The Nets were swept out 4-0 by the Green Army, where will they go next? Recently, NBA celebrity Kevin O'Connor analyzed some of the Nets' suspense this summer. He thinks Irving's new contract may become the worst contract in the NBA, Simmons is a big variable in the Future of the Nets, and Durant may need to reflect on himself.
Should the Nets keep Irving?
Irving qualified for a maximum five-year, $245.6 million top salary contract this summer, and after being swept by the Green Army, Irving has already expressed his willingness to renew his contract with the Nets. So should the Nets keep Irving?
O'Connor pointed out that from a basketball perspective alone, renewing Irving seems to be a decision that does not need to be considered. In his three seasons with the Nets, Irving averaged 27.1 points, six assists and 4.7 rebounds per game, and at the age of 30, he is still a good scorer. However, his problems are also very obvious.
First, Irving's playoff performance was erratic. In the past three playoff trips (Green Army + Nets), Irving has averaged only 21.9 points per game, shooting 47.5% from two-point range and 34.7% from three-point range. He would play some highlights, such as a 39 against the Green Army G1, but he lacked consistency.
Attendance is also a big issue. In total, Irving has played just 103 regular season games over the past three seasons, with injuries and refusals to vaccinate him missing many games. In addition to the moody personality, how many problems will he have in the next five years? No one knows.
If the Nets don't want to keep Irving, a trade is almost the only way to go, because they can't let Irving leave for nothing. However, few teams are willing to take over this problem player, let alone at the cost of about $50 million per year for the next 5 years. O'Connor's conclusion is that Irving's new contract has the potential to become the worst contract in the NBA in the future.
Simmons is a variable of the future
The Nets' headache is that they are not the only problem players in their lineup, but Simmons is also a big question mark. He has yet to make his Nets debut, but his history is questionable. The national team and the university have had poor reviews, and the former owner 76ers have also been frustrated that Simmons has not improved on the offensive end for years. Simmons rejected the 76ers coaching staff's recommendation that he switch shots, temporarily back-aching and not playing G4, which also made the Nets acceptable.
Now it seems that the nets' most rational choice is to let Simmons play a season next year, see the effect and then decide the future operation. If Simmons stays, what can he offer? The first is defense. Take the series against the Celtics, for example, Simmons can defend Tatum, which allows Bruce Brown to defend Jaylen Brown, free Durant to defend a threat with less scoring ability, and KD can focus more on the offensive end. In terms of organizing the attack, Simmons also has a set.
O'Connor believes that in theory, the Nets are a good fit for Simmons, and Simmons has a certain deal value if he can play normally. He mentioned three potential future homes: jazz, rockets and lakers.
Durant needs to reflect on himself
The series against the Green Army was swept away in the first round of Durant's career. O'Connor argues that Durant needs some self-reflection. He did activate his organizational skills, but with mixed emotions, his personal offensive efficiency plummeted.
Durant's voice in the Nets' reinforcements is also worth evaluating. The Nets signed Jordan Jr.'s high-priced contract, sacked Atkinson, and promoted the use of young players as the core chips to exchange for Harden, all closely related to Durant. At the time, these operations seemed to make sense, but they proved to be huge mistakes. In particular, after Janet Allen left the Nets, he really developed into the kind of center the Nets wanted to have.
O'Connor pointed out that Durant is better off trusting the Nets' management's vision and judgment. They've actually done a pretty good job of signing and drafting. Acquisitions like Bruce Brown's, as well as the case of Thomas getting a late-first-round draft pick, should make Durant trust management's ability to try not to interfere in operations.
This season' Nets are one of the league's most disappointing teams. Next season, can the Nets, whose total salary may explode, also usher in an explosion in terms of record? Let's wait and see.