NBA/New Owner Talks To Joe Tsai... The SUNS Return To Durant For The Title

After more than three tumultuous years and two trade requests in eight months, Kevin Durant has finally left the Brooklyn Nets.

Like waiting for a single superstar sun at a mahjong table, He sent out Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Jae Crower, the next four unprotected first-round picks (2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029), and a 2028 swap pick, Durant, as well as former guard TJ Warren.

According to people familiar with the matter, the SUNS, who actively pursued Durant last offseason, have made progress and stalled in trade talks, and at one point appeared to be headed toward a three-way deal with a high chance of landing Hawks forward John Collins.

But before the deal could be completed, new SUNS owner Mat Ishbia asked general manager James Jones to contact Nets general manager Sean Marks at 11 p.m.

While the Nets, having sent away Kyrie Irving, had been willing to keep Durant and try to wait for him to return to full force after the All-Star break, Durant and his agent, Rich Kleiman, informed Nets owners Tsai and Marx after the SUNS continued to inquire about the team, Express your desire to join the sun.

Ishbiya knew this, too, and he took matters into his own hands to negotiate with Tsai, eventually leading to the deal that shook the league. On the other hand, Ishbiya would naturally like to exclude Mikal Bridges from the deal, but this is clearly not going to happen.

The SUNS pulled off a rare superstar trade and paid a price for nearly all of their draft and potential for the next few years, showing that the franchise, which has never won a title, is determined to play hard in Chris Paul's limited time.