Kevin Durant Trade Request Doesn’t Sit Well With Adam Silver

NBA commissioner Adam Silver hears the same news we do, so he knows all about Kevin Durant‘s trade request from the Nets.

And from the sounds of things, Silver isn’t real thrilled.

“Look, this needs to be a two-way street. Teams provide enormous security (and) guarantees to players,” Silver. “The expectation is, in return, that they’ll meet their end of the bargain.

“I’m realistic that there’s always going to be conversations that go on behind closed doors between players, their representatives, and the teams, but we don’t like to see players requesting trades. We don’t like to see it playing out the way it is.” 

This quite a strong take from the commissioner, who has a reputation for being extremely pro-player. But he is also pro-basketball and pro-business — and Durant’s request is viewed as bad for both throughout the league.

Durant still has four years remaining on his contract, and despite playing alongside Kyrie Irving, has yet to help lift the Nets beyond the second round of the playoffs. 

That’s hardly all on Durant, or Irving, as the sample size has been small. But that’s just the thing. Those throughout the NBA seemingly would like Durant to see things through. After all, it was his decision to leave the title-winning Warriors for the Nets in the first place.

Obviously, Silver feels the way so many in the NBA seem to feel.

That said, there is still a belief around that league that Durant could potentially return, in spite of it all.

We have more on Durant, Irving and Brooklyn on our Nets page right here, so be sure to keep checking back.