Here’s a novel idea for Sean Marks, general manager of. Brooklyn NetsWhen he navigates Kevin Durant’s request to exchange superstars for some very specific teams: to hell with the power of the player.
Of course, say better than that. Communicating with Durant’s business manager Rich Kleiman uses charm and professionalism to help everyone work together to find amicable deals. Sing Kumbaya together. If necessary, the world pretends to be a puppy dog and a rainbow. Leak that Marks and Nets intend to work with Durant while trying to find the right return in Brooklyn, as has already happened.
Say what you have to do. But the real job is to push back the temptation to remotely care that Durant is anxious to play for this team or that team next time. heat or Sands Or a group of competing teams catches his whimsical eye.Durant was It was a disappointing year as part of Nets’ power structure, a partner trying to navigate the choppy waters of Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Ben Simmons.
He is now an asset and the greatest player ever in 4-4 years! -I left the contract. In fact, he reportedly demanded that Nets owner Joe Tsai, who was probably the most valuable player ever in the trade market at the time, sent off the Marks directly. Perhaps I didn’t keep in touch with the Nets front office all week long.
Does he want to play baseball?
No problem, Kevin. Here are some hard balls for you:
Heat on the team’s “Wish List” trades Bam Adebayo online as Ben Simmons cannot carry two players with the specified rookie extension as long as he is on the Brooklyn list. You can’t. And Bam doesn’t have to be comparable to trading. This is difficult, and moving Simmons now is, for example, Lakers Move from Westbrook. In addition, Bam / Tyler Herro / Duncan Robinson / picks are not enough, if possible.
-Sands’ potential offers (other “wishlist” teams) are equally unattractive returns for long-time Durrants tall players. First, DeAndre Ayton’s sign-and-trade hardcaps the net. Second, the Durant-Booker-aged-CP3 team is probably urging lottery picks even after a few years, as Ayton, Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, and even draft topics can be of little value. not.
seriously. Basically, why do you want Phoenix Suns last year when Simmons was replaced by Devin Booker and Chris Paul?
No, thank you. You are.
Several things are happening here at once, but they all show that for Nets, we need to push back the movements that give the transformed player power to the movements of all the power that the star player has.
First, Durant, who has a history of injuries and is set to turn 34 in September, has a four-year contract. A single possibility that if KD blew his MCL, was otherwise seriously injured, or simply retreated in terms of output, he would wake up in the morning in Brooklyn and agree to give some of it. There is no Iota refund. It’s a contract. That is the contract. He then gained safety in case of bad luck or sudden old age. Nets need to keep what they got-Durant for another 4 years, or a good return matches the value of Kevin Durant for those 4 years.
Second, the Nets under Marks exchanged a herd of young talent when they gathered Irving, Durant, and Harden, and Ben Simmons when they met Harden’s request. The list includes Jarrett Culver, Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwidy, D’Angelo Russell and DeMarre Carroll. The young team once played off and seemed to be one star interesting because they were truly competing. They also boasted a strong culture with ceilings.
So here Sean Marks bet everything on Durant and Irving and is now facing his superstar-as many have done these days-requesting an exit When Specific definition.
This brings us a third reality. GMs are expected to operate in the best interests of the team, but of course they operate themselves. Marks can’t deeply want a deal between a pick and a young player that he may not be able to see without surviving the wreckage after Killy and Durant.
KD played a hard ball and didn’t care about Nets’ future or Marks’ career by an ounce. fine. Everyone here is an adult. But why does Marks do anything outside the best interests of him and his team?
Marks was a team steward who had severely limited choices for years, a promising, young, candidate, and a potential trash can fire when Durrants changed his mood.
Therefore, there is one word that Marks must meet this latest demand on the Durrants wishlist: No.
Hoping Durant might take this route, I talked with NBA League sources this week about the idea of refusing to give in to the star’s exit demands. They encountered various reactions. can’t believe it. The star can simply shut it down, reminding Simmons that the net has a front row example. The devastating effect of a star who plays but does not try.
All valid points.
But Durrants’ desires have nothing to do with Nets. Meet your hard ball. Would you like to sit down? fine. Sit for the next 4 years. Do you want to play somewhere? understand. Go find the deal we want, not the front runner that suits your purely selfish needs. Want a ring elsewhere? Yes, we have seen the story from you. Understand that we are chasing our ring. Without the parts needed to make it possible, we won’t move you.
Talk to Grizzlies Whether they let go of some of their young stars and lots of picks that aren’t named Ja Morant. for example, Atlanta Hawks Swap the picks for Trae Young and Durant’s first round. Call Houston for all those picks.Ironically, the two most compelling packages actually Oklahoma City Thunder And that Golden State Warriors..Check if Boston Celtics I want to exchange KD for Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown (and some for Brown).
Explore all the crazy ideas. Trading KD for less than Nets needs is because it is more crazy, destructive, and likely to end badly, just as it did when it succumbed to the same demands of Harden.
Durant has already gone to the mattress with his GM. Now it’s time for Marks to remember that it’s not personal. It’s strictly a business.
And Brooklyn Nets is involved in the Brooklyn Nets business, not the fantasy of Kevin Durant’s next team.
