Multiple media outlets reported on Monday that Kevin Durant delivered an ultimatum to the Brooklyn Nets: choose between myself, coach Steve Nash, and general manager Sean Marks (Aug 8).
In a Monday evening tweet, Nets owner Joe Tsai subsequently appeared to defend his staff’s decision regarding the player “I support our front office and coaching staff. We will make judgments in the Brooklyn Nets’ best interest.”
The fact that Durant demanded a trade at the end of June was well-documented. According to rumors, Durant does not trust Marks and Nash to steer the club in the right path.
Saturday in London, Durant and Tsai had a “open and professional” conversation, per The Athletic.
On Saturday marked one year after Durant signed a four-year, US$198 million (S$273 million) contract extension with the Nets. According to Spotrac, he will earn $42.97 million for the 2022-23 season to kick off the agreement.
According to numerous reports, the Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, and Boston Celtics are the three most serious teams in the Durant sweepstakes.
Durant, a two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player and four-time scoring champion, joined the Brooklyn Nets in 2019 as a free agent with Kyrie Irving. In 55 games with the Nets last season, Durant averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists. The Nets traded fellow All-Star James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster transaction featuring Ben Simmons.
Irving, a seven-time All-Star, exercised his $36.5 million option, although the Nets are reportedly open to trade proposals.
In 939 career games with the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder (2007-16), Warriors (2016-19), and Nets, Durant has averaged 27.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on a career basis.
The Nets were swept in the first round of the 2022 playoffs by the Celtics.