Ben Simmons could have STOPPED Kevin Durant from demanding trade, exiting Nets, stunning new report claims

Kevin Durant trade could've been prevented by Ben Simmons.

Ben Simmons could have STOPPED Kevin Durant from demanding trade, exiting Nets, stunning new report claims

Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons (via NBA.com)

NBA trades have become part and parcel of the game. The trades, when involving a superstar, often attract as much attention as the game itself. One of the blockbuster trades that went down last season was Kevin Durant being traded to the Phoenix Suns. Durant, who started his season as a Brooklyn Net, was moved to the Suns during the later half of the season.

While a few fans predicted this trade going down last season, it turns out that the entire trade was preventable. new reports suggest that the reason Durant wanted to be traded was because his star teammate – Ben Simmons – was injured. If Simmons had been able to play, Durant would’ve stayed on in Brooklyn despite not having Kyrie Irving by his side.

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Reports stated that “If Simmons had been healthy last season, sources told The Post that Kevin Durant likely would’ve stayed on in Brooklyn even without Kyrie Irving.”

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Simmons was undergoing a back injury last season. As a result, he was only able to play for 42 of the 82 possible games. It appears that had he stayed longer, the Nets might have been able to keep Durant. However, as things turned out, the Nets had to trade Durant to the Suns. What would’ve happened had Durant continued with the Nets is entirely up to speculation.

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How has Kevin Durant’s journey with the Suns been going?

Durant was traded to the Phoenix Suns with the expectation that his arrival there would instantly make the team championship contenders. Indeed, it was hard to imagine a team with Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul reaching anywhere short of the finals.

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Kevin Durant (Credits: Bleacher Report)

However, while the Suns did make a deep playoff run, they were unable to win the championship, or even make it to the finals. They lost to the eventual champions – the Denver Nuggets. The series was a 6 game affair, with the Nuggets triumphing 4-2.

Hopefully, the Suns will be able to improve this season and reach the finals. Durant will hope that the new additions to the Suns roster will be able to extend the duration of their playoff run. Durant is 35 years old already, and if he wants to win another championship, he needs to do it fast.

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