No Change In Strategy For Nets In Kevin Durant Trade Talks

Nothing has changed for the Nets in trade talks surrounding Kevin Durant, despite his ultimatum that the Nets either fire GM Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash, or move him.

Basically, it appears the Nets still intend to trade Durant, and they have yet to lower their asking price. So Durant’s demands have done little as far as the front office is concerned.

“Ten days ago, Kevin Durant and Joe Tsai met in London. Durant really tried to apply the pressure by asking for Steve Nash and Sean Marks to get fired. And guess what has happened? Nothing. Nothing has happened,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on Get Up, via RealGM. “The dynamic around Kevin Durant hasn’t changed at all. There hasn’t been an urgency in trade talks. There hasn’t been a change in strategy by the Brooklyn Nets.”

As Windhorst added, again, the Nets are taking the same approach in attempting to move Durant. Read: They are still seeking the sun, moon and stars (and multiple picks) in return.

But just like Durant doesn’t have leverage with the Nets, the Nets don’t really have much leverage with potential trade partners.

“I think what we have here is really a study of leverage,” Windhorst said. “First off, the Nets do not have leverage in trade talks with other teams. They are not giving them the offers that they want. They see no reason to increase them. So, they’re not making any progress there,” said Windhorst. “Kevin Durant clearly does not have leverage with the Brooklyn Nets. He is asking for things: ‘Get me traded. Fire the coach. Fire the GM.’ He is being told no. So, when you have denied leverage, you have a stalemate.”

Of course, some believe that Durant and the Nets could eventually find common ground, and that he could return. He will be 34-years old at the start of the season and still has four years remaining on his current contract.

“I think it would be an awkward couple of days and then you win three in a row because I think if (Ben) Simmons comes back, (Joe) Harris comes back, (Kyrie) Irving is in a right space and is able to play and Durant comes back, they’ve got a really good team,” ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy said on SiriusXM NBA Radio, via Adam Zagoria of NJ.com. “And so winning helps camouflage any bad feelings and so I don’t think it will be as bad for as long as people might suspect on the outside.”