Author: Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY

After hinting last year that a return could be close, LeBron James suited up at the Drew League on Saturday in front of a packed gym.

NBA commissioner Adam SIlver said again this week, “We don’t like to see players requesting trades.” But there’s not much the league can do about it.

As the NBA generates more revenue and the salary cap rises, especially with a new TV deal coming soon, player salaries could explode in near future.

With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant potentially on their way out, Brooklyn is on the verge of an implosion that sets the franchise back five seasons.

In a matter of hours, more than $1.5 billion in salary went to seven NBA players, including a five-year, $270 million extension to MVP Nikola Jokic.

Kevin Durant’s trade request comes days after Kyrie Irving picked up his player option to return to the Nets for the 2022-23 season.

Kyrie Irving won’t be a free agent, but that doesn’t mean the matter is totally settled. That’s not a shot at Irving. That’s just reality.

Brooklyn Nets star guard Kyrie Irving plans to exercise the player option on his contract for the 2022-23 NBA season that will pay him $36.5 million.

Golden State has its biggest stars returning, but major free agent decisions to make, while Boston will need to find ways to be more consistent.