Kevin Durant trade rumors: Nets superstar gives franchise Steve Nash-Sean Marks ultimatum

Gilbert McGregor

Kevin Durant trade rumors: Nets superstar gives franchise Steve Nash-Sean Marks ultimatum image

The saga of the Kevin Durant trade request continues.

Weeks after reports of Durant's trade request surfaced, there has seemingly been no movement towards a deal, prompting Durant to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Nets owner Joe Tsai.

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the meeting consisted of Durant reiterating his request and giving the Nets an ultimatum: Choose him or the pairing of general manager Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash.

Per Charania's report, Durant's request stems from the 12-time All-Star's lack of faith in the franchise's direction.

Here's more from Charania on the dynamic between the franchise and Durant:

The Nets have direct knowledge of the reasons behind Durant’s request, sources said, and understand that the 12-time All-Star will continue to be resolute in his stance. Durant is believed to want a change of scenery heading into his 16th season.

Based on Charania's reporting, Durant plans to remain firm in his stance, which given the timing of the report is very relevant.

Tsai took to Twitter himself addressing the meeting, reiterating that the front office and coaching staff have the owner's full support. 

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Now that over a month has passed since he initially made the request, NBA teams are just several weeks away from convening from training camps. Given the lack of progression on trade negotiations, this trade saga — and Durant's ultimatum — could loom large as the Nets prepare for training camp in late September.

As currently constructed, Brooklyn has built a roster capable of competing in the East. This offseason, the Nets have added Royce O'Neale and T.J. Warren, and anticipate the returns of Joe Harris and Ben Simmons, who were sidelined during the 2022 NBA Playoffs due to injury.

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Durant, who will be 34 next season, might believe in the roster, but he does not appear to believe in the people that have been tasked to lead it. 

Charania also reported that following Durant's trade request, almost every NBA team has made an inquiry but no team has been able to meet Brooklyn's "sky-high threshold for the return the franchise wants for Durant."

MORE: What a team needs to offer to land Kevin Durant in a trade

Should the Nets choose to stick with Marks and Nash, Charania reports that the Celtics, Raptors and Heat remain as the "most significant candidates to acquire Durant."

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.