Kevin Durant Requested Sean Marks, Steve Nash Be Fired To Increase Trade Odds

Kevin Durant is returning to the Nets, but before that, he demanded that general manager Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash be fired.

Durant gave the ultimatum in a meeting with Nets owner Joe Tsai, and no one seemed to know why.

Well, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, Durant was merely trying to increase his odds of getting traded. Apparently, he figured if he was calling for the heads of his bosses, the Nets would be forced to lower their asking price — clearing an easier path for Durant to be moved elsewhere.

Guess what, though? It didn’t work.

Instead, the Nets kept their asking price sky-high, perhaps realizing that no one would give them what they sought and that Durant would return.

Whatever the case may be, Durant rescinded his trade request in a meeting with Tsai, Marks and Nash, and all appears to be well in Brooklyn again. Now, the Nets are back to being considered a major contender with the likes of Durant, Kyrie Irving and, presumably, Ben Simmons leading the way.

That said, this is a team that’s prone to drama, and its stars also tend to lead the way in that department, too.

“O’Connor additionally reported that he’s heard the Nets now intend to keep Kyrie Irving after Durant recommitted to the team,” RealGM wrote. “Brooklyn hopes that Durant and Irving, combined with a healthy Ben Simmons and the team’s offseason additions, will make the team a title contender.”

Yes, this is a team with promise. We’ve known that all along. But so far, all we’ve seen is that promise go close to entirely up in flames. Is this the year Durant, Irving, Simmons and the Nets finally pull it together?