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Sean Marks recently stated he’s been having honest conversations with his players as rumors of a possible trade for James Harden swirl.
“Our culture’s important,” Marks said. “Getting this group prepared in such a short time — I don’t know if it’s the ugly part of the business, the strange part, the awkward part, and I think it needs to be discussed. I’ve talked to several of our players about this. I’ve said, ‘Look, forget the rumors. Let’s just go out there and concentrate on what we have at hand — which is the group that’s here.’
“I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I said, ‘Nothing’s ever gonna happen.’ At the same time, they understand that this is a business. Let’s be prepared, and I sincerely mean it: I like this group that we have. The group’s been together for a while now and we continue to add some pieces to it. training camp is going to be competitive with the group we have. If things change, things change. But I think you have to have those honest conversations with players as things go and not just let those rumors simmer in the background.”
What’s strange about the Nets general manager’s comments is something Jarrett Allen recently said to Alex Kennedy of Basketball News.
First, Allen made clear he’s aware of the trade rumors like everyone else — which isn’t exactly a surprise.
“I hear about them,” he said. “It’s hard not to hear about them in this technological age with social media. But at that point, it’s like, what can you do about it? I’m not really focused on it. Either way, I’m going to have to play basketball and I’m just…like I said, it’s in the back of my mind.”
But then Kennedy asked, “Have you had any conversations with the Nets about the trade rumors or your status?” Allen simply replied:
“No. No, I haven’t.”
Seems odd that no one has talked to Allen when Marks is saying he’s having honest conversations with players about the rumors, and the big man is someone who has seen his name pop up more than once in the rumor mill.
Now, this could more speak to Brooklyn’s opinion of Allen. Maybe the idea of trading him is too farfetched to address the matter with him?
But that seems like a stretch — simply because if Marks is having “honest conversations” with players, shouldn’t he be talking to everyone and anyone who has any reason to believe their name is being brought up in trade discussions?