If the state of the Brooklyn Nets could be described in one word, they would be described as “regrouping,” according to an article published by Bleacher Report on Thursday. One would obviously use a lot more than one word to explain what the Nets franchise is right now, but regrouping is one of the best words to sum it up.
At one point this season, the Nets were considered a contender for the NBA championship thanks to having a duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving along with a good cast of supporting players such as the much-improved Nic Claxton. However, once Irving and Durant wanted out for different reasons, Brooklyn had to do what they could to recoup value for those players and pivot their direction on the fly.
As of right now, with Mikal Bridges as arguably the team’s best player, the Nets are not considered contenders any longer. However, they are one of the more interesting teams to keep tabs on as they now have a good nucleus of young players and a good amount of draft picks that could accelerate their rebuild if General Manager Sean Marks and Owner Joe Tsai decide to plunge on a star or two. The way some see it, the Nets are a star or two away from getting back into the championship conversation. B/R gives it take on where Brooklyn stands right now:
“Brooklyn has the chance to map out a plan that won’t get upended or expire in a matter of weeks, if not days. What happens next remains uncertain. The Houston Rockets control the next four Nets first-round picks, the roster is now a hodgepodge of non-stars, and Ben Simmons’ ongoing decline is equal parts sad, awkward and confusing to watch.
Will Brooklyn look to remain competitive beyond this season? Might it immediately dangle some combination of the five combined first-rounders that it received for KD and Kyrie in another blockbuster package? Or is this Step 1 of a teardown that won’t give a flying-you-know-what about how many Nets picks the Rockets control?
Brooklyn traded one uncertain reality for another. But compared to the burden of the previous era, this new lack of surety feels more like choose-your-own-adventure optionality.”
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