“Got with their lawyers and their accountant, and be like ‘you’ll both be bankrupt’” - NBA analyst believes Kevin Durant and the Nets are like a couple that filed for divorce
The Brooklyn Nets have resolved their standoff with Kevin Durant, but many still question the team's chemistry ahead of next season. NBA analyst Nick Wright believes keeping Durant was not a smart move by Brooklyn.
Durant requested a trade on June 30 to the shock of many. However, the Nets failed to find a trade partner for Durant. The All-Star forward attempted to force his way out and even demanded that the general manager, Sean Marks, and head coach Steve Nash be fired. Nets owner Joe Tsai did not pay heed to Durant's demands and stood by his staff.
Kevin Durant will stay with the Brooklyn Nets after meeting with Rich Kleiman, GM Sean Marks, coach Steve Nash, Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai. "We are focusing on basketball, with one collective goal in mind: build a lasting franchise to bring a championship to Brooklyn," Marks says https://t.co/fIMbjAtqlV
Durant then decided to commit his future to the Nets. On "What's Wright? With Nick Wright," the sports analyst spoke about how fragile the KD-Nets marriage is.
"This is a couple that filed for divorce and then they got with their lawyers and their accountants and be like, 'You'll both be bankrupt', and it's like really it's like yeah you got to wait for these stocks to vest or else you're going to pay a crazy tax penalty so you need to wait like 15 months and then you can get divorced.
"It's like, 'Okay who's living downstairs?' Like you're still married and living together but nobody thinks it's gonna work. I don't buy it."
Kevin Durant is yet to bring a championship to Brooklyn
Kevin Durant was acquired by the Nets in 2019 despite nursing an Achilles injury. The franchise was confident enough to offer him a long-term contract.
KD missed the entire 2019-20 season due to injury. The four-time scoring champ returned in 2020 but did not spend much time on the court, featuring in only 35 games.
In his first active season with the Nets, he led them to the playoffs alongside Kyrie Irving and James Harden. They were eliminated in the second round by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Their second attempt to contend for the title was even more disappointing. The Nets were swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round.
The Celtics sweep the Nets 4-0 in Round 1 ☘️
It's the first time Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have ever been swept in the playoffs. https://t.co/YHXJekXSIF
The Nets will be looking to redeem themselves next season with a deep playoff run.