There will surely be numerous documentaries, books, and articles about the unfulfilled Brooklyn Nets dynasty. Despite the immense collective talent of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving, the trio only played together for a mere 16 games before all three requested trades. Last season, Harden’s trade demand forced Brooklyn’s hand, citing his tenure with the Nets as “frustrating.” Durant initially requested a trade in the past offseason but retracted it after discussions with ownership. On the other hand, Irving, who caused some controversy during his time with the team, requested a trade just days before the trade deadline and was dealt with the Dallas Mavericks. The surprising move then led Durant to request a trade again, and he ultimately landed in his preferred destination, the Phoenix Suns.
Although the players received varying levels of criticism for their trade demands, Durant and Irving defended their choices during All-Star Weekend, stating that it’s not bad for the league and brings more attention to it. While Durant viewed it from a business perspective, Irving’s response was more personal, asking why nobody has the ability to ask for trades and citing the importance of making great business decisions for oneself. Although trade demands are not new in the league, the way in which the trio left Brooklyn was unprecedented. People will always wonder what could have been had Durant, Harden, and Irving figured things out in Brooklyn.