Kevin Durant made an NBA-altering trade request that was supposed to ignite a frenzy, but he might be too big to trade

• Kevin Durant requested a trade on June 30, but still has not been dealt.
• The Nets are asking an historic sum for the star, and teams have been unwilling to meet that price.

What happens when a 33-year-old perennial MVP candidate — a top-20 player ever — under contract for four more years, tells his team he wants to play somewhere else?

The answer so far is: not much.

Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on June 30, hours before free agency, setting up a potentially seismic, league-altering move. Durant has a claim for Best Player in the World; his presence alone can swing a championship race.

ESPN's Zach Lowe had predicted both on his podcast, "The Lowe Post" and on ESPN's "Get Up" that it could create the biggest trade frenzy and return in league history.

On June 30, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that within an hour of Durant's trade request, half of the league's teams had already called the Nets.

After all, how often does a future Hall of Famer become available, without the threat of free agency hanging over the ordeal? Durant begins a four-year, $198 million extension this season. Any team acquiring him won't have to worry about him bolting in a season or two because his contract is up — the specter that has lingered over so many previous superstar trades.

But as Durant, the Nets, and the rest of the league is finding out, Durant might just be too big to trade.

According to multiple reports, the Nets are asking for an historic return for Durant: an All-Star player (or two), role players, young prospects, and future draft picks.

The problem is, teams haven't been willing to meet that price. The Athletic's John Hollinger wrote on Tuesday that the types of trade offers the Nets received earlier in the summer haven't changed much, even as Brooklyn has held firm in its desired return.

First, there is an issue with the prospect himself: Durant is 33, turning 34 in September. He's in his prime now, but might not be for much longer, especially considering he tore his Achilles in 2019 and has only played 90 of a possible 154 games the past two seasons.

Some teams who can meet the Nets' high asking price view it as too high.

Take, for example, Toronto — a frequently named destination for Durant. The Raptors have two All-Stars in Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet; the reigning Rookie of the Year and prized prospect Scottie Barnes; valuable role players like OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr., and Precious Achiuwa; plus all of their own first-round draft picks. They are theoretically a good trade partner.

However, multiple reports have said that the Raptors have felt the Nets' asking price is too high.

"If you execute a trade that makes your team weaker, then the point of you calling to acquire Kevin Durant has failed," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on "NBA Today." "So here we have something that's extremely valuable that nobody wants to buy at its price."

How much leverage does a player need?

Furthermore, the Nets aren't in any rush to make a deal.

Durant's contract status doesn't put any pressure on teams — the Nets aren't at risk of losing him in free agency, and any team can acquire him knowing he can't leave on his own accord.

It's possible Durant sits out of training camp, but how long will he willingly miss games? And how long could it go? Again, Durant's contract works against him. If the Nets choose not to deal him, will Durant truly be willing to sit out multiple seasons, just to get a trade?

That's about Durant's only leverage right now — the prospect of making the atmosphere so unpleasant in Brooklyn that the team just decides to trade him.

What this all means for the future of labor negotiations and superstar trades remains to be seen.

Superstar trade demands — occurring earlier and earlier into contracts — has been a source of consternation in the league.

Durant has taken it a whole step further — he asked out before he's even played a game under his new deal. Just three years ago, some fans thought Anthony Davis had gone too far when he asked for a trade with a season-and-a-half remaining on his contract. In the years since, James Harden has asked for trades in back-to-back years, while Ben Simmons missed an entire season, beginning with sitting out games because of a trade demand.

But it's possible the Durant situation could turn into a win for management and owners. There may be a limit to player power in trade demands if there is simply too much time left on a star's contract.

The Nets are right to ask for an historic sum for an in-his-prime superstar under contract for four more years.

Other teams understandably don't want to gut their teams to acquire that star.

What was supposed to be a trade frenzy has instead slowed to a crawl and put the league in limbo, waiting for one side to crack. Whenever Durant does get moved, it will be historic, but there's no telling when that might happen.