Kevin Durant shot down a report suggesting he would possibly take into account retiring.
The thought of holding out of coaching camp, he conspicuously steered away from. However the potential for him hanging up his sneakers if the Nets don’t give in to his commerce demand was dismissed altogether.
“I do know most individuals will consider unnamed sources over me but when it’s anybody on the market that’ll pay attention, I don’t plan on retiring anytime quickly,” Durant mentioned Monday afternoon on Twitter — his typical platform. “S–t is comical at this level.”
The assertion got here following a report by NBA insider Marc Stein that mentioned a plugged-in NBA supply had informed him in early July ”Durant was extra apt to retire than play once more for the Nets.”
Whereas Durant — identified for his love of the sport and want to play — was emphatic in capturing down the thought of retirement, what’s obviously lacking from his tweet was any affirmation of his plan to point out as much as coaching camp on time.
Durant requested a commerce on June 30, simply days after fellow Nets star Kyrie Irving had picked up his $36 million participant possibility for this coming season.
After Durant informed the Nets he needed to be traded — ideally to the Phoenix Suns or Miami Warmth — the crew obtained no provides to match their steep asking value: An All-Star linchpin, younger expertise and a number of first-round picks. Then final Monday, information broke that Durant had taken the extra aggressive strategy of demanding the firing of coach Steve Nash and common supervisor Sean Marks.
Thus far, Durant continues to be a Internet, Nash continues to be his coach, and Marks continues to be his boss. Thus far Nets proprietor Joe Tsai hasn’t proven any inclination to deal Durant for pennies on the greenback, and he has publicly backed Nash and Marks.
“Our entrance workplace and training employees have my help,” Tsai tweeted on Aug. 8. “We'll make choices in one of the best curiosity of the Brooklyn Nets.”
Basically a scarcity of leverage has created inertia.
Durant’s worth — boosted by the very fact he’s signed to a four-year contract — has been primarily too excessive a bar for groups to clear. Or maybe they’re simply unwilling. If this was an act to torpedo that worth, or to make the scenario in Brooklyn so untenable that Marks has no alternative however to deal him, to date it hasn’t labored.
Simply how far Durant would go stays to be seen.
Nets All-Star Ben Simmons reached a settlement settlement with the 76ers on the grievance he filed to recoup a portion of the virtually $20 million withheld from him early final season. The purpose guard/level ahead had been sitting out in Philadelphia citing psychological well being causes, earlier than being traded to the Nets on Feb. 10. The information was first reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Put up.
Philadelphia has maintained that Simmons breached his contract when he missed the start of coaching camp, and held out till getting traded. Citing psychological well being points as the explanation, he has appeared to recoup the almost $20 million of his $33 million wage that was withheld. Either side agreed to a confidentiality settlement on what the precise particulars of the monetary settlement have been.
Simmons — acquired in alternate for former MVP James Harden — ended up not enjoying for the Nets both as a result of a again damage that ultimately required surgical procedure. He's anticipated to return for coaching camp.
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