Kevin Durant and Steve Nash had an extremely tough summer trying to deal with the Brooklyn Nets and each other. After KD requested a trade in the summer, the Nets spent a few months entrenched in every possible rumor that could be plausible. However, a lot of things were spilling over from rumors to actual facts.
One of these things was the revelation that KD wanted Sean Marks and Steve Nash fired, something Joe Tsai involuntarily confirmed by tweeting his support for his staff after the story had broken out. With KD agreeing to come back to the team, it may not be as water under the bridge as people expect.
The Athletic’s Joe Vardon has said that the Nets not making a real effort at trading KD and keeping Nash with KD on the same team can have detrimental effects on the Nets this season.
“At first, the Nets told Durant they’d work with him to fill his trade request. They took calls and fielded offers, but at every turn made outrageous demands of potential trade partners. They knew they could go back to Durant, shrug their shoulders and say, “Sorry, champ, we tried. You’re just too valuable. All the while knowing they were never serious. If they were, they would have taken a serious look at Boston’s offer of Jaylen Brown and Derrick White and negotiated from there. As you know, the Nets’ summer ended with Durant still in Brooklyn. And Irving. And Nash and Marks.”
Nash has to coach this team knowing his best player wanted him fired. Durant has to play knowing 1.) The Nets did not seemingly make a good-faith effort to deal him; 2.) His friend Irving could be out the door, if not this year in a trade, then next summer as a free agent. (h/t The Athletic)
Will The Nets Manage To Make It Through The Season?
If the team is healthy and on the same page, the Brooklyn Nets are arguably one of the best teams in the league. However, there are way too many questions about the franchise at the moment. Is Kyrie Irving motivated and ready to play 60+ games this season? Is Ben Simmons back from his nagging injuries? Finally, is Kevin Durant motivated to lead the Nets to a championship?
These questions are going to cast a dark cloud over the Nets until they can get on a court to prove us wrong. If Steve Nash lost the respect of KD, he will have to win his star player back. If he fails to do so, the team may have more issues than the ones on the surface that we all know.
It is imperative that both Nash and KD can let this summer go and focus on winning a championship this season. Maybe if that happens, the situation is remedied for now and in the future.
