Woj: Warriors Title, Criticism Contributed to Kevin Durant Asking Nets for Trade

Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.

Along with the Nets' disappointing struggles this past season because of injuries and the New York City's vaccine mandate, the Warriors may have a chance to win the title this year.

"The expectations having walked away from that Golden State team, I think in the end were overwhelming. ... When you talk to people around Kevin Durant and the Nets—Golden State winning the championship this season, and just the flood of criticism and second-guessing that landed on Kevin Durant, I think it contributed to a tipping point. He wanted to get Kyrie Irving a long-term deal in Brooklyn, wanted to help him get him that. He wasn't able to. And I think once Irving opted back into [his player option], you know, Durant hadn't talked to the organization in weeks. Neither Kevin Durant nor Kyire Irving since Kyrie opted into the deal had been in communication. There was a sense of inevitability around the Nets and around the league that this day was coming."

When he joined the Warriors as a free agent in 2016 he was heavily criticized for signing with the team that had just eliminated his Oklahoma City team from the playoffs. He went on to win two titles and two FinalsMVPs with the Warriors despite the huge backlash.

The question of whether he could win a title without Stephen Curry and his former Dubs teammates lingered after he joined the Nets.

He missed the entire 2019-20 season because of injury, but won just one playoff series over the past two seasons with Irving and Harden, though Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The chatter began again after the Warriors won the title.

Without the Dubs, he hasn't won anything.

Curry was the most important player for the Warriors.

It was a huge mistake to join up with an unpredictable character.

Steve Nash left the project after three years after he helped to appoint his co-star, as well as helping to pick his co-star. His old team won a title.

Frank Isola @TheFrankIsola

Your player empowerment recap; sign with a franchise because you like what they’ve built, start picking it apart, eventually ruin it and then ask to be moved to a franchise because you like what they’ve built.

Spike Eskin @SpikeEskin

Durant picked his teammates, picked his coach, won one playoff series in two years and requested a trade with 4 years left on his deal. Sorry that is loser energy!

We don't know much about the behind the scenes. He wants out because of his reasons. He may have felt that hitching his wagon next to Irving was no longer appealing. Maybe Brooklyn's refusal to commit to Irving long term was the reason for the break.

Maybe, after Harden demanded a trade and the main player they received in the deal, Ben Simmons, didn't play a single game for the Nets this season, KD lost some trust in the front office. Brooklyn's own failures may have been cast into a new light by his old team.

It could have been all of that. Maybe it was more than one thing. Regardless of the case, therative is going to be that Durant is looking for easier waters to swim in.