Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving is in the spotlight again. 

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Irving has requested to be traded ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline. Irving’s stint with the Nets has caused some headaches and frustration around the team with his continued behavior. 

Though Nets forward Kevin Durant has never publicly said anything about Irving’s off-the-court antics, the effects of Irving’s attitude has caused internal turmoil within the organization, according to the New York Post.

Irving’s decision to not get the COVID-19 vaccine (and a result, to not play half the team’s games) was alleged to be a factor which pushed Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden out of Brooklyn, resulting in the Nets gaining guard Ben Simmons in the trade. Simmons has struggled during his short stretch in Brooklyn. While Simmons is averaging 7.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.4 assists on the season, it seems like he’s still recovering from his injuries physically and reeling from the effects mentally in Philadelphia. 

With all that being said, Durant left the Warriors in the 2019-20 season to pave his own path in an attempt to win a championship by himself. But, the furthest the Nets have gone in the playoffs during Durant’s tenure is the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2020-21, where Durant was one shoe size too big and the Bucks ended up winning the title.

Durant is entering the late-stages of his career, but has shown no signs of slowing down. At age 34, Durant is putting up MVP-like numbers and was having one of the most efficient scoring seasons in NBA history.

Durant is the only player in NBA history since Karl Malone to average 30+ points on 55% shooting, according to Stat Muse. Durant is averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 37.6% from 3-point range and is a front-runnner in the MVP conversation. 

With Durant still playing at an elite level while Irving requests a trade and Simmons doesn’t move the needle for the Nets, Durant could potentially want out.

When Durant requested a trade during the start of free agency, I wouldn’t have wanted the Warriors to trade their future for an aging star. Give the lottery chance players some time to figure it out. Don’t be like the Los Angeles Lakers where you trade your entire future for an aging and injury-prone star and risk the chance of losing a No. 1 overall pick. 

But, Durant has proven that he still has it. 

A potential trade that could land Durant with the Golden State Warriors is as follows: The Nets receive Warriors forward Draymond Green, center James Wiseman and Moses Moody for Durant. 

This trade would be most beneficial for the Warriors, since the Warriors get to keep forward Andrew Wiggins and Green has shown signs of decrease in production. Additionally, with Green’s expiring contract and demands of wanting a max extension, the Warriors already made their choice when they extended guard Jordan Poole back in October. Green’s actions during that period has left a bad taste within the organization and the season as a whole, so trading Green won’t be the worst option. 

Out of the youngsters, Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga has shown the most growth and the opportunity within the roster to showcase that. The Warriors wing rotation is thin — with only Wiggins, Kuminga and two-way player Anthony Lamb getting those minutes. The Warriors brought in forward JaMychal Green over the summer, but Green hasn’t shown signs that he fits in the system. 

Warriors center James Wiseman has yet to show any signs of growth with his injury history. While Wiseman is putting up numbers in the G League, as a former No. 2 pick, he was expected to do more. Warriors guard Moses Moody has been shoved to the back-end of the rotation, and with guards like Ty Jerome getting more minutes than Moody, it seems like the No. 14 pick is in a tough spot. 

In the end, the Irving-Durant era in Brooklyn has been disappointing to say the least. The Nets tried to assemble a super-team with Harden, but the team was always injured and never went to their fullest potential. Now, Irving wants out, and Durant is left with Simmons who hasn’t shown any growth since his rookie season.

If Durant wants out, it’s understandable and the Warriors should take advantage.

(Photo credit: Jason Miller / Getty Images)