It’s her or me! Kevin Durant “tells the networks to trade him OR fire trainer Steve Nash and GM Sean Marks” in a new ultimatum to billionaire Joe Tsai … just a year after signing his $198 million contract
- Kevin Durant has reportedly repeated a trade call to Nets owner Joe Tsai
- He reportedly said he would stay if coach Steve Nash and GM Sean Marks were fired
- The reasons for his dissatisfaction are known to the Nets, but not publicly
- The Nets were swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs
- Durant has attracted significant trading interest from teams including Boston
A little over a month after he first requested a trade from the Nets, Kevin Durant has reportedly repeated that request to team owner Joe Tsai with one major caveat: He will stay in Brooklyn if head coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks are dropped instead.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania has reported that Durant recently met with Tsai in London on Saturday and told the billionaire he had no faith in the team’s direction.
The exact reasons for Durant’s dissatisfaction remain unclear, at least publicly, but Charania reports that the Nets have “direct knowledge” of the details.
A little over a month after Kevin Durant (right) first requested a trade from the Nets, he’s reportedly repeated that request to team owner Joe Tsai with one major caveat: He’ll stay in Brooklyn if head coach Steve Nash (left) and GM Sean Marks are jettisoned instead
The Athletic’s Shams Charania has reported that Durant recently met with team owner Joe Tsai (left) in London on Saturday and told the billionaire he has no confidence in the leadership of the team under general manager Sean Marks (right), who originally signed Durant in 2019
The team’s spokespersons did not immediately respond to ‘s request for comment.
Durant’s nets were swept in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season by the Boston Celtics, who have reportedly since offered All-Star Jaylen Brown in exchange for Brooklyn’s disgruntled Superstar forward. Durant has $198 million and four years left on the contract, while Brown has two seasons and $56 million left.
Durant’s future at Brooklyn has been complicated by the situation with current Nets teammate Kyrie Irving, who, for the last year and $37 million of his contract, opted to remain with the team but is reportedly pushing for his own exit.
Crosstown rivals the New York Knicks, as well as the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers, and the Philadelphia 76ers would be interested in acquiring Irving, according to various reports.
Jaylen Brown was spotted defending Kevin Durant in Game 3 of their first-round series in April
Celtics star Jayson Tatum told reporters last month he wanted the core of the reigning Eastern Conference champions to remain intact.
“I played with him during the Olympics,” Tatum said when asked about Durant. “Obviously he’s a great player. But that’s not my decision. i love our team I love the boys we have.’
Brown didn’t directly comment on the report, but tweeted “SMH” — short for “Shaking my Head.”
Brown responded to the trade rumor by writing “SMH,” meaning “shake your head.”
While the Celtics’ interest didn’t surface until late July, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Boston’s front office, headed by Brad Stevens, has been in regular contact with Nets general manager Sean Marks for weeks. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has reported that the networks are not actively involved in trade talks regarding Durant.
One possible obstacle to a deal is the Nets’ asking price for the 33-year-old Durant, who finished third in the NBA last season with 29.9 points per game.
According to Woj, the Nets want multiple unprotected first-round picks, pick swaps, and multiple influential players.
The demand is somewhat similar to the trade that brought Brown to Boston: Brooklyn’s 2013 acquisition of Celtics stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
The Nets, under then general manager Billy King, gave up unprotected first-round picks in 2014, 2016 and 2018, as well as additional pick swaps that allowed the Celtics to draft Brown and Tatum in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Brooklyn, on the other hand, made a second-round playoff appearance in Pierce’s only season with the Nets.
Kyrie Irving’s days in Brooklyn may be numbered, although the All-Star guard has made previous statements reassuring Nets fans that he “has no plans to go anywhere.” Irving (left) joined the Nets with Kevin Durant (right) in 2019, but the two didn’t live up to expectations in Brooklyn