NBA Rumors: Is Kevin Durant Willing to Follow Ben Simmons’ Blueprint? The NBA has recently seen its fair share of players asking to be traded while being bound by a multi-year deal. Just two years after agreeing to a maximum contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers, Ben Simmons asked for a trade from the team last summer.
When Simmons asked for a trade, Kevin Durant signed a four-year agreement with the Brooklyn Nets that will begin this coming season.
The union of Durant and Brooklyn seemed ideal at the moment. It is currently moving toward an early divorce.
Nothing has changed months after Durant formally requested a trade from Brooklyn
Despite Durant’s doubts about the direction Steve Nash and Sean Marks are taking the Nets, Brooklyn’s ownership is still supportive of their head coach and general manager.
The Nets are seeking a historically high return in a deal for the former MVP, as was to be expected. They have received proposals that, in their opinion, are not impressive thus far due to their lack of leverage.
Could there be a reconciliation between Durant and the Nets? Sure. But it appears that the situation is more than likely past the point of no return.
Even though it seems like a Durant trade will happen eventually, the drama will probably continue into training camp after the summer.
Will Durant adopt Ben Simmons’ strategy
If that occurs, will Durant adopt Ben Simmons’ strategy and miss out on team activities in an effort to coerce Brooklyn into making a decision? Sam Amick of The Athletic reports that nobody in the league thinks Durant will go there.
Is Durant willing to act like Jimmy Butler if he doesn’t get what he wants if a trade doesn’t happen before Nets camp starts in late September? Will he skip camp like his Nets teammate Simmons did last season in Philadelphia, or maybe he’ll follow that path?
“The majority of league members I spoke with appear to think the answer is no, but time will tell.
Marc Stein was informed earlier this week
Marc Stein, an NBA reporter, was informed earlier this week that if Durant doesn’t get his trade requests fulfilled before the start of the offseason workouts, he will likely cause a lot of “ruckus” in Brooklyn.
The star forward responded on Twitter to Stein’s mysterious source’s suggestion that Durant would think about retiring before suiting up once more for the Nets by dismissing that notion.
Durant might not retire, but holding out might be in the cards given that it’s a popular strategy used by stars who are unhappy with their current circumstances.
