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weber.edu/nontrad ginning of the end.

Harden was traded for guard Ben Simmons, an all-star for the Philadelphia 76ers. With Durant still hurt, Simmons unable to play due to a back injury and Irving only playing away games, the Nets went on a 10game losing streak, leading to a fast fall in the Eastern Conference standings.

Brooklyn’s luck started to look up when

New York lifted its vaccine mandate, allowing Irving to play home games. Durant was also able to return around this time as well. After a 10-game losing streak, Brooklyn had to make their way back into the playoffs. During the NBA play-in, a tournament in which teams seeded 7-10 fight for a playoff spot, the Nets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers to advance to the playoffs. This pitted them against the second-seed Celtics.

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Irving had a masterpiece performance in the first game, but the Nets lost on a buzzer-beater from small forward Jayson Tatum. The Celtics ended up winning the next three games, sweeping Brooklyn.

Going into the summer, everyone was still determining the future of the team. Irving was a free agent, Durant requested a trade and it had been over a year since Ben Simmons had played basketball.

Irving ended up opting into his contract, and later in the summer, Durant rescinded his trade request. The new big three was set to play, but then Irving posted a tweet about an anti-Semitic film with no context behind it, leading to a suspension from the Nets.

The Nets had a poor start to the 2023 season, so they fired their head coach Steve Nash in November. With controversy still surrounding Irving, Brooklyn hired assistant coach Jacque Vaughn. As Vaughn took the helm, their season started to take a turn for the better.

After Irving’s suspension ended, Brooklyn went 18–2, making them No. 2 in the Eastern Conference. The whole season, Durant and Irving carried the team while Simmons underperformed.

After consistent play, Durant ended up getting injured again. Irving was able to keep them afloat, putting up MVP numbers.

During mid-season negotiations, Irving wanted a contract extension but could never make a deal with the Nets. The contract the Nets offered him was contingent on them winning a championship.

Irving then requested a trade, and after he got traded, Durant did not want to stay in Brooklyn. Now, they are both on their new respective teams.

The Nets had three superstar players ask for a trade within one year. You have to look at the organization. What could have been? We’ll never know. In a vacuum, they were arguably one of the best teams of all time.

With Irving and Durant both in the Western Conference, the road to a title is more competitive. Teams made major moves to try to restock for the new threats in the West. Luka Dončić and Irving are now the best backcourt in the NBA. Potentially, the Phoenix Suns have the best team in the NBA with Durant, Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton.

The East is top-heavy with the Bucks, Celtics and 76ers. Out west, we don’t know who will make it out, which makes this year’s playoffs one to watch.