NBA: One big question for each team heading into the 2019-20 season

Brooklyn Nets

Can Kyrie Irving be the leader the Nets need without Kevin Durant? 

In the weeks leading up to NBA Free Agency, many were perplexed to hear that the Brooklyn Nets were creeping up the list of possible destinations for not only Kyrie Irving but also for Kevin Durant. On day one of free agency, both formally announced that they would be taking their talents to the “other” New York team.

The turnaround that we’ve seen from the Nets franchise over the last five years has been quite remarkable. Which makes the fact that Durant will likely miss all the 2019-20 season with an Achilles injury all the more disappointing. We’ll have to wait until next season to really see the real Nets.

Which leads us to this team’s biggest question heading into the season, which revolves around Kyrie’s ability to be the leader that this young team will need. Which was Kyrie’s big knock in Boston; he wasn’t the leader that their young core needed.

Nevertheless, Kyrie will have a new opportunity to change the narrative and win back some of his naysayers – not that he even cares about it. For the sake of the Nets, though, they’re going to need a well-behaved and productive Kyrie this season to even sniff the playoffs in a much-improved Eastern Conference.

Question is, is that the Kyrie Irving that they’ll be getting this season? It probably helps that Durant will still be in the locker room – and present, hopefully – but you can’t help but wonder if Kyrie is up for the challenge.