Kevin Durant Reiterates Trade Request In Meeting With Nets Owner

Nets star Kevin Durant did not change his stance on wanting to be traded in a meeting with team owner Joe Tsai, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Apparently, Durant gave Tsai an option — either relieve coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks of their duties, or trade him, Charania reported.

Durant first made his trade request just a couple days into free agency, shortly after fellow star Kyrie Irving picked up his contract option. Though based on Charania’s report, those things are not related. Instead, Durant isn’t pleased with the Nets’ leadership, it seems.

Brooklyn has been active in talks since Durant made the request, with the Celtics, Heat and Wizards being named among the potential suitors. But as far as anyone knows, this is the first time he informed the Nets why he made the request in the first place.

Durant also has four years left on his deal — and turns 34 in September. There are a lot of things working both for and against the Nets. But other teams seem to feel the Nets need to drop their asking price.

“The Nets are probably waiting for Kevin Durant’s camp to realize that, and maybe for Durant to retract his trade request,” wrote Zach Lowe of ESPN. “The Nets have not given up on this scenario, sources say.”

Last month, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal said Durant is taking the easy way out by requesting a trade.

“When you put a house together, you should live in it,” O’Neal told Rich Eisen on The Rich Eisen Show. “You were the architect. You hired another architect. And now the other architect is in Philadelphia. You, as a leader, should make it work. But when you don’t want to make it work, I guess you go buy another house. You know he’s probably trying to get to a contender. It’s easier that way.”

Hoops Wire will have all the latest on Durant as the news develops, so keep checking back.