NBA: No sleep till Brooklyn

The GIST: Just like your friend getting back together with their ex, the Brooklyn Nets announced yesterday that Kevin Durant (KD) will stay with the team, ending a summer of rumors sparked by the superstar’s request for a trade. Talk about a pump fake.

The timeline: At the end of June, just two months after the “super team” Nets were stunningly swept in the first round of the playoffs, KD requested to be traded from the team. Just about everyone was interested in the 12-time All-Star, but few could meet the lofty packages Brooklyn wanted in return.

• Amidst the stalled negotiations, Durant reportedly gave team ownership an ultimatum: trade him, or fire general manager Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash. Aca-awkward.

• But the saga came to an end with yesterday’s announcement that KD and the Nets would in fact “move forward with [their] partnership,” keeping the embattled star in Brooklyn as his four-year contract extension kicks in this season.

What’s next: With many teams keeping their books open and waiting to make deals until Durant’s landing spot was finalized, there’ll likely be some major movement in the coming days.

• One squad to keep an eye on? The Utah Jazz. Their superstar, Donovan Mitchell, was already a top trade candidate, and his market will only heat up with KD off the block. Watch this space.