Durant Finally Gets His Trade
Big news in the NBA. Two days after trading Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks, the Brooklyn Nets traded Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns, where he is set to join Devin Booker and Chris Paul on an already formidable roster. Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and a first-round pick in the upcoming NBA draft were given to the Nets in exchange.
A lot happened in this trade. So, let’s set the scene and explain what went down last week now that the dust has settled. As always, we want to help all of you looking to get the latest New York Sports Betting news, and it doesn’t get much bigger than this for the NBA and the Nets’ fanbase.
How The Story Unfolded
Durant asked to be traded during the offseason because he really wanted to play for the Suns with Chris Paul and Devin Booker. In the end, Durant decided to withdraw his request just before the start of the season because he had received no offers during the summer.
Durant signed a four-year, $194 million extension with the Nets in August 2021, when he was a part of the Big 3, which also included Kyrie Irving and James Harden. They have all now hung up their Nets jerseys. Last year at the trade deadline, the Nets acquired Ben Simmons from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Harden. Irving is now at the Mavs with Doncic and co.
Prior to spraining the MCL in his right knee, Durant had appeared in 39 games for the Nets this season. He won’t play until after the All-Star break, so it looks like the end of the month will be when the Suns finally get to see him in action.
The Suns return from their break on February 24 and host the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s been a huge point of discussion across the league, but we don’t think anyone will be happier than Paul and Booker. They have never won an NBA title, but the addition of Durant makes them strong contenders for this year’s title.
All Eyes on The Suns
While he may be 34 years old, Durant is still a top player in the NBA. He is averaging nearly 30 points per game this season. The Suns were interested in acquiring him after hearing of his trade request last summer, and they were able to do so just in time, before the trade deadline.
After missing time with a sprained knee ligament, Durant will rejoin a Phoenix Suns team that has the potential to be a playoff team in the Western Conference.
In a shockingly swift end to Brooklyn’s superstar era, Durant was moved on just days after the Nets traded Kyrie Irving to Dallas. The Nets had the Big Three for a short period of time before trading James Harden at the deadline last season.
The Suns have put together a strong team, with players like Ayton, Booker, and Paul, and now Durant as well.
The trade happened just moments after Mat Ishbia became the new majority owner of the Phoenix Suns. The self-proclaimed “basketball nut,” who played on the team as a walk-on for Tom Izzo at Michigan State, immediately made waves in the NBA with this huge announcement.
The Durant Trade from the Nets’ POV
Bridges finished second to Boston’s Marcus Smart for Defensive Player of the Year last season, and the offensive prowess we have come to know has only improved since then. The Suns won 116-112 in Brooklyn recently, thanks to the 21 points scored by their swingman.
Having him and Finney-Smith, who also joined the Nets from Dallas with Dinwiddie, should improve the team’s defense significantly. However, the Nets’ loss of Durant and Irving, two huge names in the NBA, cannot be compensated for by those players alone.
This season, Durant, who has won two NBA Finals MVP awards with the Warriors, was at the top of his game. Before he was hurt on January 8 in Miami, he was racking up 29.7 points per game and hitting a career-high 55.9% average from the field.
Even though Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn reported that Durant was making good progress after another examination of his knee this week, there was no word on when he would be able to take part again. But he should be back in contention for the Suns come the end of Feb.
BetPhilly’s Final Word
There is no denying the massive connotations that this brings for both the Suns and the Nets. Clearly, the Suns have gotten the best deal, and the Nets’ superstar era appears to be coming to an end. To be honest, it never really got going at all.
Author
Steve
Show all posts from Steve