Post-Mortem: 2021-22 Brooklyn Nets

[GeorgeSears]

Kyrie killed their entire season due to pure narcissism. You can try to distribute the blame all you want but, in the end, Kyrie gets 100%.

[brackdan70]

Waining team. Some creative trades to start fresh and gather some assets is probably the move they need to make . If they are lucky enough for Kyrie to bail then there is some hope.

[tsherkin]

Every time Kyrie opens his mouth, I respect him less.

[brackdan70]

Kyrie killed their entire season due to pure narcissism. You can try to distribute the blame all you want but, in the end, Kyrie gets 100%.

This has become his MO.

[Phish Tank]

So if I was ever even a Nets fan, this is what I'd suggest:

If you plan on keeping Nash:

1) Bring one or two veteran assistant coaches, one of whom can supplant Jacque Vaughn as the associate head coach and provide someone with offensive and defensive chops to aid Nash. Nash needed some old dude who could replicate a bit of what MDA provided him in mentorship. Promoting Vanterpool as an associate coach isn't a bad option, but Nash needs some tacticians. Gentry isn't a bad option.... I'm sure defensive coaches are out there. Too many player development guys on the squad - Vanterpool, Harrington, Ivey, even Amare.

If you don't plan on keeping Nash:

1) Easy -> Find a coach who can check the stars. That'll be hard, but it's important.

As for the roster:

1) KD's had a good season, but he can't be playing 38+ minutes a game. He's just had numerous leg injuries since 2014 when he suffered the initial Jones Fracture. These injuries finally took a toll in the playoffs as you saw KD had a hard time against the Celtics defense which - while tough - would have still been a squad where KD could feast, even if inefficiently. The supermax will test how he ages over time. Unfortunately, I don't think it'll age well if he can't continue getting into the paint as he gets older.

2) I get the Nets keeping Kyrie, but you kinda want to pick and choose between Simmons & Kyrie. Can't really keep 2 headcases on the squad. Also, if that does happen, you're tying at least 75% of the cap, if not more, in 3 max contracts. 2 guards and a wing. I just don't see Simmons being that game changer that can supplant KD & Kyrie even as they get older.

3) Biggest question going forward is how Harris recovers from injury. He is an expensive contract though - which limits how the Nets can get better. You also have Seth Curry, who I figure will either start or come off the bench depending on Harris. You probably want to find a better wing version of these two going forward as teams know how to gameplan against both of these guys on defense, as you found out last season vs MIL and this year. They're floor raisers, but limit you in the ultimate goal of a championship.

4) It's clear where the biggest weaknesses were on the Nets: backup to KD and legitimate two-way bigs to slot alongside KD. The Harden trade was a necessity, but they have to regret letting JA go. Someone will overpay for Claxton. You may not be able to afford him? Ignore the missed FTs though.... he's been fine, just not healthy for the entire season. The Blake/Drummond/LMA experiment was nice and cute, but it's not sustainable. Need to get a bruiser/connector/hustler at the 5.

As for a backup to KD, I think the team missed Jeff Green. Some sort of stretch 4 would help.

5) The Bruce Brown conundrum: He was so important to the Nets, but will be expensive this summer. Who do you end up prioritizing?

[Schmooftie]

As much as it may completely backfire - they have to extend Kyrie otherwise how are they going to build a team around KD?
Not sure what sort of contract that would be - it will be max $$ but maybe you can include some non guarantees or team options on the later years? Problem is when dealing with FA's like Kyrie they have all the leverage as despite his faults there will be other teams lining up to give him a max if the Nets don't.

A KD, Irving and Simmons is a decent core - they just need better pieces around them.
Harris will be a good fit with them, and Claxton is a decent rotation big
They should probably try to flip Curry and/or Mills - otherwise they are stuck having too many undersized guards as part of their main 8 man rotation.
They are really not that far away, with more continuity and a bit of luck they could be a top 4 seed in the East next year and a borderline contender

[mtcan]

You have 2 of the biggest fair-weather basketball players in the league...on your team. Who knows if Ben Simmons and Kyrie Irving even like being basketball players.

I said this before the trade...both Philly and Brooklyn lost this trade.

[Yallbecrazy]

Get rid of Kyrie, he's a net negative.

[DroseReturnChi]

this is a revolutionary idea but trade kd and build around simmons.

[WRau1]

BKN should trade Simmons for Dinwiddie, Allen and LeVert.

[John Murdoch]

Kind of in the same boat as Lakers ...2 amazing players but the supporting cast has to be perfect and the leadership is questionable at best.

[TinmanZBoy]

They never had a chance with that defense and mentality, even when they had the three headed monster….they are entertaining though

[zshawn10]

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[NyKnicks1714]

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Kevin Durant on if Nash is still the right man to coach the #Nets: Come on, man. Yeah. Steve has been dealt a crazy hand the last two years, he's been having to deal with so much stuff as a head coach for the first time, COVID Kyrie, trades. I'm proud of his passion for us.

[God Squad]

The basketball gods smiled upon us today boys

[itrsteve]

Given that Irving is on a PO and Simmons is locked up until 2024/2025. I would pick the phone up, perhaps multiple teams but Presti should be involved in making the deal work. Too many picks and swaps were given up for too many years, Brooklyn had a good thing going before this mess. KD is on contract, get him with some energetic talent that will pull the pressure off being a win now team and focus on playing.

Keep Brown, Keep Claxton (with a FT shooting coach)

I would not double down on this three-man core. Don't care if Simmons played or not.

[G R E Y]

lolwut?

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Would you look at this guy?

Like Tsai publicly stated he didn't want to re-sign you at one point. You led the team through a field of brambles most of the season, had one good game in the POs, after signing off on the non-coaching coach and presumably the roster personnel, all of which have been a collective zero PO wins, and you **** think that not only 1. you'll get some super duper max contract but that 2. you declare it 'entails' something like 3. 'MANAGING THE FRANCHISE' 4. "together" with not only POBO "Sean" but also 5. owner of the team "Joe".

Imagine the arrogant blind spot you have to have to cover the poor PO performance by putting yourself at the table with not only the top decision maker of the team but also the owner, like it's a given the latter even wants you around.

And if Marks and Tsai sign off on this, if they have allowed this and continue to allow it even after everything they've seen this season, then they are 100% part of the problem and deserve all the outcome of it. They already know what they're getting in Irving; a huge red flag. Stunning.

EDIT: Here it is all matter of fact

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ok then. Keep it humble and real, mate.

[DutchManDanFan]

Kind of in the same boat as Lakers ...2 amazing players but the supporting cast has to be perfect and the leadership is questionable at best.

Yea, they should play a series. Would get plenty of media attention....

[SerialChiller]

Kyrie and Durant seem to think they are teammates as well as co-coaches and co-gms of the Nets lol.

[Dubnation]

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