Now that Kevin Durant has rescinded his commerce request and that all-encompassing melodrama has been put to mattress — at the very least, the Nets hope it has — there are nonetheless loads of inquiries to be answered.
Q: So cling on: Durant needed Nash/Marks fired. So, what occurred? And is every part actually OK now, or is that this an uneasy truce?
A: There's actual peace. No less than that’s what they’re claiming.
“We wish to construct an enduring franchise,” a extremely positioned Nets supply instructed the Publish, “so this isn't nearly this 12 months.”
Durant and his enterprise associate Wealthy Kleiman met with the Nets braintrust Monday in Los Angeles. The minutes of the assembly aren’t accessible, however a Nets supply mentioned this isn’t simply an uneasy cease-fire or non permanent answer till a Durant deal is discovered. They insist he’s re-invested long-term.
Q: How does the staff look now as a contender? The place do the Nets rank within the East?
A: Proper close to the highest — at the very least in accordance with Las Vegas. They’re behind solely the Celtics — who swept them out of the primary spherical of the playoffs — and the Bucks, who beat them within the 2021 Japanese Convention semis en path to their title.
The Nets’ odds to win the NBA championship halved from 18/1 to 9/1 after the information broke that Durant will keep put, per Caesars Sportsbook. These odds transfer the Nets forward of the Lakers for the fourth-best to win the title, behind the favored Celtics (+450), the defending-champion Warriors (+650), and the Suns (+800), Clippers (+800) and Bucks (+800).
For perspective, the Nets are +700 to win all of it at BetMGM, the identical worth they opened at in mid-June. They’d been +1600 on Monday, and had been +4000 earlier this summer season when the hysteria over Durant’s commerce demand had reached a fever pitch.
Q: What occurs if the Nets begin the season … and Durant continues to be depressing … and he says he desires out once more?
A: The straightforward reply is to say they’re all proper again to sq. one, but it surely’s not that easy. This course of has been ugly at instances, but it surely’s made it abundantly clear what the market is for Durant and the way near-impossible will probably be to get a deal executed. Either side are believed to have to return by means of it with an understanding that — no matter variations stay — proper now they're one another’s best choice.
Q: Does Durant returning make Steve Nash safer (as a result of Nets proprietor Joe Tsai backed him) or does it put him on shakier floor (as a result of now he has to educate star gamers who he is aware of don’t need him as their coach)?
A: Nash simply has to fret about doing his job. If Durant wanting him fired didn’t sway Tsai, then it’s arduous to imagine a repeat request or Kyrie Irving gripe could have a unique final result. Tsai didn’t get to be a billionaire by being a pushover, as Durant found.
Extra to the purpose, Nash was outcoached by former assistant Ime Udoka in final season’s sweep by the hands of Boston, and will miss hardworking former assistant Jordan Ott. The stress on Nash will probably be to carry out. If he does that, it is going to presumably go a good distance with Durant.
Q: Are the Nets executed constructing their roster now?
A: Not shut. Not by a protracted shot.
Sure, they let their DeAndre Jordan commerce exception expire final week, however the Nets have six open roster spots, tied for probably the most in all the NBA — three Exhibit 10s, a two-way and two commonplace spots. The primary domino could possibly be David Duke Jr., who rejected their two-way provide and is holding out for the standard deal. However they nonetheless should fill out the remainder of the roster.
Nic Claxton — whose begins have gone from zero to at least one to 19 in his three years within the league — has proclaimed himself able to seize the middle spot. However with DayRon Sharpe the one different 5 on the roster, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them search for a backup/competitors for Claxton. And in the event that they needed to appease Durant, they may usher in Carmelo Anthony, a transfer he’s needed them to make.
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