Durant almost became a Mavericks player

According to Nico Martinez, a contributor to US sports media F/W. Durant almost became a Mavericks player. This is according to NBA insider Brandon "Scoop" Robinson, who reported Thursday that the Suns made multiple trade calls to Durant before the deadline, including those from the Mavericks. While the negotiations didn’t reach a deal, Robinson claimed that the negotiations could have gone further if Kyrie Irving hadn’t suffered a season-reimbursed injury.

"The Suns are answering calls from other teams that call by the deadline," NBA insider Brandon "Scoop" Robinson said on the "HBCU" podcast. "These teams include Dallas, Wizards and Warriors. Just talking to people across the league, I feel like if Irving had no knee injury and torn ACL, we might have discussed Durant and Irving as members of the Dallas Mavericks."

Although Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game last season, he failed to lead the Suns to prosperity in the Western Conference. Their failures have led Durant to become the hottest trading target this summer, and the Mavericks could finish the deal if Irving did not tear his ACL in March. “In fact, Irving’s injury is indeed a fatal weakness, why KD hasn’t found a way to Dallas, even though Dallas is calling.”

Durant and Irving date back to the 2019-20 season when their tenure as teammates began. Together, they led the Nets to make their mark in the East and formed one of the most lethal offensive duos in the sport. In addition to the good chemistry shown on the court, Durant and Irving also established a close connection that continues to this day. Unfortunately, their time as teammates can only be described as a disaster, as the Nets won only one playoff series under their leadership. When they finally parted ways in February 2023, no one thought they would work together again.

However, according to Scoop, they almost reunited in Dallas this summer. With Durant, Irving and Davis, the Mavericks could have been a popular team in the West and were in a good position to justify their Doncic deal. It was a dream scene for the Mavericks, but it ended when Irving suffered a torn ACL at the end of the season. That injury not only ruined the Mavericks' season, but also the Mavericks' season. It also erases the opportunity to build a potential super team with some of the best NBA veterans in the sport.

On the Rockets, Durant will have one last chance to make up for his mistakes, but he won't have Irving around to help set the culture he envisions. Instead, he will have to rely on a young and unproven core featuring Shin Kyung and Amen. It's hard not to know what will happen. A healthy Carey could be the key to reunite one of the NBA’s most dynamic duo and build a new strong team in Dallas. Instead, this dream disappeared before it began. For Durant, a new chapter kicks off in Houston. For the Mavericks, this is just another reminder of how fast the chances of slipping away in the NBA are.