As a result of their stature and ability to exert complete control over the game in many situations, small forwards have become one of the most important positions in the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-centers-in-2022-23-nba-season-20221124-SPD-3193.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a>. It’s no surprise that some of the previous NBA champions have included stars like LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant.



Modern NBA teams rely heavily on small forwards because of their ability to shoot, distribute the ball, and defend several positions. Every NBA club is on the lookout for a dominant small forward because that guy is the one who ultimately decides whether or not the team becomes champions.



The small forward position has produced some of the game’s greatest players. Larry Bird was the first really legendary small forward in the NBA, long before LeBron James’s arrival. These are the three best small forwards in the NBA right now, who are still yet to reach those highs, as per&nbsp;NBA.com.



<h2 id="block-a387b47d-c83c-4d9a-8dab-231434abb440">3. Kawhi Leonard</h2>



The last time anybody saw Leonard play well was in 2021, so it’s natural that they have forgotten how excellent he really is. He was among the league’s elite until sustaining an ACL injury that season. Even at the age of 31, he has plenty of time remaining to have a few more great seasons.



<h2 id="block-da6feb82-2c0f-4195-8223-631b6740babb">2. Kevin Durant</h2>



Durant‘s apparent trade request became the biggest news item of the summer until he finally backed out of it. KD is the greatest pure scorer in the game right now, and there’s no reason to think that won’t continue this season, provided he stays healthy.



<h2 id="block-170abb92-7350-44d7-bebc-5589ccbd3766">1. LeBron James</h2>



<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-shooting-guards-for-2022-23-nba-season-20221127-SPD-3197.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James,</a> being 37 years old, no longer has the same explosiveness around the basket that he once had. But he more than makes up for it with the gaming knowledge that will go down in history books.



He will have another amazing year and is still an All-NBA caliber player. About halfway through the year, he will most likely become the all-time leading scorer. James is no longer a true small forward. He spent more time at the center than ever before last season, and he excelled there.

Top 3 small forwards in 2022-23 NBA season

Top 3 small forwards in 2022-23 NBA season - thesportsdrops NEWS

miniaturas

Even though <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/no-relationship-between-lebron-james-and-kareem-abdul-jabbar-20221005-SPD-2922.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> guard <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/russell-westbrook-to-stay-put-at-lakers-at-least-until-thanksgiving-holiday-20221020-SPD-3010.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Russell Westbrook</a> has been under intense criticism once again in the last week, several NBA players have come out in his favor. It was said that before the Lakers’ last preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Westbrook distanced himself from his teammates and then later joined a team huddle while they were being blown away.



The 33-year-old subsequently elaborated that he hadn’t been anywhere near the presentation of L.A.’s starting 5 due to his pregame ritual, which hasn’t altered in years. Even when the guard said he was “all in” on winning, the Lakers’ diehard fans still questioned his dedication.



Some current and past NBA players have come to Westbrook’s defense lately. These include Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers and Isaiah Thomas, formerly of the Los Angeles Lakers. <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/turmoil-surrounding-kevin-durants-trade-request-to-nets-played-down-by-steve-nash-20220929-SPD-2865.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Durant,</a> now of the Brooklyn Nets, is the latest one to defend his old colleague.



<h2>What Kevin Durant said about Russell Westbrook’s criticism</h2>



“I mean Russ always did [that pre-game routing]. It feels like he was just getting his mind right, just his own routine before the game. But if you play in L.A. next to the biggest figure in sports in LeBron James, everything you do is gonna be magnified, especially if the outside perception is that your team is gonna struggle. People don’t trust that your team is gonna be good”, Durant told Boardroom.



“That’s how they feel about us, the Lakers, teams that they had high hopes for last year that didn’t come through. The Lakers got a big microscope on them so you got to be on point every time. So if Russell misses a layup it’s gonna be blown out of proportion. If he misses a 3, he might be 5 for 7, but he missed those two shots, you know what I’m saying?”



“I understand that there’s certain points where you don’t play well and you are open to criticism when you don’t play well — we get that. But it’s like now you’re making him the butt of your jokes. It’s getting to a point where it’s like alright, I get the criticism for what he did that night, but now it’s starting to reach a different level with some shit that I don’t understand right now. So hopefully he just keeps hooping and blocks all that noise out and prove to everybody that they’re wrong about how they feel about his game and they mesh over there in L.A. But when we play them, I hope they play shitty, but I hope all that stuff works out because I hate how they talk. The dialogue around our game is just so toxic at this point. I get criticism, but it’s starting to turn into something else right now.”

"NBA is so toxic at this point" - Kevin Durant stands up for former teammate Russell Westbrook - thesportsdrops NEWS

"NBA is so toxic at this point" – Kevin Durant stands up for former teammate Russell Westbrook

The summer for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-lakers-committed-to-helping-lebron-james-but-theres-a-catch-20220927-SPD-2849.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brooklyn Nets</a> was nothing short of a roller coaster ride, but head coach <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/joe-mazzulla-promoted-as-temporary-celtics-head-coach-after-ime-udokas-suspension-20220924-SPD-2830.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Steve Nash</a> feels that things have returned to normal in the borough, particularly with regard to his relationship with superstar player <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/cavaliers-and-dean-wade-agree-new-three-year-contract-extension-20220926-SPD-2836.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Durant</a>.



A year after extending his contract with Brooklyn by four years and submitting a request for trade on June 30, Durant informed the team of his desire to be sent somewhere. After speaking with Nash, Joe Tsai, Clara Wu Tsai, and Rich Kleiman in Los Angeles, the two-time NBA champion ultimately chose to withdraw his request and continue with the process. 



This took place during the end of the previous month. Following that conversation, Nash is now in a position where he considers the squad to be in “fine” shape going into the upcoming season.



<h2>Steve Nash addresses relationship with Kevin Durant</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“We’re good. It’s been like nothing’s changed. I have a long history with Kevin [Durant]. I love the guy. Families have issues. We had a moment and it’s behind us. That’s what happens. It’s a common situation in the league. Knowing Kevin as long as I have, it didn’t really bother me the way maybe everyone would think. “That’s a part of being competitors. I wasn’t overly surprised and I wasn’t even overly concerned. It was something that I thought we would address in time, and we did. And here we are and we’re looking forward. It’s something else that we can grow from as well. I never thought that was 100 percent. It’s not black and white like that. There’s a lot of factors, a lot of things behind the scenes.”<cite>Steve Nash told ESPN</cite></blockquote>

Turmoil surrounding Kevin Durant's trade request to Nets played down by Steve Nash

Turmoil surrounding Kevin Durant's trade request to Nets played down by Steve Nash - thesportsdrops NEWS

<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-nets-hold-out-hope-that-kevin-durant-would-revoke-trade-request-2410-20220730-SPD-2410.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Durant</a> has made it clear he wants out of <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-nets-seeking-to-secure-a-deal-for-kevin-durant-after-star-requests-trade-1907-20220630-SPD-1907.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brooklyn</a>, but the weeks have passed and the team has yet to find him a new home. The 12-time NBA All-Star, meanwhile, has reportedly added the Sixers to his wish list.



According to Ian Begley of SNY, Durant sees both Boston and Philadelphia as desired landing spots. On top of that, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-warriors-rule-out-potential-kevin-durant-trade-2322-20220722-SPD-2322.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KD</a> reportedly gave the Nets an ultimatum last week, suggesting owner Joe Tsai that the only way he’s staying is if he fires GM Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash.



However, far from putting any pressure on the Nets, nothing has changed for the team regarding this situation. According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Brooklyn has no urgency at all to move Durant.



<h2>Report: Nets still not urged to trade Kevin Durant</h2>



“Ten days ago, Kevin Durant and Joe Tsai met in London. Durant really tried to apply the pressure by asking for Steve Nash and Sean Marks to get fired. And guess what has happened? Nothing. Nothing has happened. The dynamic around Kevin Durant hasn’t changed at all. There hasn’t been an urgency in trade talks. There hasn’t been a change in strategy by the Brooklyn Nets,” Windhorst said.



“I think what we have here is really a study of leverage. First off, the Nets do not have leverage in trade talks with other teams. They are not giving them the offers that they want. They see no reason to increase them. And so they’re not making any progress there. And Kevin Durant clearly does not have leverage with the Brooklyn Nets. He is asking for things: ‘Get me traded. Fire the coach. Fire the GM.’ He is being told no. So when you have denied leverage, you have a stalemate.”



Unless they suddenly receive an offer that meets their high demands, the Nets look willing to wait as long as it takes to get a deal done for Durant.

NBA Trade Rumors: Nets have bad news for Kevin Durant trade suitors - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA Trade Rumors: Nets have bad news for Kevin Durant trade suitors

Perhaps <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-warriors-rule-out-potential-kevin-durant-trade-2322-20220722-SPD-2322.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Durant</a> was hoping for a speedy resolution to his trade request back in June. After a turbulent season that they do not look interested in repeating, the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-nets-seeking-to-secure-a-deal-for-kevin-durant-after-star-requests-trade-1907-20220630-SPD-1907.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brooklyn Nets</a> were inclined to comply with his request. 



His quality would have warranted many massive bids, from which Brooklyn could have picked the best. Unfortunately, a month after making the request, there still is no offer in sight. 



Given that DeAndre Ayton has signed an offer sheet that prevents him from being traded until January, it’s unlikely that Durant’s favored Phoenix Suns will be able to give him a contract. While the Boston Celtics have emerged with a stunning offer centered on Jaylen Brown, the Miami Heat are equally low on assets, and a deal between the two teams has not yet been reached. Those deals aren’t going to get better before training camp starts.



<h2>Could Kevin Durant change his mind and stay in Brooklyn?</h2>



However, ESPN‘s Zach Lowe reports that the Nets are still holding out hope that Durant would rescind his trade request once he realizes he has no realistic options. They also believe that there’s still a chance he will alter his mind if he goes without a trade for a little longer.



To what extent the forward would be open to that possibility is now unknown, but Marc Stein claims he is still trying to be traded away. In any case, returning to Brooklyn would put the veteran on a competitive squad with Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons.

NBA Rumors: Nets hold out hope that Kevin Durant would revoke trade request - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA Rumors: Nets hold out hope that Kevin Durant would revoke trade request

It would seem that the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-free-agency-warriors-set-to-bring-donte-divincenzo-in-on-two-year-deal-1958-20220702-SPD-1958.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors</a> are no longer in the running for <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/shannon-sharpe-blasts-kevin-durant-over-trade-request-out-of-nets-2002-20220704-SPD-2002.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Durant</a>. Despite being the reigning champions, Warriors general manager Bob Myers told NBA.com on Wednesday that the team won’t be making any significant changes this summer.



Even though rumors were rife when Durant requested a trade to the Nets from the Warriors, the two teams were never likely to reunite. The Warriors superstars reportedly even contacted their ex-teammate at one point to have a chat about it.



The Warriors’ hopes of a repeat season mean that veteran forward must wait. Even though he asked to be traded three weeks ago, he is still a member of the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-nets-seeking-to-secure-a-deal-for-kevin-durant-after-star-requests-trade-1907-20220630-SPD-1907.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brooklyn Nets</a> and is unlikely to be moved anytime soon unless the trade market undergoes a dramatic upheaval.



<h2>What Bob Myers said of Kevin Durant</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I like our team and where it’s at. I want to give the guys a chance to do it again. We kept most of it together, but we have to stay healthy. I didn’t think we’d make it last year, but we did. I watch like you do. We’ll see what happens. “It’s a good group. We’re lucky. It’ll be fun to see. We were really hunting last year. Now I guess we’re back to being the hunted, which I didn’t think we’d be. We’ll see. I think we can handle it.”</blockquote>

NBA Rumors: Warriors rule out potential Kevin Durant trade

NBA Rumors: Warriors rule out potential Kevin Durant trade - thesportsdrops NEWS

In a shocking turn of events, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-nets-seeking-to-secure-a-deal-for-kevin-durant-after-star-requests-trade-1907-20220630-SPD-1907.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Durant</a> reportedly requested a trade out of the Brooklyn Nets. The bombshell news came just a couple of days after Kyrie <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-and-nets-actively-exploring-russell-westbrook-kyrie-irving-trade-1969-20220703-SPD-1969.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Irving</a> opted into his player option, which is why it took many by surprise.



While for KD it may be the right moment to continue contending before he hangs them up, his desire to leave didn’t sit well with many people. After all, this is the team he preferred over the Warriors a few years back and the one that gave him the keys to succeed.



But things didn’t go according to plan and now it seems that he is on the move again. <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-shannon-sharpe-wants-lebron-james-kyrie-irving-to-join-forces-again-1692-20220621-SPD-1692.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shannon Sharpe</a> didn’t mince his words about it, saying that Durant runs away when things get complicated.



<h2>Shannon Sharpe reacts to Kevin Durant’s trade request</h2>



“Everything that’s there is because of Kevin Durant,” Sharpe said on Undisputed, via Fadeaway World. “The head coach is because of Kevin Durant, Kyrie, James Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge, Patty Mills, Blake Griffin, everybody was there because of Kevin Durant.



“I’m surprised, but I started thinking and realized KD’s a runner. He’s a track star. He’s going to run away when it gets hard. He can’t take the pain, he can’t get scarred, if you get involved, he’ll leave your team in ruins… I’m so disappointed in KD. This KD/LeBron comparison, we can put it to bed.”



Many fans may be just as disappointed as Sharpe, but GMs around the league are excited about the idea of KD being on the market. His preferred landing spots seem to be Phoenix or Miami, but any suitor will have to make a reasonable offer for the Nets.

Kevin Durant