Brooklyn Nets superstar small forward Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley are very close friends off the court.
So when the team signed Beasley, many fans speculated that Durant advised Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks to sign the former No. 2 overall pick.
However, Marks told Nets reporters on Thursday that wasn't the case.
Sean Marks on if KD spurred move for his friend Beasley: “I don’t think it’s fair to call Kevin on every single thing we do…It’s well-documented these two are close but we’re looking at best available and talent. Michael certainly is that.” #Nets
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) July 9, 2020
The Nets needed bodies for the resumption of the 2019-20 season down in Orlando since Durant, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, Wilson Chandler, Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince won't be playing.
Durant (Achilles) and Irving (shoulder) are recovering from injuries, Chandler cited family reasons as to why he dropped out and Jordan, Prince and Dinwiddie each contracted COVID-19.
The Nets are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings. They have to compile a better seeding-games-record than the Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards if they want to keep that seventh slot.
Beasley will have to serve a five-game suspension because of a previously failed drug test before he can make his Brooklyn debut. The lefty appeared in 26 games for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018-19. He averaged 7.0 points and 2.3 rebounds.
Along with Beasley, the Nets also added three-time Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford to the roster.
The Nets will be title contenders in 2020-21 once Durant and Irving play. For the “bubble” games, though, the team will likely have a hard time making a deep run (if they even make the playoffs) since KD, Irving and Dinwiddie — the Nets' three best scorers — aren't playing.
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