn't even have a particular team in mind that he wanted to join.
"At this point, I'll go play on Pluto right now," Bryant said. "You know what I mean? I just want to — I just want to work hard, I just want to play, just enjoy the game of basketball, you know."
Bryant was connected to the Bulls, Clippers and Pistons at different points, but he somehow stayed on the same roster (and the same planet) despite his initial strong feelings. He went on to win two more titles with the Lakers after that trade request, and he will always be remembered as an LA legend.
Duncan's fork in the road came much earlier in his career. In 2000, he was reportedly considering leaving the Spurs and signing with the Magic. Orlando was also targeting Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady at the time to form a talented core capable of competing for multiple championships.
The details of why the Magic missed out on Duncan differ depending on the point of view. Hill and McGrady have both mentioned that then-Orlando coach Doc Rivers didn't allow players to bring their partners on the team plane, which was a dealbreaker for Duncan. However, Rivers has said that the real issue was San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich being able to get the last word in before Duncan made a final decision.
Regardless of which version of the story you may believe, Duncan stuck with the Spurs, winning a total of five championships and eventually retiring as the greatest player in the history of the franchise.
"Life would have been a lot different," Duncan said in 2007. "It was probably a lot closer of a decision than people even think or even know, but it's worked out the right way, to say the least."
Could Kevin Durant stay in Brooklyn?
Is Durant in the exact same spot as Bryant or Duncan?
No, of course not.
He has already played for three teams in his career, so he will never have to consider that piece of his legacy. And, with all due respect to Steve Nash, the Nets don't have someone on the level of Popovich or Phil Jackson in a leadership position. Relationships and trust matter.
However, Brooklyn was originally an attractive landing spot in part because it gave Durant the opportunity to win on his own terms. A title with the Nets would mean silencing any critics who chirped about him riding the Warriors' coattails. That opportunity is still in front of him.
Just for a moment, ignore the noise surrounding Nash's squad. On paper, doesn't this look like a legitimate contender?
The Nets *could* just run it back.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 5, 2022
Kyrie Irving
Joe Harris
Kevin Durant
Ben Simmons
Nic Claxton
Bench:
Patty Mills
Seth Curry
Royce O’Neale
Cam Thomas
TJ Warren pic.twitter.com/GR4319H0Iy
Now, consider the alternative.
If Durant is sent out in exchange for an unprecedented haul of players and picks, what would be left on his next team? Would it have enough talent to compete for a championship?
Let's say the Suns send Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and multiple draft picks to the Nets in exchange for Durant. That leaves Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Durant and... who, exactly? Would that be enough to come out of the Western Conference bracket? Do you trust Paul and Durant to stay healthy for an entire season considering their ages and injury histories?
"There's no way the Nets will ever trade Kevin Durant for anything less than what Rudy Gobert got Utah," one Western Conference executive told Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer. "If nothing comes, I can see them saying [to the players], 'We just all have to come back.' If I'm them, I just try to string this out as long as possible."
Look, this could get awkward and uncomfortable. We haven't hit the "I'll go play on Pluto" stage just yet, but it wouldn't be shocking if Durant and Irving decide to fire off tweets or hop on podcasts to discuss their frustrations. Durant has "gone dark" and isn't talking to those outside of his inner circle, according to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes, so it's impossible to know what is going through his mind.
Then again, uh, haven't things already been really uncomfortable in Brooklyn? Wasn't it awkward when Bryant and Duncan had to sit down for those tough conversations when it appeared they were set on leaving?
Maybe this is only a rocky stretch. Maybe a couple legends of the game can provide an important lesson on why nothing in the NBA is impossible.
And maybe the best team for Durant is the one he chose to join just three years ago.
