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There is more drama in the Brooklyn Nets' organization than in the rest of 2022 NBA free agency. Three moves can change all of that.
A year ago, Nets GM Sean Marks probably pictured himself relishing in Brooklyn's triumph this Fourth of July weekend. He was likely hoping to celebrate whatever milestones his star-studded team attained. The 2021–2022 season was intended to mark the end of a three-year journey and the realization of a dream. It has instead turned into a very public drama-riddled nightmare.
The Nets are clearly breaking down. Kevin Durant has made a trade request. Due in large part to the fact that only the desperate Lakers were interested in signing and trading for him, Kyrie Irving decided to sign his deal.
Remember that before the start of training camp last summer, Marks firmly predicted that contract extensions for James Harden and Kyrie Irving would be “signed, sealed, and delivered.”
Now, Harden is already off the team and back in free agency. Durant and Irving could follow shortly.
Now, a title that once appeared to be within grasp no longer seems so close. In fact, it already feels like a pipe dream.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn Nets team owner Joe Tsai has had enough. He will have to break up the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving tandem. Brooklyn is now looking for a historic haul after KD asked to be traded. Irving could also be on his way out the door as the billionaire is looking to grab control of his team’s operations.
Tsai was quoted as saying he “… would rather have a team that plays hard that he's proud to own that wins 40 games and fights for the play-in than have a team that has way more talent that he's not proud to be a part of.”
“Joe Tsai would rather have a team that plays hard that he's proud to own that wins 40 games and fights for the play-in than have a team that has way more talent that he's not proud to be a part of.” 😳
– ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on the Nets’ owner
(h/t @Krisplashed ) pic.twitter.com/WMnwfHPq8L
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 1, 2022
This is how he can do it.
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Nets: Three Moves Brooklyn Must Make
3. Package Ben Simmons in a trade
It is very unlikely that any trade will not involve Ben Simmons in some way, shape, or form. If the Nets will trade for Bam Adebayo or Devin Booker or any other guy currently on a designated rookie extension, Simmons will have to go.
That may not be the worst thing for Brooklyn. There's no assurance Simmons would be all-in this coming season with or without either or both Kyrie and KD. Simmons' antics last season have just lowered his transactional value, while his limited perimeter scoring skill-set has also degraded his on-court potency.
It's also quite clear that Simmons is no longer a franchise centerpiece at this point in his career.
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2. Trade Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving may have opted in, but it's also crystal clear he wants out. Whether it's rejoining LeBron James over in Los Angeles or going to another team, Kyrie just has to go, too.
He sabotaged Brooklyn's season in 2021-2022, and he made it painfully apparent that he's not in for the long haul. Kyrie has become a force of instability for the franchise, and the more he's around, the longer that instability will pull the organization in every which way.
REPORT: The Nets have “implied” the KD/Kyrie trade could drag into training camp if they “don’t get what they want.”
(via @NYPost_Lewis, https://t.co/8F5POIcxTr) pic.twitter.com/FiOOWoxEd1
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 5, 2022
The most obvious way to move Kyrie to the Lakers is to involve Russell Westbrook. That means, however, that the Nets would want picks to compensate for Westbrook's $47 million contract. Conversely, the Lakers would also want additions, like maybe Joe Harris?
Whatever it takes, Marks and Tsai need to ship Kyrie out the first chance they can, as long as they get a king's ransom in return, too.
1. Trade Kevin Durant
Speaking of a king's ransom, the Nets should not take anything less than what the Utah Jazz got in the Rudy Gobert trade to Minnesota. That means players and picks — a lot of them.
The latest on Kevin Durant requesting a trade from the Nets from @wojespn.
Join us now on ESPN2 for our NBA Today Free Agency special as we break it all down. pic.twitter.com/dsRBjecW8S
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) June 30, 2022
KD's preferred landing spots are the Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns, which is where Adebayo and Booker may come in. No way KD can go to the Heat unless someone like Adebayo comes over. And again, no way Adebayo comes over while Simmons is still on the Nets. The rules just won't allow it. As for Phoenix, they can potentially send either Booker or DeAndre Ayton to the Nets. If it's Booker, Simmons will need to be involved. If it's Ayton, that might not make much sense unless the Nets suddenly make a u-turn on committing to Nic Claxton.
Just like Kyrie, though, KD has to go one way or another. As long as any of these three players remain in Brooklyn, they'll never get rid of the drama that has become their baggage. Trade them all, get their value in depth and picks, and create a team with less drama but more pride.
