Apocalypse Nets

Normal people keep the world going, but those who dare to be different request a trade from the franchise owner hours before free agency begins with four years left on their contract.

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

The Fifth Plague of Egypt, J.M.W. Turner, 1800

The Roller Coaster That Is The Brooklyn Nets had some loops and screaming downhills over the past couple of weeks. First, the murmurs that Kyrie Irving and the Nets weren’t close to reaching a long-term deal. Then, the rumors that Kyrie wanted to get signed-and-traded. Then, the rumors that Kyrie might opt out and take a mid-level from the Lakers. Then, Kyrie opted in and, I think, quoted from Seneca. (Seneca talked about the change-agent limits of normal people, right?)

It’s not that “all seemed settled” after Kyrie did the normal thing, Kevin Durant said nothing and the Nets prepared for what actually would be an important free agency period with Nic Claxton, Patty Mills and others on the market and looking for trades to fit the right pieces around Durant and Ben Simmons. All did not seem settled, but it did seem calm.

And then Kevin Durant went to Nets franchisee Joe Tsai and requested a trade. The Roller Coaster That Is The Brooklyn Nets went off the rails, corkscrewed into the Earth, ripped through the core of the Earth, came out the other side and zipped right into the Sun.