The Brooklyn Nets are at an impasse with their superstar forward, Kevin Durant. Despite inking the former MVP for a multi-year extension last summer, Durant told the Nets he’d rather get a fresh start than continue playing for the organization.
Reports indicated that Durant did not trust the team’s head coach, Steve Nash, and general manager, Sean Marks, to put the Nets on the path to winning an NBA title. Meanwhile, Brooklyn ownership has made it clear that the organization will retain Nash and Marks.
Consequently, Durant remains unhappy and desires a trade. Unfortunately for Durant and the Nets, a lack of leverage leaves them where they were before. There is a good chance that the situation will not progress much when training camp arrives.
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If so, Durant is increasingly expected to cause a “ruckus” in Brooklyn in the league, according to NBA Insider Marc Stein. And an unnamed NBA executive went so far as to mention that Durant was “more likely to retire than play for the Nets again,” according to Stein.
Shortly after Stein’s report made waves on social media, Durant took to Twitter to shoot down the idea to walk away from the game of basketball if his wishes were not granted.
“I know most people will believe anonymous sources about me, but if it’s someone out there who will listen, I don’t plan on retiring anytime soon,” Durant said. “S*** is comical at this point.”
Durant did not deny reports that he wanted to be traded, but he made it clear that early retirement was not in the cards. While the situation in Brooklyn could escalate before it’s resolved, the superstar forward doesn’t seem willing to take him to extreme levels to scare his team into trading him at a lower value.
Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.
