Official ‘24-25 Off-season Thread

[Netaman]

No chance Nets beat Denver last year. KD got hurt on 1/8 and traded on 2/9.

from 1/9-2/9 they were 5-8 without him.

KD didn't return until 3/1 and only played 8 more regular season games.

in the playoffs, KD's suns lost 4-2 against Denver. lost game 5 by 16 points, game 6 by 25 points. KD averaged almost as many turnovers against DEN as he had against boston as a Net the year before.

kyrie, claxton, royce, joe harris (lol), seth were not giving KD a better shot at beating denver than booker, ayton, cp3, etc. if they were even able to keep their health together and get through the East.

Once Harden left the primary ballhandling to KD (and simmons turned into a total lemon) the Nets window was effectively barring an extreme run of good luck. Which left the building when KD got rolled up on and Kyrie failed to overcome, as usual.

I love how losing to Denver is some massive failure

Even if we did lose to Denver. At least we'd be in the Finals for the first time in 20 years!

Who cares lol.

My disagreement with Netaman is he doesn't realize the Nets actually had continuity and chemistry building prior to his injury so I don't think his return from the injury would have impacted us negatively whereas with Phoenix, he had to learn a new system plus recover from injury. So I do believe we could have ousted Denver if KD returned healthy.

what happened to that chemistry when he was out? what did kyrie selfishly do like he always does (while the Nets had what turned out to be a bigger offer for him on table)? Kyrie and the word chemistry are not harmonious.

when KD came back in PHO they went 8-0 in regular season. He entered the playoffs as fresh as he will ever be from having missed the time. He got to play Denver in round 2 after a 5 game tune up vs SAC, and he was still a turnover machine. Individually he shot 22% from 3 vs denver, that had nothing to do with learning a system. Same as his shooting 33% from 3 vs boston the year before as a Net. He simply wasnt (and isnt) the same guy as 2021 anymore.

had Kyrie extended or just kept his head down and playing i was of course hoping they had a shot in the weak east to get to the finals and win. miami getting there as an 8 seed is proof that it would have been possible. but as we saw in 2021, when they absolutely entered the playoffs as a favorite and remained so through the first half of the series vs. the eventual champs, stuff happens. even if you have 3 stars and even if KD is the best player on the planet. Post-Harden their odds of actually winning with KD/Kyrie were not high. At best maybe 10-20%?

If they stuck together last offseason they probably would have had to trade more futures with Simmons contract as dead weight for someone elses dead weight like Beal as phoenix did.

[NetsWorld]

I love how losing to Denver is some massive failure

Even if we did lose to Denver. At least we'd be in the Finals for the first time in 20 years!

Who cares lol.

My disagreement with Netaman is he doesn't realize the Nets actually had continuity and chemistry building prior to his injury so I don't think his return from the injury would have impacted us negatively whereas with Phoenix, he had to learn a new system plus recover from injury. So I do believe we could have ousted Denver if KD returned healthy.

what happened to that chemistry when he was out? what did kyrie selfishly do like he always does (while the Nets had what turned out to be a bigger offer for him on table)? Kyrie and the word chemistry are not harmonious.

when KD came back in PHO they went 8-0 in regular season. He entered the playoffs as fresh as he will ever be from having missed the time. He got to play Denver in round 2 after a 5 game tune up vs SAC, and he was still a turnover machine. Individually he shot 22% from 3 vs denver, that had nothing to do with learning a system. Same as his shooting 33% from 3 vs boston the year before as a Net. He simply wasnt (and isnt) the same guy as 2021 anymore.

had Kyrie extended or just kept his head down and playing i was of course hoping they had a shot in the weak east to get to the finals and win. miami getting there as an 8 seed is proof that it would have been possible. but as we saw in 2021, when they absolutely entered the playoffs as a favorite and remained so through the first half of the series vs. the eventual champs, stuff happens. even if you have 3 stars and even if KD is the best player on the planet. Post-Harden their odds of actually winning with KD/Kyrie were not high. At best maybe 10-20%?

If they stuck together last offseason they probably would have had to trade more futures with Simmons contract as dead weight for someone elses dead weight like Beal as phoenix did.

We were going through a slump and tried playing .500 until KD got back. I am not going to compare our 21-22 campaign to 22-23, we actually had a better shot in 22-23 than in 21-22 after that 18-2 stretch; BTW, in your 2021 favorites comment, you forgot to mention what the league DIDN'T want you to mention, Giannis intentionally hurt Kyrie. That's not an injuries just happen circumstance, that's a case of a player purposely hurting another player but Giannis was to loved league wide for Milwaukee to be hit with any kind of suspension. And yes, we would have won that ring if not for that dirty move. As far as Kyrie's contract extension, not a kyrie advocate but he was in a contract year and it's obvious he was going to perform for the money and Marks/Tsai egos got in the way. No body talks about how Tsai privately extended Marks contract in 2022 and Bob "the liar" from NetsDaily tried to downplay that when Kristian Winfield accurately reported it.

[Netaman]

We were going through a slump and tried but failed to play playing .500 until KD got back. I am not going to compare our 21-22 campaign to 22-23, we actually had a better shot in 22-23 than in 21-22 after that 18-2 stretch; BTW, in your 2021 favorites comment, you forgot to mention what the league DIDN'T want you to mention, Giannis intentionally hurt Kyrie. That's not an injuries just happen circumstance, that's a case of a player purposely hurting another player but Giannis was to loved league wide for Milwaukee to be hit with any kind of suspension. And yes, we would have won that ring if not for that dirty move. As far as Kyrie's contract extension, not a kyrie advocate but he was in a contract year and it's obvious he was going to perform for the money and Marks/Tsai egos got in the way. No body talks about how Tsai privately extended Marks contract in 2022 and Bob "the liar" from NetsDaily tried to downplay that when Kristian Winfield accurately reported it.

fixed the above for you. nobody's ego got in the way of that season except kyrie, as it has for him in every other situation he's ever been in. jimmy butler has done 10000x more for miami, somehow he managed to get through the trade deadline without demanding a trade. LOL if you think it is anyone other than Kyrie's ego that has been the problem with him over his career, in multiple stops.

that's inarguable.

the hypothetical we are talking about is what if kyrie's ego didnt ruin that season, which is kind of like "what if water wasn't wet" but i digress. you are assuming against all evidence that the nets somehow stay healthy and win 4 postseason series, including against Denver who pretty easily handled KD in the west. I see 0 evidence to support that.

[NetsJets]

How do you guys feel about Paul George?

Getting George would depend on the direction the Nets take; George is not coming here without a second all star alongside him either. I think he is going to Orlando after talking highly of Bonchero, but I could be wrong. I think the Nets need to focus on keeping Claxton and Cam Thomas as they are home grown talent in the event the Nets decide to star chase again. Those two should be kept regardless. For the record, I am no longer in the campaign of star chasing and would much prefer the Nets get a good lottery pick in 2025.

I feel like George fixes a lot of our problems. We’d have enough offense between George, Cam and Bridges. This would put us in the mix for the postseason imo.

[vincecarter4pres]

How do you guys feel about Paul George?

Getting George would depend on the direction the Nets take; George is not coming here without a second all star alongside him either. I think he is going to Orlando after talking highly of Bonchero, but I could be wrong. I think the Nets need to focus on keeping Claxton and Cam Thomas as they are home grown talent in the event the Nets decide to star chase again. Those two should be kept regardless. For the record, I am no longer in the campaign of star chasing and would much prefer the Nets get a good lottery pick in 2025.

I feel like George fixes a lot of our problems. We’d have enough offense between George, Cam and Bridges. This would put us in the mix for the postseason imo.

Have to agree with NetsWorld, George depends on the direction of the team, asset cost and if we acquire a second younger star.

You still need a lead guard and I’m still in the trade Cam while his value is probably high IRL camp.

Trae or Garland
Bridges
PG
Clowney
Clax

Full MLE FA
Remaining current guys on roster after trades
Retaining a couple Phoenix picks

It’s interesting to me.

George on his own if cheap is ok, but I don’t see him coming unless another move was made for a running mate he was excited by on his own.

[NetsJets]

Getting George would depend on the direction the Nets take; George is not coming here without a second all star alongside him either. I think he is going to Orlando after talking highly of Bonchero, but I could be wrong. I think the Nets need to focus on keeping Claxton and Cam Thomas as they are home grown talent in the event the Nets decide to star chase again. Those two should be kept regardless. For the record, I am no longer in the campaign of star chasing and would much prefer the Nets get a good lottery pick in 2025.

I feel like George fixes a lot of our problems. We’d have enough offense between George, Cam and Bridges. This would put us in the mix for the postseason imo.

Have to agree with NetsWorld, George depends on the direction of the team, asset cost and if we acquire a second younger star.

You still need a lead guard and I’m still in the trade Cam while his value is probably high IRL camp.

Trae or Garland
Bridges
PG
Clowney
Clax

Full MLE FA
Remaining current guys on roster after trades
Retaining a couple Phoenix picks

It’s interesting to me.

George on his own if cheap is ok, but I don’t see him coming unless another move was made for a running mate he was excited by on his own.

There are factors for sure. But I’m just looking at it at face value.

[Netaman]

Getting George would depend on the direction the Nets take; George is not coming here without a second all star alongside him either. I think he is going to Orlando after talking highly of Bonchero, but I could be wrong. I think the Nets need to focus on keeping Claxton and Cam Thomas as they are home grown talent in the event the Nets decide to star chase again. Those two should be kept regardless. For the record, I am no longer in the campaign of star chasing and would much prefer the Nets get a good lottery pick in 2025.

I feel like George fixes a lot of our problems. We’d have enough offense between George, Cam and Bridges. This would put us in the mix for the postseason imo.

Have to agree with NetsWorld, George depends on the direction of the team, asset cost and if we acquire a second younger star.

agree with above, and piecing together the last 2 offseasons + trade deadline in the middle, i don't expect Marks to go for an older player as his first move.

remember he passed on offering on lillard last year.
then he passed on murray at trade deadline.

i think he has his order of operations, with mitchell probably being the top target. my guess is he held his assets over the last year knowing the mitchell situation would come to some resolution in the next month or so, and he had enough of a fig leaf with ben simmons to try rehabbing him last year. i cannot imagine any scenario where they throw away another year doing that.

so now i think the order of operations is something like:

plan A = mitchell
back up plans in some order = Trae, Murray, Garland, and maybe White or a few others we don't expect

i think his plan is to add a lead guard at Bridges age or younger, while keeping enough assets for the follow-up.

I dont think he will go big for a guy like PG3 now, I think he will again hold assets and aim higher with someone like Giannis being the top target if MIL continues to slide backwards. I could see him grabbing a pg3 or butler type at the trade deadline if those teams fall apart and brooklyn is playing better than expected.

the knicks make a ton of sense for PG3 or Butler right now if those teams move those guys. Would be a great fit if they can figure out all the numbers. Nets need to get their version of Brunson first.

[Netaman]

This seems like another possible DFS scenario:

Read on Twitter

would imagine this projects as a pick 20+.

[ChuckS]

when KD came back in PHO they went 8-0 in regular season. He entered the playoffs as fresh as he will ever be from having missed the time. He got to play Denver in round 2 after a 5 game tune up vs SAC, and he was still a turnover machine. Individually he shot 22% from 3 vs denver, that had nothing to do with learning a system. Same as his shooting 33% from 3 vs boston the year before as a Net. He simply wasnt (and isnt) the same guy as 2021 anymore.

Who can argue that someone isn't what he was two years ago after that poor series against Boston at age 33. But I watched it in pain and had hopes that I could still enjoy KD a little longer. The Nets team was so bad, that a constant double and repetitive traps were the norm after Kyrie's first game. He had to contend with the DPOY and all we had left was Seth Curry's 14.5 points per. Patty Mills made two shots per game, Bruce Brown doesn't lead the team in scoring , in any game, if his man isn't on KD, and Nic shot 18.2% from the line. We were a pathetic match up. But in spite of the efficiency, and turnovers, he came within three points of his career fourth best playoff average of 29+. That, however, was his worst playoff series since his ROY first season.

As far as his first season with the Suns, I think rest, after a long injury layoff, is no magic elixir for only having eight pre-playoff games in a new system. To say that he was not acclimated would be an understatement. But he at least hit his career playoff point average, and at a lower, but much more acceptable 45.8 FG%. He even had one less turnover than Jokic in that series. So at his career worsts, he was still the 8th highest playoff scorer in the Boston series, and sixth best with the Suns. For perspective, in the 22 playoffs, Trae Young shot 31.9% and 18.4%, and GS held Tatum to 5 points below his season average and at 36.7%. Sometimes it's hard to tell when someone is "washed". I was encouraged this year when KD exceeded even his awesome career numbers, going 52.3/41.3/85.6%.

[vincecarter4pres]

This seems like another possible DFS scenario:

Read on Twitter

would imagine this projects as a pick 20+.

I’m with it.

[Eatgreenz]

Read on Twitter

[Netaman]

Read on Twitter

9 seems a little too high but in a bad draft who knows?

[NetsWorld]

We were going through a slump and tried but failed to play playing .500 until KD got back. I am not going to compare our 21-22 campaign to 22-23, we actually had a better shot in 22-23 than in 21-22 after that 18-2 stretch; BTW, in your 2021 favorites comment, you forgot to mention what the league DIDN'T want you to mention, Giannis intentionally hurt Kyrie. That's not an injuries just happen circumstance, that's a case of a player purposely hurting another player but Giannis was to loved league wide for Milwaukee to be hit with any kind of suspension. And yes, we would have won that ring if not for that dirty move. As far as Kyrie's contract extension, not a kyrie advocate but he was in a contract year and it's obvious he was going to perform for the money and Marks/Tsai egos got in the way. No body talks about how Tsai privately extended Marks contract in 2022 and Bob "the liar" from NetsDaily tried to downplay that when Kristian Winfield accurately reported it.

fixed the above for you. nobody's ego got in the way of that season except kyrie, as it has for him in every other situation he's ever been in. jimmy butler has done 10000x more for miami, somehow he managed to get through the trade deadline without demanding a trade. LOL if you think it is anyone other than Kyrie's ego that has been the problem with him over his career, in multiple stops.

that's inarguable.

the hypothetical we are talking about is what if kyrie's ego didnt ruin that season, which is kind of like "what if water wasn't wet" but i digress. you are assuming against all evidence that the nets somehow stay healthy and win 4 postseason series, including against Denver who pretty easily handled KD in the west. I see 0 evidence to support that.

You are getting defensive about facts which cannot be disputed; I am not denying Kyrie played a role in the dismantling of the Nets but Kyrie didn't ask for Giannis to injure him(which you fail to bring up and ignore completely). Also, it's a fact that Marks was given an extension and the FO kept it private, I wonder why(sarcasm). I give Marks credit for the 20-21 roster construction but in 21-22, he didn't surround the big three with good 3 and D guys, that's a fact. Carter sucked from the three-point line, as did Bembry, Green was no longer a Net. If I am Kyrie Irving and I am playing for a contract, yes I'd be upset too if the FO decides to hold off or give me a non-guaranteed deal. Kyrie's fault was the Summer of 2021, he should have taken the deal then but it is what it is. If He got his contract in February 2023, KD comes back healthy and they have a legit chance to win it all.

[Netaman]

We were going through a slump and tried but failed to play playing .500 until KD got back. I am not going to compare our 21-22 campaign to 22-23, we actually had a better shot in 22-23 than in 21-22 after that 18-2 stretch; BTW, in your 2021 favorites comment, you forgot to mention what the league DIDN'T want you to mention, Giannis intentionally hurt Kyrie. That's not an injuries just happen circumstance, that's a case of a player purposely hurting another player but Giannis was to loved league wide for Milwaukee to be hit with any kind of suspension. And yes, we would have won that ring if not for that dirty move. As far as Kyrie's contract extension, not a kyrie advocate but he was in a contract year and it's obvious he was going to perform for the money and Marks/Tsai egos got in the way. No body talks about how Tsai privately extended Marks contract in 2022 and Bob "the liar" from NetsDaily tried to downplay that when Kristian Winfield accurately reported it.

fixed the above for you. nobody's ego got in the way of that season except kyrie, as it has for him in every other situation he's ever been in. jimmy butler has done 10000x more for miami, somehow he managed to get through the trade deadline without demanding a trade. LOL if you think it is anyone other than Kyrie's ego that has been the problem with him over his career, in multiple stops.

that's inarguable.

the hypothetical we are talking about is what if kyrie's ego didnt ruin that season, which is kind of like "what if water wasn't wet" but i digress. you are assuming against all evidence that the nets somehow stay healthy and win 4 postseason series, including against Denver who pretty easily handled KD in the west. I see 0 evidence to support that.

You are getting defensive about facts which cannot be disputed; I am not denying Kyrie played a role in the dismantling of the Nets but Kyrie didn't ask for Giannis to injure him(which you fail to bring up and ignore completely). Also, it's a fact that Marks was given an extension and the FO kept it private, I wonder why(sarcasm). I give Marks credit for the 20-21 roster construction but in 21-22, he didn't surround the big three with good 3 and D guys, that's a fact. Carter sucked from the three-point line, as did Bembry, Green was no longer a Net. If I am Kyrie Irving and I am playing for a contract, yes I'd be upset too if the FO decides to hold off or give me a non-guaranteed deal. Kyrie's fault was the Summer of 2021, he should have taken the deal then but it is what it is. If He got his contract in February 2023, KD comes back healthy and they have a legit chance to win it all.

injuries happen. kyrie was injured in the playoffs with boston too. bad luck happens as was clearly evidenced in that series.

i agree they had a chance to win it all but it all comes down to how you define "legit". At best it was probably 1 in 10, but even that is probably high.

the fact you are ignoring like the plague is that they got swept in round 1 with both kyrie and kd healthy in 2022. you are attempting to get a lot of mileage out of the word "chemistry", and yet part of that chemistry is Kyrie. the roster was almost the same otherwise.

[NetsWorld]

fixed the above for you. nobody's ego got in the way of that season except kyrie, as it has for him in every other situation he's ever been in. jimmy butler has done 10000x more for miami, somehow he managed to get through the trade deadline without demanding a trade. LOL if you think it is anyone other than Kyrie's ego that has been the problem with him over his career, in multiple stops.

that's inarguable.

the hypothetical we are talking about is what if kyrie's ego didnt ruin that season, which is kind of like "what if water wasn't wet" but i digress. you are assuming against all evidence that the nets somehow stay healthy and win 4 postseason series, including against Denver who pretty easily handled KD in the west. I see 0 evidence to support that.

You are getting defensive about facts which cannot be disputed; I am not denying Kyrie played a role in the dismantling of the Nets but Kyrie didn't ask for Giannis to injure him(which you fail to bring up and ignore completely). Also, it's a fact that Marks was given an extension and the FO kept it private, I wonder why(sarcasm). I give Marks credit for the 20-21 roster construction but in 21-22, he didn't surround the big three with good 3 and D guys, that's a fact. Carter sucked from the three-point line, as did Bembry, Green was no longer a Net. If I am Kyrie Irving and I am playing for a contract, yes I'd be upset too if the FO decides to hold off or give me a non-guaranteed deal. Kyrie's fault was the Summer of 2021, he should have taken the deal then but it is what it is. If He got his contract in February 2023, KD comes back healthy and they have a legit chance to win it all.

injuries happen. kyrie was injured in the playoffs with boston too. bad luck happens as was clearly evidenced in that series.

i agree they had a chance to win it all but it all comes down to how you define "legit". At best it was probably 1 in 10, but even that is probably high.

the fact you are ignoring like the plague is that they got swept in round 1 with both kyrie and kd healthy in 2022. you are attempting to get a lot of mileage out of the word "chemistry", and yet part of that chemistry is Kyrie. the roster was almost the same otherwise.

Nets went 18-2 from November-December and started January off red hot and even beat the Warriors in Golden State without KD. Nets were playing very good basketball hence I said chemistry was building and the roster was not the same. Royce O'Neal was a good 3 and D player, Yuta was a much-needed addition, to go along with Patty Mills and Seth Curry. Those were key roster moves; but then Kyrie's contract and ego got in the way and that was the end of the Kyrie/KD Nets. In 21-22, that didn't exist when Kyrie couldn't play because of the mandate and Harden played with almost no shooters on the floor when KD got hurt.

[Eatgreenz]

Read on Twitter

[Netaman]

Read on Twitter

seems like an unlikely target this year/this summer, but maybe next depending on how things shake out.

not a guy id bet on for nets because i think they need to do something this summer/season to get guys like that to even consider coming here, and i think the most realistic "something" is going to be an upgrade at the guard spot.

more and more Trae Young feels like the best realistic fit unless Mitchell ends up not extending.

[Stone]

Now that Kenny Atkinson is the head coach of the Cav's, the odd of Mitchell getting moved have been substantially lowered.

The best course of action could be to go into 25-26 with deep pockets.

Really random but I could see us taking on a late first rounder like Jordan Nwora who I believe is a UFA. Or someone like him who is talented but never got a chance for whatever reason. There are some diamonds out there that just need a second chance and a change of scenery.

[Netaman]

The best course of action could be to go into 25-26 with deep pockets.

who's taking the money in 25-26 if they suck in 24-25 though? that's the problem. as is getting bridges to extend.

the people who want them to pick a path aren't wrong. bridges value goes down as he gets closer to free agency and he has a lot of mileage on him.

i dont think there was anything they missed out on last year and it was somewhat fair to think the long shot of ben staying healthy was worth not giving up draft assets. i dont think anyone is that much happier if they'd done the lillard deal for example and been the team to get bounced by IND round 1.

this year is a different story. pick a lane. trae, murray, garland, whoever. if not then they may as well trade bridges while they can for a good return.

[Netaman]

Pretty random but what does anyone think of something like this?

Smart at PG gives the team a little more identity. Nance is still a viable backup and an expiring. Get pick #38 to get someone in the draft.



This is sort of a pseudo-compete a little bit in 2024/2025 while keeping all assets available for follow-up trade/s.

Smart is a risky asset at this point but the advanced stats say the defense is still there. He can compliment Cam Thomas, though obviously it's a big risk to think either of them or Bridges can be the lead creator. If Cam Thomas keeps taking leaps a la Maxey you can start to squint at something interesting though.