Kevin Durant's future with the Brooklyn Nets has been all of a sudden put to question amid reports of Kyrie Irving's willingness to jump ship. There is some belief that if Kyrie ends up leaving Brooklyn, then Durant could also consider walking away.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has provided a major update on this story as the renowned NBA insider throws some cold water on the rumors of KD's potential exit from the Nets. According to Woj, Durant is not demanding a trade from Brooklyn:
“I'm told that Kevin Durant has NOT told the Nets that if Kyrie Irving leaves, that means he's going to ask for a trade,” Woj said. “What Kevin Durant wants to know, like any other star of his stature, that if Kyrie Irving does walk — if he took let's say that mid-level exception with the Lakers — what would a re-configured Nets team look like?”
Based on this latest Woj bomb, it appears that Durant's loyalty currently lies with the Nets, and not with Kyrie.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4bZVYxusLFA542EmWlcgOm?si=b0c042c50ef648f3
Nevertheless, we all know how these two are very close friends, and Brooklyn is well aware of this fact as well. So much so, that the team considers the relationship between their two stars as a major factor in their negotiations with Kyrie:
“Certainly, the Nets are aware of the relationship, the connection, the affinity that Kevin Durant has for Kyrie Irving,” Woj continued. “That's why they've been working to try to see if they can come up with a deal that meets both what Kyrie Irving is willing to do and what the Nets are willing to do, but right now, certainly, Kevin Durant's happiness (and) how he looks at the future of this team, it is a part of that Kyrie Irving negotiation.”
Woj: "I'm told that Kevin Durant has not told the Nets that if Kyrie Irving leaves, that means he's going to ask for a trade.”
(h/t @_Talkin_NBA)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 23, 2022
It's still very much possible that Irving ends up leaving the Nets in the near future. However, the silver lining here is that even if this actually happens, this does not necessarily mean that Durant will follow suit.
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