nbafan38 wrote:lakerRD wrote:nbafan38 wrote:
I'm sure barring some extreme change of events Kyrie won't be on the nets after this season but I don't think a 2027 first round pick is worth blowing a chance to compete this season.
Do you really believe that the Nets will be in a position to compete next year when their two best players have openly asked to be traded?
If there is a strong belief that both KD and Kyrie will give it everything they have if they remain Nets next year, I wouldn't trade them either, and certainly not for a 2027 FRP.
Do I believe it? I don't know. But to play the other side of it, do you really believe Kyrie Irving is going to not try to play hard on a contract year and that Kevin Durant is going to handle this unprofessionally and not try hard next year?
That's a fair question. I don't know either.
But one thing I know and have seen over the last few years as the culture and climate has shifted in the NBA, is that the players absolutely have been empowered to a very significant degree.
Some of that is good because in the previous several decades, the owners had much more power and wielded it regularly.
The power dynamics have shifted now so the players, specially the superstars have much more say and control.
It is unpredictable how KD and Kyrie will behave.
But if the last few weeks are any indication, they will not be happy campers and will sink another Net season.
Believe me, I take no joy in watching what is happening in Brooklyn. That could easily be LA or another franchise. But in reality, the players have a lot more control and if they are not treated the way they want to be treated, or if their demands are not met, they will lash out or react in some way.
In Kyrie's case, the lack of respect for the coach and management started from the beginning of the season since he was reportedly running his own practices after Nash's practices.
All indications are that if the Nets hold onto Kyrie, it will be a disaster.
