Google News Kevin Durant on requesting trade from Nets: I don't think it's bad for NBA
by | VIEW 150
Kevin Durant believes he and Kyrie Irving requesting a trade and getting traded is not a bad thing for the NBA. After Irving demanded a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, the Nets had no other option but to trade him because he threatened to leave the team in the summer as a free agent.
Durant then went to the Nets' management and also asked to be traded to the Phoenix Suns. The Nets granted Durant's wish and they ultimately worked out a deal with the Suns. But Irving and Durant's trade requests weren't welcomed by some as many believe NBA owners have taken notice and the next Collective Bargaining Agreement will address situations like this when a star player decides to request a trade.
"I don't think it's bad for the league. It's bringing more eyes to the league, more people are more excited. The tweets that I get; the news hits that we got from me being traded, Kyrie being traded; it just brings more attention to the league and that's really what rakes the money in, when you get more attention.
So, I think it's great for the league, to be honest," Durant said, per ESPN.
Durant: What's bad about asking for a trade?
Durant suggests that the NBA is a business and that there is nothing bad in asking for a trade when you feel the grass is greener on the other side.
"Teams have been trading players and making acquisitions for a long time. Now when a player can kind of dictate where he wants to go and leave in free agency and demand a trade, it's just part of the game now. So I don't think it's a bad thing.
It's bringing more and more excitement to the game," Durant added. Meanwhile, Durant is set to make his Suns debut after the All-Star break. Durant sustained a knee injury in early January and hasn't played since. With the addition of Durant, the Suns feel extremely well about their title chances as Durant gets his wish to play alongside Devin Booker and Chris Paul.