Many Nets fans are watching with envy as their vastly more celebrated neighbors to the west continue on their march to their apparent destiny, with the Knicks just three wins away from their elusive first NBA title in 53 years.
Great article, as always. I actually have a request for a future article.
What is your current assessment of Sean Marks? More specifically, do you think he's still the right person to lead the Nets, or is it fair to start asking whether a change might eventually be needed?
As a fan who lived through the Billy King era, I was immediately impressed by Marks. He seemed to understand asset management, player development, culture-building, and long-term planning in a way the organization hadn't before. Finding value in players like Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris, hiring Kenny Atkinson, taking chances on development, clearing Mozgov's contract, and ultimately laying the groundwork for Durant and Irving all felt like smart, forward-thinking moves.
At the same time, the last several years have been more mixed. Some of the big swings were understandable even if they didn't work out. The two Harden trades come to mind. More recently, though, it feels like Marks has developed a tendency to hold assets too long. Sometimes that patience pays off spectacularly, as it did with Mikal Bridges. Other times, players like Royce O'Neale or Dorian Finney-Smith seem to lose value while he waits for the perfect offer.
That's why I'm curious how you view him today. I still trust him more than most GMs because he rarely gets fleeced and generally has a coherent plan. But it also feels like some of his recent miscalculations are becoming a pattern rather than isolated mistakes.
Is Marks still one of the league's better executives, or has the league caught up to him a bit? I'd genuinely be interested in your take.
I’ve written several articles on Marks—you can find them in the archives search. Since he’s not departing any time soon, it’s pointless to rant about how he should be fired. I periodically rehash his hits & misses in posts about current events. I’ll have more to say after the offseason. Thanks again for reading.
Hi Steve,
Great article, as always. I actually have a request for a future article.
What is your current assessment of Sean Marks? More specifically, do you think he's still the right person to lead the Nets, or is it fair to start asking whether a change might eventually be needed?
As a fan who lived through the Billy King era, I was immediately impressed by Marks. He seemed to understand asset management, player development, culture-building, and long-term planning in a way the organization hadn't before. Finding value in players like Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris, hiring Kenny Atkinson, taking chances on development, clearing Mozgov's contract, and ultimately laying the groundwork for Durant and Irving all felt like smart, forward-thinking moves.
At the same time, the last several years have been more mixed. Some of the big swings were understandable even if they didn't work out. The two Harden trades come to mind. More recently, though, it feels like Marks has developed a tendency to hold assets too long. Sometimes that patience pays off spectacularly, as it did with Mikal Bridges. Other times, players like Royce O'Neale or Dorian Finney-Smith seem to lose value while he waits for the perfect offer.
That's why I'm curious how you view him today. I still trust him more than most GMs because he rarely gets fleeced and generally has a coherent plan. But it also feels like some of his recent miscalculations are becoming a pattern rather than isolated mistakes.
Is Marks still one of the league's better executives, or has the league caught up to him a bit? I'd genuinely be interested in your take.
I’ve written several articles on Marks—you can find them in the archives search. Since he’s not departing any time soon, it’s pointless to rant about how he should be fired. I periodically rehash his hits & misses in posts about current events. I’ll have more to say after the offseason. Thanks again for reading.
And if Acuff is gone .....who is your pick ?
many are saying M. Brown including No Ceilings
Brown would be fine, but riskier.