After enduring nearly four years of controversy and making two separate requests to be traded away, All-Star forward Kevin Durant was finally traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Phoenix Suns, receiving in return Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, and four unprotected first-round picks.
After 11 p.m. ET on Wednesday night February 8, 2023, James Jones, the General Manager, sent a text to the Nets GM Sean Marks on the orders of his new owner, Mat Ishbia. Not long after, a deal was struck between Ishbia and the Nets owner Joe Tsai.
Durant is headed to the desert to join the trio of Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton, ending the short-lived experiment of playing for Brooklyn with Kyrie Irving and James Harden. The trio lasted only 16 games before teams decided to take act on their trade requests.
On Sunday, Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, marking the start of the last days and hours with Durant as a Net. Despite an MCL sprain in his right knee, there is optimism that the two-time Finals MVP will be ready to return to the court after the All-Star break. This follows Irving’s immense part in the dysfunction which culminated in the team’s roster being dismantled.
Rich Kleiman, Kevin Durant’s business manager informed Joe Tsai and Steve Marks that Kevin would rather move to Phoenix, according to sources. Upon learning of Durant’s interest to be part of his franchise, Suns owner Josh Ishbia decided to go after the star player during his first week as the new owner of the organization.
Getting a chance to trade for a star like Durant is a rare opportunity, something the Suns organization hasn’t experienced since they acquired Charles Barkley in 1992.
Ishbia, who was formerly a walk-on under legendary head coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State, made sure to deliver Monty Williams and the Phoenix Suns the talent they needed to realize their championship aspirations when he orchestrated the acquisition of Kevin Durant in the wee hours on the morning. With the three-time Champion and former Most Valuable Player signed for the next few years, the Suns hope to finally break their championship drought.