Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)
Nets star Kevin Durant is reportedly willing to sit out of training camp if Brooklyn doesn’t respond to his trade request or organizational changes.
How far is Kevin Durant willing to take his conflict with the Brooklyn Nets? According to the New York Daily News, straight into Nets training camp.
Durant asked the Nets for a trade after the Kyrie Irving drama hit a head. This week, it became clear the player and management can’t coexist.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Durant gave owner Joe Tsai an ultimatum: KD or head coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks.
Kevin Durant rumors: Don’t be surprised if KD holds out of Nets training camp
Now Kristian Winfield of the NY Daily News reports that Durant is willing to hold out if the Nets don’t trade him or make a change at head coach and GM.
Apparently, the Nets had been banking on Durant’s love of basketball to get him to training camp. That’s not something they can count on anymore with the 33-year-old seemingly at the end of his rope with the organization.
Holding out may be necessary for Durant. Tsai tweeted his support of the management team on Monday saying, “Our front office and coaching staff have my support. We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets.”
Is losing Durant really in the best interest of the Nets? It all comes down to whether or not they can find a suitable trade partner because it certainly doesn’t sound like Durant is interested in dealing with Nash and Marks.
These new reports could be strategically designed to push Brooklyn to lower their price for the All-Star. At the very least they might spark some more negotiations with interested teams.
This situation just isn’t getting any friendlier.