In a face-to-face meeting with Brooklyn Nets Weekend owner Joe Tsai, an NBA All-Star Kevin Durant Reiterating his trade request, Chai was told he would have to choose between Durant or the pairing of general manager Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash, sources said. Athletic.
Durant said he has no confidence in the team’s direction, sources said.
Durant and Tsai spoke in London on Saturday and sources described the discussion as frank and professional. The meeting came a year after Durant agreed to a four-year, $198 million contract extension with the Nets. His initial trade request on June 30. He now enters the first season of that stretch.
The Nets have first-hand knowledge of the reasons behind Durant’s request, and the 12-time All-Star will stand firm in his stance, sources said. Durant is believed to be looking for a change of scenery in his 16th season.
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Around the league, people wondered if Durant would miss training camp to keep the trade from developing.
After wiping Boston Celtics In the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Nets are surrounded by uncertainty. A Press conference in mid-May, Marx called for the organization to reclaim its culture. Amidst Durant’s unknown status, Kyrie Irving And the Nets couldn’t agree on a long-term deal. Irving in the end Picked up his $36.5 million player option I’m committing to Brooklyn for next season, 2022-23.
This summer, the Nets hope to improve their roster and have a championship-ready team. Nets traded for Royce O’Neal, signed DJ Warren And brought back Patty Mills And Nick Claxton While waiting for the three-time All-Star’s full return Ben Simmons And Joe Harris. Brooklyn’s front office, led by Marks, has priced Durant high on the market, while bringing the roster into training camp, giving the organization confidence in its ability to compete.
The Nets were incredibly high on Simmons’ return to action following his recovery Repeat surgery May sees him as a perfect complement around Durant and Irving.
After Durant’s trade request on June 30, the Nets have been in conversations with every team in the league, according to sources. But with the Nets setting a sky-high threshold, Durant will have to return to franchise — twice. NBA Champion, two-time Finals MVP, a former league MVP and 12-time All-Star — teams still can’t meet his asking price.
Celtics, Toronto Raptors And Miami Heat Be the most important candidates to buy Durant, sources said Boston’s package centered around All-Star forward Jaylen Brown was seen as a potential deal. Desai and the Nets have made it clear in private that they will take every last asset from the team that trades for Durant, sources said.
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Durant has grown close with Boston coach Ime Udoka in recent years, after Udoka spent a year as Durant’s assistant for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and then a year with Team USA in Brooklyn.
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