Nets Owner Joe Tsai: Steve Nash, GM Have My Support

Nets owner Joe Tsai has offered support to coach Steve Nash and GM Sean Marks after a report that Kevin Durant has reiterated his trade request.

“We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets,” Tsai wrote on social media.

Durant supposedly gave Tsai an ultimatum during a one-on-one meeting — either trade him, or relieve Nash and Marks of their duties, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

With Durant reportedly wanting Marks out of the picture, you can’t help but wonder if Marks’ attempts will change. Namely, perhaps Marks won’t be so big on helping Durant land in one of his so-called “preferred” destinations.

Prior to Durant’s meeting with Tsai, Brooklyn had spoken to every team in the NBA about a Durant trade. But it appears some have a better shot at landing him than others.

Those supposed frontrunners — the Heat, Celtics and Raptors. Or as Charania wrote, each are “significant candidates.”

Our front office and coaching staff have my support. We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets.

— Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) August 8, 2022

Interestingly, the Heat have been listed as one of Durant’s preferred destinations, along with the Suns. But it doesn’t appear as if the Suns want to get too heavily involved — not for what the Nets say they’re seeking in return.

The Celtics likely can put together the strongest package, supposedly already offering a deal that involved star forward Jaylen Brown. The Nets reportedly rebuffed that offer. But Charania wrote that Durant also has admiration for Celtics coach Ime Udoka, so perhaps the sides can still work out a deal.

As for the Raptors, as we relayed, there is every indication they will not include reigning Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes in a Durant trade. So if the Nets want to work out a deal with Toronto, they will probably have to go another route.

As for the Heat, it’s still too soon to know what they can offer. Word is, they’re trying to accumulate more draft picks to send Brooklyn’s way.

Meanwhile, given that Durant is supposedly calling for Marks’ job, it’s hard to know if Marks will alter what he’s seeking in a deal.

Basically, the high drama continues to revolve around Durant and the Nets, and where he will end up next, he really have no idea. All it seems like — for now — is it won’t be Brooklyn.