Why the Nets’ impending implosion was worth the wager on the Kyrie Irving-Kevin Durant pairing

Three years ago, the Nets pulled off a deal that one high-ranking front office member called “transformative.”

Now, in the wake of Kevin Durant’s trade demand and Kyrie Irving’s broken relationship with the team, the Nets have become a cautionary tale about the risks of superstar empowerment.

A trainwreck. One of the most disappointing teams in recent NBA history.

Nets general manager Sean Marks and owner Joe Tsai took a huge gamble in putting this team together, and lost.