Would Kevin Durant rather end his career than play for the Nets again?
NBA insider Marc Stein reported Monday that one team executive told him during the NBA Summer League that Durant “was more apt to retire than play again for the Brooklyn Nets.”
“If Durant hasn’t been traded by [training camp], there is a growing expectation in league circles that he will continue trying to cause as much of a ruckus behind the scenes to try to prod the Nets into lowering their asking price at last to facilitate a deal. If it wasn’t apparent by now, he really wants that trade to Phoenix or Miami or maybe even Boston or Philadelphia, no matter what it does to his reputation when he hasn’t played a single game yet under the four-year, $194 million contract extension signed in August 2021.”
The 12-time All-Star has already issued an ultimatum to Nets team governor Joe Tsai, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. He reported he “reiterated his trade request and informed Tsai that he needs to choose between Durant or the pairing of general manager Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash.”
Tsai jumped on Twitter the same day to make it clear he’s behind Marks and Nash:
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The Nets are reportedly playing hardball and won’t accept less than what it believes is fair market value. Charania noted they “made clear privately that they will take every last asset from a team that trades for Durant.”
Threatening retirement would ultimately force the Nets hand as they would have to take the best trade offer on the table, even if it’s below what Marks is demanding. It’s better than receiving nothing at all.
Durant himself stepped up and shot this rumor down.
