The Brooklyn Nets did not expect to trade Kevin Durant when they agreed to move Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Brooklyn hoped their acquisition of Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie would acquiesce Durant and allow them to finish out the season.

Durant did not comment publicly on the Irving trade and instead worked with the Nets on his departure to the Phoenix Suns. Sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that Durant and Rich Kleiman told Joe Tsai and Bobby Marks that a trade to the Suns was their preference. 

"Well, I can tell you that on Sunday when they traded Kyrie Irving they didn't think they would be trading Kevin Durant today," said Brian Windhorst. "The Kyrie Irving trade was setup to support players around Kevin Durant. And then Kevin Durant did not support it.

"Very clearly on Monday and Tuesday, he made it clear he wanted to move on. They were facing a situation where they were in a rush job. And it coincided with a brand new owner coming in."

Mat Ishbia assumed ownership of the Suns this week and they increased their offer for Durant from where it was during the offseason.

"The lane the Nets were in on Sunday is not the lane the Nets are in now."