Kevin Durant shuts down trade rumors, stays in Brooklyn: What superstar’s decision means for Nets, Celtics, Lakers and rest of NBA

After weeks of reports, rumors, speculation and tweets, Kevin Durant has ended up right back where he started.

On Tuesday morning, the Nets released a statement announcing that the team will keep Durant, who reportedly requested a trade out of Brooklyn on June 30.

“[Nets coach] Steve Nash and I, together with [team owners] Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai, met with Kevin Durant and [Durant’s business partner] Rich Kleiman in Los Angeles yesterday,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in the statement. “We have agreed to move forward with our partnership. We are focusing on basketball, with one collective goal in mind: build a lasting franchise to bring a championship to Brooklyn.”

This news comes after Durant reportedly met with Joe Tsai earlier this month and presented an ultimatum: Either trade him, or fire Nash and Marks. Tsai later tweeted out his support for the front office and coaching staff, leaving the two sides in a very uncomfortable situation.

Now, though, it appears that Durant and the Nets are looking to put their issues behind them. They are planning on this significant step being the start of a “long-term marriage,” according to the New York Post’s Brian Lewis. 

How does this major Durant domino impact the rest of the league?

MORE: How much longer will Durant be a superstar?

The Nets could be legitimate contenders in the East

It’s impossible to ignore potential chemistry and health issues, but on paper, Brooklyn has a fantastic roster.

Durant and Kyrie Irving provide a dynamic one-two scoring punch. Ben Simmons is flawed, but he is undoubtedly a terrific defender and passer. There are multiple role players capable of sliding into the starting lineup or coming off the bench, including Joe Harris, who only played in 14 games last season.

Nets potential depth chart:

PG:
Kyrie Irving
Patty Mills

SG:
Joe Harris
Seth Curry
Cam Thomas

SF:
Kevin Durant
Royce O’Neale

PF:
Ben Simmons
T.J. Warren

C
Nicolas Claxton
Day’Ron Sharpe

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) August 23, 2022

Had Durant been traded, the Nets wouldn’t have been viewed as a threat to emerge from the Eastern Conference, and Durant would have been stuck carrying a team with no future assets. This outcome makes sense for both parties.

The Celtics are moving forward with their core

Boston had conversations with Brooklyn regarding a Durant deal, per multiple reports. The Celtics offered a package of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and a draft pick for Durant, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, but the Nets pushed for much more.

With a Durant trade no longer on the table, Boston can keep its Brown- and Jayson Tatum-led core in place and focus on the ultimate goal: winning the franchise’s 18th championship. The Celtics only came up two wins short of a title last season, and they added Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari during the offseason.

In an era of constant player movement, there were probably plenty of Celtics fans who were happy to see the current group stick together for another season.

The Lakers aren’t getting Kyrie Irving

Charania recently reported that Irving, who exercised his $36.5 million player option for the 2022-23 season at the start of the free agency period, was committed to the Nets even before the team released a statement on Durant’s status. Brooklyn had been telling interested teams that it planned to keep Irving, per Charania.

Perhaps the Nets’ stance would have changed if the Durant situation got really messy, but those fences have been mended. That means the Lakers, the team most frequently attached to Irving in trade rumors, will have to look elsewhere for help.

Los Angeles must maximize the back end of LeBron James’ prime. Unfortunately for the Lakers, there aren’t a lot of other win-now options available. They may have to get creative and trade multiple future first-round picks if they want to jump up the Western Conference standings.

The Donovan Mitchell trade market and the remaining free agents

Move over, KD. Mitchell is the biggest name on the trade market.

The teams that had been stuck in Durant-related holding patterns could now jump into the Mitchell sweepstakes. The Knicks still appear to be the suitor most likely to acquire Mitchell if the Jazz choose to move him, but Utah could wait and create a bidding war.

As for the rest of the league, the floodgates could open for the free agents still on the board. Two-time All-Star Isaiah Thomas even joked about Tuesday’s news on Twitter.

Finally lol. Can we sign now lol

— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) August 23, 2022

Yep, one little statement can do all of that.