Nets 's offseason is quite calm, right? If we technically say, the biggest step they've made is to switch to Reus O'Neal . No coaching or management changes. No core players left. The Nets are content to adjust their roster to get their existing roster into the season.
would have been their best player who had the same idea. The offseason begins with controversial contract negotiations with Kyrie Irving . The mysterious point guard finally decided to choose to execute the last year of his contract, but before that, rumors of his reunion with LeBron James were rampant. Just when Irving 's future seems to have been confirmed, Kevin Durant asks to trade himself. There was no agreement in months of negotiations, so despite the best efforts of the stars here, Brooklyn has spent the entire offseason intact with no biggest player changes.
It creates a fascinating dynamic into the 2022-23 season. All the main players here have either played for another team recently or have been thinking about trading elsewhere over the past few months. We can’t know how happy a person is, or we can’t know how happy they will be together. The Nets may still be the same as before this season, so let's explore the future of this NBA's most unstable team.
Key changes
obtained on the 2022 trading deadline Ben Simmons will debut for the Nets on the first night of the game.
signs free agent T.J. Warren , Markieff Morris , Watanabe Yuta and Edmund Sumner .
is exchanged for Reus O'Neal.
The most important thing is: an unstable truce
Nets may have the most talented lineup in the NBA. This may not matter because of how fragile this talent seems. If Durant 's confidence in the Nets is somehow revived in the offseason, what if they scored a 50% win rate after 20 games? What will the team react if Irving is involved in off-court controversy again? Can Simmons play basketball?
This makes it almost impossible to predict any outcome of the Nets this season. The characters here have fickle personalities and are closely connected with each other. As long as a building block is pulled out, the entire tower may be overturned. If that sounds a bit exaggerated, remember that Durant himself signed a contract extension last season. James Harden from entering to being traded in about 13 months. Brooklyn's chaos is faster than anywhere else.
At least, Steve Nash can either make a hot start or feel the heat in the seat. Although the team owners publicly expressed their support for Nash during the offseason, the bosses tend to be more willing to take action when their luxury tax lineup fails to achieve the expected results. Brooklyn has several former head coaches, including Jacques Vaughan, who served as interim coach after 2020 Kenny Atkinson was fired. In fact, every major character on this team is likely to change positions at any time, which will force the team to quickly find their own chemistry.
Next, Ben Simmons changed everything
Let's put all the off-field questions about Simmons aside first, assuming he is healthy and devoted. It would be difficult to get him to join any basketball team. Philadelphia essentially had to cancel other players' perimeter ball-holding ability to maximize his ability. This is impossible in Brooklyn, and Durant and Irving need a lot of ball rights. How long will Simmons stay in the dunker position?
Considering the current lineup, there is no clear answer to this question. Nick Clarkston is the supposed starting center. He won't shoot. Although there will be Simmons and Durant as the titular big guys' small ball lineup, in order to protect their bodies, such a lineup should be used with caution. Is there any potential deal here? If the ambiguous relationship between Pacers and Lakers is a hint, it is Myers Turner is very available.
It will take some trial and error to piece together all the clues. Fortunately, the Nets have integrated Simmons as much as possible. If there is any formula that will make him win, then start here.
One more thing: Who is healthy?
Durant has played 90 games in the past three seasons. Since 2017, Irving has not played more than 67 games in a season. Simmons, Joe HarrisH and Seth Curry have all finished their surgery. Simmons is the only player in his 20s among the five.
Every team has to face injuries. The Nets first trade Harden is a form of insurance: having three ball-holding superstars makes it happen to you that there are not enough balls on any night. For this year's Nets, things are not that simple. Their style of play may change dramatically depending on who can play.
Will the injury of Harris and Curry make the small lineup Brooklyn used to support Simmons more complicated? Will Simmons increase or decrease the ball holding? This makes Brooklyn's medical problems particularly prominent. Of course, they may or may not have a full roster in April, but it is true for every team. But Brooklyn needs as many full-staff as possible to figure out what exactly they have here. Inconsistencies caused by those persistent scratches and abrasions are likely to be detrimental to the development of on-field chemistry.
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