Kevin Durant's sudden trade request a few weeks ago took the entire NBA world by storm. After just three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, KD all of a sudden wanted out of the team. It was a shocking move that sent front offices and fanbases into disarray.
The first few days after the initial news broke was complete and utter chaos. Durant's choices of teams was immediately made public: he wanted Miami, Phoenix, and a few other teams. Other teams also started making waves as potential dark horses, such as Toronto and Minnesota. ESPN's Trade Machine must have broken down multiple times because of the waves of fans putting on their best GM impression and crafting trade scenarios for KD.
And then, the chaos just… stopped. After the initial wave of interest, it seemed like teams suddenly were jolted back to reality. Maybe it's the bonkers Rudy Gobert trade that happened a few days after. Or maybe it was Brooklyn's ridiculous asks for Kevin Durant. Whatever it was, all the talks about a potential trade slowed down.
But perhaps… that works to the Nets' advantage. Here's why the seemingly sudden loss of public interest for Durant favors the Nets FO in the future.
Frigid market for Kevin Durant in 2022 NBA offseason is blessing in disguise for Nets
It's common knowledge amongst NBA fans that nowadays, it's almost impossible to fetch a fair price for a superstar asking for a trade out of your team. Most teams that are interested in acquiring your star will definitely want to keep their own stars. Because of that, they will try and try to lowball the team in question until they are forced to make a decision.
In other words: the Nets are on the back foot in the negotiation department. It doesn't matter if Sean Marks asks for the moon, teams are NOT going to give away their best assets for KD. They know that Brooklyn wants to get the star off their hands as soon as possible. They will try and force them to trade KD for mere pennies.
But what if… the script gets flipped in Brooklyn's favor? What if there's a team out there that becomes more desperate for Durant? Suddenly, Marks and the front office are in the driver's seat in the negotiations.
Remember, Durant is in the second year of a four-year contract. Technically speaking, the Nets are not obligated to trade him to a team he desires. If they decide that they don't want to trade Durant in the 2022 offseason, they can do just that. They can move him during the trade deadline, next year, hell, they may not even trade him at all!
As it stands right now, no team is willing to give up everything they have for Durant. The Raptors are not willing to let Scottie Barnes go. The Warriors aren't rushing to trade Andrew Wiggins and their rookies for KD. The Timberwolves balked at the idea of trading Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards.
Once the 2022 season starts, however, the NBA landscape drastically changes. Perhaps a contending team struggles out of the gate and falls into a massive slump. Maybe one of the star players on a playoff team gets injured. There's also the chance that another star gets disgruntled and asks out of his current team.
Then, and only then, will the Nets pounce on the opportunity to trade Kevin Durant. In that scenario, Brooklyn holds more leverage in the trade talks. That scenario is the only time that they can get a haul that is more in line with their demands.
Brooklyn actually has a blueprint with their name on it on how to execute this plan. A year ago, the Philadelphia 76ers were put in a similar situation when Ben Simmons asked to be traded from the team. Despite a tepid market for the star, Daryl Morey decided to weather the storm and hold on to Simmons for as long as possible. Sure enough, then-Nets star James Harden grew tired during the season and asked to be traded. A few days later, and Morey and the Sixers somehow nabbed James Harden for Ben Simmons.
Will the Nets land a similar deal for Durant? Probably not, based on the fact that most players that are on KD's level are almost-immovable. Still, waiting until the trade deadline is Brooklyn's best shot at getting their desired return for their disgruntled star. Unlike Simmons, Durant will most likely play the season out, which will boost both his trade value AND his team's win-loss record. Perhaps… even a reconciliation can happen in this scenario?
Things look bleak for the Nets when this whole fiasco went down initially. With a little patience, though, they can make their way through this rough patch in a better spot all things considered.
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