Two years ago, Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai had what appeared to be the best-looking lineup in the NBA. After having traded away James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and now Kevin Durant, with no championships to show for it, Tsai’s folly is the laughingstock of the league and fans.
In the middle of the night at 1 a.m. Eastern, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke the bombshell news that the Nets were trading superstar Durant to the Phoenix Suns. This came just days after the Nets traded Irving to the Dallas Mavericks, ending his controversial run with the franchise. That leaves Ben Simmons, somehow, as the face of the franchise, since he was traded from the Philadephia 76ers for Harden last year.
BREAKING: The Phoenix Suns are nearing a blockbuster trade to acquire Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant, sources tell ESPN. Durant wanted move to Suns, and new owner Mat Ishbia pushing to get deal done tonight.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 9, 2023
Tsai caught a lot of flak for not trading Irving to the Los Angeles Lakers despite the fact that they arguably made a better offer than the Mavericks, presumably to spite Kyrie, who wanted to play alongside LeBron James.
Now, despite being 32-22 and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, the Nets are likely to free-fall in the standings as they head back to square one saddled with Simmons’ massive contract. Whatever hope that Nets fans had for their ownership and front office to figure things out is officially gone.
The NBA world scorched Tsai on early Thursday morning over the fact that he failed to accomplish anything with his Big 3 and is now looking at a complete rebuild.
The Nets were a top 2 seed in the East and potentially making a case as the best team in the NBA. Kevin Durant gets hurt and it all blows up. Ultimately this falls on Joe Tsai.
— Stefano Vaccarino (@BigMoneyPlay) February 9, 2023
https://twitter.com/mdotbrown/status/1623574217345183750
Joe Tsai making every other team more interesting than his own pic.twitter.com/XGrN1RkT4v
— Kofie.bsky.social (@Kofie) February 9, 2023
Congrats to Joe Tsai. You showed em buddy 😂😂😂
— Mike Guardabascio (@Guardabascio) February 9, 2023
The Suns really got KD for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and an 18-count Frito-Lay Variety Pack Classic Mix? I almost went to bed, too. Joe Tsai is wild for the night.
— Dee Phunk (@DeePhunk) February 9, 2023
https://twitter.com/Kameron_Hay/status/1623565433944133632
The Brooklyn Nets turned
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden
Into
Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Mikal Bridges, and Spencer Dinwiddie
— Mink Flow (@currypistonn) February 9, 2023
