The Brooklyn Nets were supposed to be the next big dynasty in the NBA when they signed Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in the summer of 2019. They had a fantastic playoff-ready supporting cast with the likes of Spencer Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, and others waiting for KD and Irving when they joined the team.
After a season of injuries to the stars, the core players still managed to get the Nets into the Playoffs before getting thrashed in the Playoffs. Brooklyn didn't want to stick with that core and traded most of the players away for James Harden in 2021. Now, Harden has already forced his way out and Irving cannot agree on an extension with the Nets.
Brooklyn not acquiescing to Irving's contract demands is becoming a point of concern for Durant, who is getting increasingly alienated by the franchise. If Irving is on the move, Durant may just be on the move right with him, as KD has lost faith in the Nets franchise and are upset that the team never tried to understand Kyrie.
Durant asking to leave Brooklyn in the first year of a four-year extension would be unprecedented. Players force their way out of teams all the time, but not when the player has nearly half a decade on their contract.
Durant will feel justified, as he signed on the dotted line expecting Irving and Harden to do so with him. However, Harden declined a max contract to force his way to Philadelphia after disagreements with Kyrie over his lack of playing. That same unavailability is holding the Nets back from giving Kyrie the long-term contract he wants.
If KD was to leave Brooklyn, it may be one of the most expensive trade packages in league history. With the contract length, the Nets have most of the leverage on KD, so this situation has a lot more development to do before we get a final answer to what will happen with Irving and Durant.
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