We check in with the Brooklyn Nets and explore whether they’ll be able to overcome their offseason dysfunction to contend in the Eastern Conference.
On paper, there aren’t many teams in the NBA with as much talent as the Brooklyn Nets have. But there have been many times in the past when teams in the NBA with high ceilings (on paper) fall dramatically short once the actual basketball begins.
One of the biggest questions facing the Nets this season is whether or not they’ll be able to avoid being one of those teams.
Can the Brooklyn Nets come together quickly?
So, can the Nets put the dysfunction from the offseason in the past? That won’t be easy. Even though they’re all professionals, there are very real human feelings that play a big part in building, maintaining, and then developing a team. The Nets aren’t special or any different.
We saw some of that toward the end of last season when they were swept unceremoniously in the first round of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics. The Nets may be physically all on the same page once training camp opens, will they be on the same page mentally and when the real action begins?
The Brooklyn Nets had an eventful offseason
The Brooklyn Nets had quite the offseason. It all began with the idea that a Kyrie Irving trade could be considered after the two sides failed to agree to a contract extension, and then quickly escalated when Kevin Durant demanded a trade.
After roughly two months of playing the “will they or won’t they” game when it came to a possible Durant trade, a meeting between the two sides somehow resulted in something worse – an ultimatum from KD.
It was reported that Durant wanted the Nets to either trade him or keep him and fire the general manager (Sean Marks) and head coach (Steve Nash). Ultimately, Nets owner Joe Tsai decided to side with the front office and made a strong effort to patch things up with Durant.
For whatever reason, it worked and it was most recently reported that Durant was going to play for the Nets this season. After a rollercoaster of an offseason, the supposed dynasty is back on for the Nets.
Though, with as much drama as the offseason contained for the Nets, you’d have to wonder if the damage was already done internally. But it’s not all doom and gloom for Brooklyn heading into the new season.
Ben Simmons and an altered ceiling
The offseason aside, if there’s one thing that the Nets can be genuinely excited about heading into this season, it’s Ben Simmons. He’s on track to be healthy and ready for the start of training camp and that will likely give this team an early-season jolt.
When he’s been healthy and engaged, Simmons has been consistently one of the better players in the league. And on both ends of the floor. He often gets thrown in a box because of his lack of 3-point shooting, but he does so much more on the offensive end of the floor in transition and as a playmaker to be labeled a bad offensive player.
And in the right system, the hope is that he can get back to that level.
Defensively, he has all the tools to be great. And he’s proven that at times throughout the first few years of his career. On a team where he doesn’t have to be the focal point, he will be set up for success on that end of the floor.
Simmons undoubtedly raises the ceiling for the Nets this season. But how much will depend on how he looks once he hits the floor. Despite all his upside, this is still a player that hasn’t played in a game in over a year.
On paper, the Nets should be considered a championship contender in the Eastern Conference. We’ll find out soon if they can translate that to actual on-the-court success.