Nets star Kevin Durant mentioned he returned to Brooklyn after his unfulfilled commerce request as a result of the Nets had been nonetheless “a great option.”
Durant, who requested a commerce twice within the offseason and reportedly requested workforce proprietor Joe Tsai to fireplace each normal supervisor Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash, selected to remain put although there’s overwhelming proof proving superstars who need out can finally pressure their manner.
James Harden, as an illustration, compelled a midseason commerce from Brooklyn to Philadelphia after forcing a commerce from Houston to Brooklyn.
“[I came back because] I felt like we had a good team. I felt like this is a place that I said I wanted to be and we’re starting to set something up in the future to be a solid team,” he mentioned after Day 4 of Nets coaching camp on the HSS Training Facility in Industry City on Friday. “So to be sincere, I believed [Brooklyn] was nonetheless a fantastic possibility, too. I didn’t need [the trade request] to get in the best way of the video games being performed.
“I still love my teammates, I love playing at the Barclays. So I felt like regardless it’s gonna be an easy decision to come back and play because I love the hoop. This has been a good environment for me the last two years, even though I had some doubts, but overall, looking at it, I still like to come in here and get work in.”
Durant echoed the identical sentiments shared by each Marks and Nash on Media Day. Durant met with Marks, Nash and Tsai after issuing the ultimatum, and the group cleared the air to assist put the famous person ahead’s considerations comfy.
On Media Day, Durant mentioned he requested a commerce due to a scarcity of accountability and championship tradition in Brooklyn.
“I was upset, and as a family, they understood that I was upset,” he mentioned on Friday. “Some of the stuff they agreed with, and so we talked about it, and it was over a few weeks in the direction of the tip of that the place we talked about it, and we got here out and we voiced all our considerations about how all of us could be higher, and it simply labored out from there.
“I’m glad I’m here now.”
Durant — who mentioned he expects to play in all 4 preseason video games, although he doesn’t anticipate a heavy minutes load — was additionally complimentary of the roster strikes the Nets made this summer time. Marks’ offseason included buying and selling for 3-and-D wing Royce O’Neale, signing T.J. Warren and Edmond Sumner, and re-signing each Nic Claxton and Patty Mills to two-year offers. The Nets additionally welcomed Ben Simmons (again) and Joe Harris (ankle) again from accidents. The roster additions had been one of many causes Durant felt snug returning to Brooklyn after wanting out.
“Oh yeah, we’re versatile,” mentioned Durant. “We’ve obtained larger guys. Last 12 months within the playoffs we performed lots of smaller guys underneath 6-4; lots of them performed in opposition to an enormous workforce within the Celtics. I believe we obtained larger as a gaggle general. And we’ve obtained lots of IQ within the constructing as nicely.
“Royce played in some playoff stretches. Ben obviously. Seth. So we’ve got some playoff experience in here that’s going to help down the line.”
The two-time Finals MVP and one-time NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year mentioned he believes the workforce could be profitable this season as a result of they’re getting into coaching camp virtually totally wholesome.
“We look at it in the grand scheme of things, like we haven’t been healthy at all for two years,” he mentioned. “It’s been, each playoffs, we’ve had major guys just miss minutes, like not just role players, guys that make a lot of money. So when you got $50 million on your bench this last playoffs with Joe and Ben, and then playoffs before that — I want to see what our team looks like in full with guys being healthy and us having a little bit of continuity. So we’ll see what happens.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com