Many Nets Questions Will Finally Be Asked Next Week—Unless Team “Knicks-es” Press Conferences
In one week, NBA Media will descend on the Nets HSS Practice Facility in Industry City hoping to finally get some answers.
Following a disappointing 2021-22 campaign that ended with an ignominious sweep at the hands of Boston in the first round of the playoffs, the Nets went through a rollercoaster offseason. Until late August, the fates of superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were up in the air. Irving was perturbed when he didn’t receive the same terms in a max extension that KD got last year and then couldn’t find a team willing to execute a sign-and-trade for him, so he was forced to settle for opting into the final year of the free agent contract he signed in the summer of 2019. Don’t feel too sorry for him—Kyrie is slated to earn about $36.9 million this season.
More problematic was that Durant was just plain perturbed. Few know why, and they haven’t been talking. Just before the start of the free agency market, KD went to owner Joseph Tsai to request a trade. The ensuing drama had multiple twists and turns, at one point devolving into a leak that claimed Durant gave Tsai an ultimatum: Fire General Manager Sean Marks and Head Coach Steve Nash or he wasn’t coming back.
At the end of the day, though, all sides kissed and made up, according to a statement released by Marks on August 23. Or did they?
I know my former colleagues on the Nets beat (as well as those in the national media) are chomping at the bit for the opportunity to ask about the entire kerfuffle and other matters next week. Unfortunately, it’s not a given that they will get it.
We know that on the other side of the East River, the media is treated with the utmost disrespect. Knicks President Leon Rose has never been interviewed since taking over in March 2020 with the exception of two staged appearances with MSG announcer Mike Breen. More troubling was the Garden’s decision to close the July introductory press conference for newly acquired free agent Jalen Brunson to all outside media content providers. What were they afraid of? Too many questions about a prospective trade for Donovan Mitchell? Good grief.
Since the NBA hasn’t ever deigned to ding the Knicks organization in any way for failing to meet their obligations, you have to wonder if the Nets noticed. Will they use it to avoid subjecting Durant, who has a reputation for being sensitive to criticism, to a major grilling in this prominent of a setting?
At some point, I believe all of the principals are likely to talk. Whether they will get it over with on Media Day like ripping off a Band Aid or they attempt to delay things will be determined.
The Nets have a mixed history when it comes to player accessibility. In their inaugural season in Brooklyn and then through the lean years, they welcomed all exposure. Deron Williams may have made the media wait at his locker forever and a day past their deadlines, but he understood his role as a team leader. Brook Lopez was another standup guy. And I’ll never forget Jeremy Lin being escorted to two separate Media Day sittings, including one just for Asian media. However, in that one nutty 2013-14 season with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, all bets were off as to who would make himself available on a given night.
The superstar treatment returned to Brooklyn after the Clean Sweep of 2019—a good portion of KD’s Media Day time last year was wasted when David Letterman invaded the proceedings for a bit that was more annoying than amusing--though to be fair, the Nets staff has made an honest effort to be accommodating in most cases, with Irving’s COVID-19 obstinance and subsequent media avoidance last season a rare exception.
Hopefully, the Nets won’t “Knicks” (pun intended) next week’s event, because these are the top five questions which MUST be addressed:
1) Why did Durant want to be traded?
2) What made Durant rescind his trade request?
3) What makes Nash believe he can make amends with his best player after such a public rebuke?
4) Does Irving understand that his absences since he’s become a Net were likely a major factor as to why the team balked at offering a max extension?
5) Where is Ben Simmons mentally and physically and why hasn’t he improved his shooting since he entered the league?
Obviously, there are a number of other major story lines as this team prepares for another season with the highest of expectations. Marks has yet to put the finishing touches on the roster, which lacks depth at center in a conference that boasts beasts like Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. Marks is also counting on a bunch of players besides Simmons who are recovering from severe injuries, such as Joe Harris and T.J. Warren.
No, don’t expect it to be smooth sailing in 2022-23. There will be plenty of time to talk about it. For next week, though, the fans have a right to know why this offseason was so turbulent.