Kevin Durant wants out, but don’t blame the Nets

Faulting the Nets would be far too straightforward. Even worse, it would be unjust.

The pending divorce sits squarely on the shoulders of star Kevin Durant, who sent a bombshell on the eve of no cost agency that he wishes out.

Rightly so, the Nets will try to accommodate the forward’s trade ask for and send out him packing. Now, they will not give him away. They be expecting a haul in return.

Under the four-year agreement in location, with just about $200 million still left on it, Durant, 33, does not have a no-trade clause. Consequently, the Nets can deliver him anywhere they want and he can’t balk.

Some would say that the Nets should just continue to keep him and make him honor his agreement like a man. But the Nets are creating the right decision. Who would like somebody who does not want to be all-around? No one with any feeling.

And just after all, it was not just like the Nets received three titles given that he limped to them with an Achilles tendon injury 3 many years back.

In fact, the Nets bent around backwards to make Durant at ease, offering him a true prospect to add to his championship resume.

Alternatively of combating again from a unsuccessful time and sharp criticism, Durant — who played 55 games as he recovered from an MCL injuries — took the effortless way out. Just like he did in OKC. In that case, he joined the very best team in the league, the Golden State Warriors who were being coming off a report-environment 73-earn time. Sure, Brooklyn wasn’t excellent and the Nets experienced numerous bumps and bruises alongside the way. But Durant, if he experienced any mettle, would have operate it back a person more time. It was his chance to direct a crew to a championship and erase so a lot of uncertainties people have about his management capability.

The odds had to be in his favor that his staff would lastly be healthful. Kyrie Irving would be participating in for a significant agreement. Ben Simmons would be healthful and able to return to star type. Joe Harris, the 3-level sharp shooter, would also be healthier. With the MASH unit in the earlier and a great supporting forged, the Nets would have had as fantastic a chance as any one to occur out of the East and contend for a title.

Alternatively, Durant gave the Nets a desire listing with the Phoenix Suns and the Miami Warmth at the best. Both of those teams were being the No. 1 seeds this past postseason.

The transfer arrived off as weak, a minimize-and-run transfer. For confident, Durant dropped a whole lot of basketball respect.

But this is not on the Nets. They did almost nothing mistaken.

If nearly anything, it was Irving who messed everything up. Sure, it was his idea to appear engage in for the crew he grew up rooting for in New Jersey. Improved yet, he was bringing Durant alongside.

The Nets — who have not received a championship given that their ABA days with Dr. J — would have been ridiculous not to welcome in the two stars with open up arms.

In this league, two stars of their caliber give you an remarkable opportunity to acquire a title.

For absolutely sure, the Nets held up to their finish of the discount. They even introduced in Steve Nash as coach. The pair signed off on him. Greater nevertheless, when James Harden was prepared to bolt from Houston, the Nets packaged up anything they experienced in the cabinet to land the scoring device.

On paper, the trio looked like a championship waiting around to materialize, Brooklyn’s initial because the 1955 Dodgers.

But then injuries strike the group additional than buzzer-beaters.

Two decades in the past, they need to have gained that title the Milwaukee Bucks received. Brooklyn gained the to start with two video games at dwelling. Just seconds into Recreation 1, Harden was hurt. In Game 3, Irving was injured. So it was essentially Durant trying to be a a person-male band. And be nearly pulled it off.

In Game 7, Durant hit what appeared like a video game-profitable 3- pointer from the Bucks. But his toe was on the line. It tied the activity and the Nets missing at residence in OT.

Then this past period, the wheels basically fell off.

Harden demanded a trade and was dealt to Philly. Portion of his disappointment was that Irving did not get vaccinated and could only enjoy street online games.

Then Durant acquired harm all over again. And in advance of you realized it, the Nets ended up swept out of the playoffs in the initial spherical by the Boston Celtics who produced it to the Finals.

Subsequent year was a prospect for Durant to struggle and show absolutely everyone improper. Instead, he proved absolutely everyone suitable. The Nets simply cannot be blamed.