Why the Brooklyn Nets trading Kyrie Irving would help Kevin Durant

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 31: Kevin Durant #7 and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets talk during their game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center on March 31, 2022 in New York City, How the Brooklyn Nets trading Kyrie Irving would help Kevin Durant. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly not interested in handing Kyrie a long-term extension. Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News reported as much on May 24:

This is why the Nets’ championship hopes hinge on an amicable solution with Irving, whose personal decision not to get vaccinated and unpredictable injury history have left the Nets hesitant, and now, according to a source familiar with the Nets’ thought process, outright unwilling to give him a long-term extension.

Why the Brooklyn Nets trading Kyrie Irving would help Kevin Durant

Irving’s unaccountability has put the Nets in a very weird situation. They have to All-NBA-caliber players, but only one of them seems determined to play no matter what.

If the star point guard gets traded because the Nets are fed up, however, it could cause Kevin Durant to want to leave as well. The two came as a package deal in 2019 and are very close friends.

However, trading Irving might be what’s best for both the Nets and Durant. This isn’t to say the pair can’t work together (they absolutely can), just that trading Irving could get Durant closer to his ultimate goal – another championship.

Throughout his entire career, Durant has played with All-Stars. Outside of his first couple of seasons in the league, he’s been paired up with an elite point guard: Russell Westbrook first, Stephen Curry second, and Irving third.

And while this formula has proven to be successful, that doesn’t mean that Durant couldn’t make a different situation work. Combine Irving’s inconsistency and Brooklyn’s lack of defense and depth, and trading him to help Durant makes a whole lot of sense.

While the Nets may not be able to get a star for Irving, who’s to say that the Nets should be asking for one? Why not get two borderline stars to surround Durant with elite depth.

Depth is slowly becoming the pathway to success in the NBA. Just look at teams like the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, and Memphis Grizzlies. They all have stars, but they all also have some great depth.

Trading Irving for a top-notch supporting cast could be the move to catapult the Nets back into title contention. Brooklyn’s current core is good enough to get them there, too, but the question isn’t whether or not they can, it’s whether or not they are reliable enough to.