This year's Nets are likely to enter the playoffs as the 10th in the West, the Knicks behind them are still 5.5 wins behind them, and it has been determined that they will not miss the playoffs, while the 6th to 9 Cavaliers, Eagles and Hornets will certainly not make mistakes easily, and with 4 rounds left in the regular season, the Eastern Conference playoffs are gradually clear.
For Nets fans, this season seems like a roller coaster, last season can reach the Eastern Conference semifinals, if it is not Irving injured, who can reach the Finals, or even the final championship attribution is really difficult to say. But this season, first Irving was absent for a long time because of vaccine problems, then Harden was traded to the 76ers, the Big Three disintegrated, and the Nets' record also plummeted, if it were not for the last train of the playoffs, the Nets would probably not make the playoffs directly.
With the Nets' record unsettled, the Brooklyn media broke the news that the star Durant would jump out of the player's option at the end of the season, which was another critical blow for Nets fans. Durant is currently on a four-year contract with the Nets that expires in the summer of 2023, with the final year being a player option. According to the Nets reporter Kristan Winfield, Because of the team's consecutive years of championship losses, and there is not much hope this season, Durant decided not to execute the last year of the contract.
In fact, last season should have been the net's best chance to win the championship, but unfortunately, Providence made people and let the Bucks seize the opportunity. Now, the big three have disintegrated, Irving is an extremely unstable factor, and the Nets have lost the capital and opportunity to impact the championship. This situation may be the main reason why Durant wants to jump out of the contract.
For Durant himself, it is most useful to improve his historical status and win more championships before his athletic ability declines, and he has won enough personal honors. Compared with others, James, who has suppressed him for many years, has 4 championship rings, and his contemporary Curry also has 3 rings in hand, and Durant must lead the team to the top if he wants to keep up with or even surpass them. Obviously, relying on the Nets' pile of veterans, it is basically impossible.
If Durant really tests the free market, I think, with his ability, there must be a lot of strong teams throwing olive branches, and then the NBA summer will be a storm again.