It was supposed to be that in order for Kevin Durant to remain in Brooklyn, Kyrie Irving would have to stick around. Well, Irving stuck around and Durant still wants out.
According to reports from Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania, the Nets star has requested a trade that will likely return a “historic” haul.
Durant, 33, is entering the first year of a four-year deal, meaning whatever offers come through will have to be monumental to pry him from Brooklyn.
This comes after a disastrous season for the Nets in which Kyrie Irving refused to get vaccinated, and could only play in select road games for some of the year, tallying 33 total games, including the playoffs.
James Harden looked fed up and forced his way out to the Sixers, with Ben Simmons coming back in return. The Nets finished as the seventh seed, losing to the Celtics in the first round.
It appears Durant is fed up now, too, with the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat among the two teams he prefers, per Wojnarowski.
Unlike in a traditional situation when a star would have a significant amount leverage about destination due to an expiring contract, Durant’s remaining four years could mean he has far less say about where he goes.