Charles Wenzelberg/New York Put up
By some means, regardless of all of the melodrama and hysteria, the Nets have managed to carry onto each Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Now they head into coaching camp with one of the best roster of normal supervisor Sean Marks’ tenure, essentially the most loaded for the reason that Jason Kidd period twenty years in the past.
However that alone gained’t get the Nets to the Finals like these Kidd groups, and it definitely gained’t assure the franchise’s first NBA title.
If the disappointing previous 12 months — which crescendoed this summer season with Durant’s commerce request and try and get normal supervisor Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash fired — has taught them something, it’s that expertise isn’t sufficient.
“On paper, we positively have among the finest expertise within the league, however as we’ve seen up to now, it takes greater than that,” Nets middle Nic Claxton warned this week. “So we’ve simply bought to come back collectively and simply all work in direction of the identical objective, which is profitable the championship.”
The Nets haven’t come near the championship that appeared a fait accompli once they landed Durant and Irving in 2019. And on the finish of June, it appeared as if Durant and Irving have been each gone, together with the Nets’ probability to win a title. Holding agency — and holding on to each stars — has given them that probability again.
Claxton is aware of full effectively there's nonetheless work and team-building to be accomplished to money in on that probability, beginning with coaching camp subsequent month.
“We simply have to have the ability to shut out the surface noise,” Claxton informed The Put up hours after Durant rescinded his commerce request. “Since I’ve been right here, it’s all the time been one thing. However we simply have to have the ability to shut that out and simply deal with everyone that’s contained in the constructing and deal with getting higher, constructing on and off the court docket. … We’ve simply bought to come back collectively and are available collectively as a unit.”
Frankly, it’s been some time for the reason that Nets have appeared a cohesive unit. They’ve extra intently resembled a group of impartial contractors.
Granted, the Nets practically overcame that in 2020-21 through the sheer offensive firepower of their Large 3. However they suffered a heartbreaking Sport 7 time beyond regulation loss to the eventual champion Bucks within the Japanese Convention semifinals after Irving and James Harden bought damage and Durant’s toe was on the road on a possible profitable 3-pointer in regulation.
Then Irving’s refusal to stick to New York Metropolis’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates led to Harden’s commerce request and undercut final season. The outcome was a disjointed marketing campaign, ending in a humbling first-round sweep by the hands of the Celtics.
After Durant threatened to burn the entire thing down by requesting a commerce, staff proprietor Joe Tsai held agency, and Durant’s resolve wavered. He capitulated following a Monday evening assembly in Los Angeles with Tsai, Marks and Nash. The Nets introduced Tuesday that Durant had rescinded his commerce request.
Claxton had been on trip horseback using within the Dominican Republic when he first heard about Durant’s commerce request, and he was simply leaving a morning exercise when he discovered the four-time scoring champ was coming again.
“I bought the information (Tuesday) like everyone else, and I’m excited,” Claxton informed The Put up. “It’s thrilling figuring out he’s coming again on board with us. I really feel like we’re going to have a very, actually good group. So, we’ve simply bought to get everyone collectively and lock in.”
Nic the OG
With Ben Simmons, Joe Harris and Seth Curry anticipated to be recovered from surgical procedures, and the addition of T.J. Warren and Royce O’Neale, the Nets may have their deepest roster of Durant’s tenure.
And Claxton, now getting into his fourth season, is lastly in line to be the first-choice middle.
After not getting a single begin as a rookie, the 23-year-old bought the nod as soon as in his sophomore marketing campaign and 19 occasions final season. Now, with veterans Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge gone and second-year professional Day’Ron Sharpe the one different middle on the roster, Claxton’s versatile, switchable protection stamps him as a front-runner for the beginning middle job. It’s a accountability he insists he’s ready for.
“I’m an OG now,” stated Claxton, instantly one of many longest-tenured Nets. “So I really feel like there’s much more that’s going to be placed on my shoulders. … I’m prepared for the problem. I’m prepared for the whole lot that’s going to come back with it.
“Truthfully it doesn’t [change my approach]. I imply, I nonetheless bought to point out up daily. I do know most likely much more will likely be requested of me, so I’ve simply bought to be prepared,”
After Claxton struggled via a nightmare 1-for-11 capturing evening from the free-throw line within the Nets’ season-ending Sport 4 loss to the Celtics, bettering on the stripe has been precedence No. 1 this summer season. Claxton centered on his free-throw capturing this offseason with Nets assistant Ryan Forehan-Kelly and Texas-based coach Tim Martin
“Simply my general recreation — in fact, free throws,” Claxton stated. “Engaged on my shot, getting stronger, after which simply persevering with to construct off these previous couple of years.”
That Sport 4 meltdown apart, Claxton improved his free-throw capturing from 48.4 p.c in 2020-21 to 58.1 p.c final season, together with 60.9 as a starter.
Simmons enjoying some middle in a smallball Loss of life Lineup just like the one Durant used to steer in Golden State has been mentioned.
Nonetheless, even when Nash does experiment with that, Claxton appears assured of surpassing his earlier profession excessive in minutes (20.7) on a roster in determined want of his protection — serving to the Nets attempt to change into the reliable contender he’s satisfied they are often.
Competitors for Claxton?
The Nets nonetheless have a league-high six open roster spots: all three Exhibit 10s, a two-way deal and two customary offers.
The Put up has reported Marks is trying so as to add a veteran backup massive man, and there's mutual curiosity with Markieff Morris. The 32-year-old Morris was restricted to 17 video games with the Warmth final season after getting injured in an altercation with Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.
The Nets additionally reportedly are eyeing Tristan Thompson, in line with HoopsHype. Thompson alongside Irving and Harris in Cleveland, and is represented by Klutch Sports activities CEO Wealthy Paul, who additionally reps Simmons.
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