What Went Wrong with Steve Nash, and Where Do Nets Go from Here with Kevin Durant?

When the NBA offseason felt like it was calming down, Kevin Durant dumped a spoon into a pot and shook it up.

Shams Charania of The Athletic broke the news that KD had issued an ultimatum to the governor of the Nets.

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania

In a meeting with Nets owner Joe Tsai, Kevin Durant reiterated his trade request and informed Tsai that Tsai needs to choose between Durant or the pairing of general manager Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash, sources say.

Story: https://t.co/W1voNf9MDC

The meeting was described as transparent and professional with a clear message to keep me or the GM.

Alright then.

After just two seasons as coach, Steve Nash finds himself on the wrong side of an ultimatum and facing news that's a far cry from what he was told when he was hired.

" His insight for the game, his communication, how hecommunicates the game of basketball is definitely going to help me as a player develop and it's going to help the rest of the team," said KD. I was always a sponge when I worked out with him. I am looking forward to this.

The early reviews weren't as positive for Sean Marks, but he has had nice things to say about him over the years.

With a four-year extension recently kicking in for KD, he's sent the entire organization spirals into what feels like the NBA's version of Marriage Story

It is difficult to wrap your head around why.

I don't like the direction of the team is a generic complaint. We were not in the meeting with the two players. It was obvious that there was more to say. When those two only appeared in 17 games together this season, how was Nash supposed to establish a direction that they would be on board with?

He tailored the attack to the stars. The two players were the top 10 in the league in possessions used in isolation. Both were among the top 20 in usage percentage.

The two superstars supposedly signed with the Brooklyn Nets to play together. Nash was able to allow them to do that. He allowed them to come as often as possible.

Nash didn't have anything to do with the unavailability of both stars. He wasn't to blame for the fact that he only appeared in 90 games over the last two years. The New York City mandate for the vaccine was not written by him.

Maybe he wanted more of a free-flowing, team-first offense like the one that led to his two Finals Most Valuable Player awards. We do not know that. We won't know much about the meeting with Tsai. Even if that is the case, how was Nash supposed to implement such a system with so many players in and out of the lineup for so long?

What about Marks. The books were cleared to allow the signing of the contract. He made room for Jordan because he was worse than Allen. The coach was fired after he wanted to start the younger, better 5. We all know how Marks and James Harden ended up together.

"Get rid of these guys because we need people in leadership who will stop giving us what we want." It's difficult to imagine that's the complaint.

It's hard to see their departures appeasing Durant.

He signed with the Warriors even though he was a king with the Oklahoma CityThunder. Even though he won two titles with Golden State, he still orchestrated a team-up with Kyrie in Brooklyn. He has carte blanche with the Nets, but we are talking about a trade request from someone with four years left on his contract.

Tsai should have little confidence in siding with the star in this either- or situation because of his age and injury history.

It isn't a simple decision either way.

The league average is 29.9 points, 6.4 assists and 2.1 threes, with a true shooting percentage of 6.8 points above that.

The Nets had a point differential when he was on the floor compared to when he wasn't.

Marks has surrounded him with a good roster if he can play like that for two more years.

• Kyrie Irving, Patty Mills
• Seth Curry, Cam Thomas
• Joe Harris, T.J. Warren, Royce O'Neale
• Kevin Durant
• Ben Simmons, Nicolas Claxton

Replacing Marks and Nash with a regime that is more in line with KD's preferred direction could lead to a title.

Championships are not always a given in the NBA. The Warriors lost in the finals. It feels like the bigger risk is upending the front office and bench for a post-prime player.

It would be wise for the Nets to re- engage with potential suitors of KD. See if they would be willing to meet the high threshold for acquiring him. Brooklyn can simply say, "Fine, KD has given us a path to keep him, and we're going to take it."

If Marks' job is on the chopping block, the Nets need to use any leverage they can get.

They should begin with the Boston Celtics.

Those three are the most significant candidates.

Is Boston willing to part with both Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart? Is it possible that Toronto would relent on Scottie Barnes?

Brooklyn has to ask if the answer is no on both sides.

It is time to exhaust every possible avenue for a deal if the Nets weren't already doing this. If you can't find anything that's acceptable, maybe you should clean the house. It's just a matter of making sure there wasn't a better way to go.

KD could ask out again at any time.