NBA owners typically don’t respond to reports involving their teams — they especially don’t tweet about them.
But Nets owner Joe Tsai did go to Twitter on Monday and his tweet likely referenced a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania stating forward Kevin Durant reportedly met with Tsai to reiterate his trade request and stated the Brooklyn owner would need to choose between the All-NBA star or general manager Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash.
“Our front office and coaching staff have my support,” Tsai tweeted. “We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets.”
What “the best interest” of the Nets is would be anyone’s guess. Durant reportedly told Tsai he does not have faith in the direction the franchise is headed.
The two-time NBA champion made his trade request on June 30, but a deal has been difficult to get done due to trade restrictions, like with the Miami Heat, or the Nets simply asking a lot from other teams.
The Celtics are reportedly still viewed as “the most significant” trade candidate, with Jaylen Brown seen as the key asset Boston can deal for Durant. However, the Nets reportedly turned down a proposal made by the Celtics. Boston reportedly offered Brown, Derrick White and draft capital for Durant, but Brooklyn instead countered with Marcus Smart, Brown and draft picks.
A deal for the 12-time All-Star would likely happen before Sep. 26 training camp, but teams around the league reportedly don’t like the way the Nets have been doing business, thus making a trade difficult.
Trading away a star like Durant is unprecedented in the history of the NBA, and you can add owners tweeting about the status of their teams as part of that history.
