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After a six-game home stand the Nets will now be tested with a six-game road trip. The Pistons, Raptors, Bulls, Magic, Pelicans and Thunder don't exactly represent murderer's row. The Raptors (6-3) and Bulls (6-2) should be tough. But those other teams are just a combined 12-27.
One guesses the Nets don't exactly mind facing some soft opponent's early in the season, especially while away from Barclays Center. Perhaps they can continue to figure out their identity and rehearse offensive sets while keeping their record afloat in a very competitive East; especially with some potential changes on the horizon.
The latest from ESPN Insider, Adrian Wojnarowski:
“Eric Adams, the Mayor-Elect of New York City, talked (recently) about revisiting possibly January 1 when he takes over, the city’s vaccine mandates for government workers and there’s some hope, some optimism, including, I’m told, around Kyrie Irving, that revisiting may also include performers and athletes including Kyrie Irving.”
With that story in mind Nets' coach Steve Nash was asked if the team would welcome Irving (who the team has decided not to allow to appear in road games while unvaccinated despite his being eligible) back if local rules changed.
“I might be speaking out of turn,” explained Nets coach Nash, before the team's 117-108 victory over the Hawks, “but I think if the mandate changes he’d be welcomed back, for sure.”
But would the Nets wait patiently for that outside possibility? To that point another tidbit from Woj becomes especially intriguing.
Woj, via ESPN:
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“How does this fit into the Nets' timetable if Kyrie Irving is going to wait into January to see what happens with the new mayor in New York City? How does that impact how the Nets move forward? There's a lot to watch here….”
Fans anxious to see Irving back in Brooklyn's lineup might find solace in this glimmer of hope that local mandates could potentially be reevaluated with new city leadership. Indeed, the Mayor-Elect Eric Adams did little to quell speculation on the matter when he recently discussed “revisiting” mandates for at least city workers. It's important to note that what Adams addressed specifically would not include entertainers like basketball players.
But any major change to the current precedent would beg the question of what more may be revisited down the line.
Fans may also delight at the idea the Nets would welcome Irving back. But what if the team suspected Irving was contemplating getting the jab? Might he, upon hearing this update, put that off and wait until January or beyond for something that isn't likely to transpire anyway? Would the Nets seek to trade the seven-time All-Star instead? Might Irving being suddenly optimistic for a rule change coax Brooklyn into exploring trades if they haven't seriously done so already?
As currently constructed without Kyrie in the fray, the Nets could win the championship. But I wouldn't bet on it happening. There's a lot of very very good teams out there. But if they could find a team willing to offer even reasonably fair value for the former champion, would General Manager Sean Marks leap at that chance to get Kevin Durant and James Harden some help? My hunch is they absolutely would. If this thing drags on, I'd expect the Nets to begin (quietly) shopping Irving beginning by New Year's.
As Woj says, there's a lot to watch here. The good news is that this road trip coming up only includes two teams with winning records. Maybe they can at least stack some wins while the front office quietly checks in on Irving's trade market.
