The Nets enjoyed their most successful free agent period ever this week, agreeing to deals with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan. The moves figure to make Brooklyn one of the Eastern Conference’s premier teams next season, one year after the Nets’ made the postseason.
Even with the likelihood that Durant misses most – if not all – of next season, Brooklyn figures to be in the hunt for a top seed. Current Net Spencer Dinwiddie, a crucial part of the franchise’s increased success as of late, reportedly played a major role in recruiting those aforementioned All-Stars.
For the first time, Dinwiddie addressed Brooklyn’s moves, giving a coy response to the nature of recruitment among NBA players today.
“The thing about the NBA, everything you read is plausible,” Dinwiddie said to The Athletic’s Michael Scotto. “And with that being said, obviously, it could’ve happened, it may not have happened.”
With the spotlight now shining on the Nets, Dinwiddie noted that the team expects to be in contention for not just a playoff spot but for a title in the coming seasons.
“Anytime you add two probably top-10 players in the world, multi-time All-Stars, you’re obviously going to get better,” Dinwiddie said. “It’s on the rest of us to kind of help facilitate that transition, and hopefully we can be a very good team next year.”
Check out more Eastern Conference notes:
- Even with cap space for two max contracts, the Knicks failed to lure any top-tier free agents to New York this summer. Marc Berman of the New York Post opines that the Knicks’ failures warrant an image overhaul of the franchise if it hopes to lure top players in the future.
- The Pistons plan to keep Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk on the roster, thus fully guaranteeing his salary for the 2019/20 season, Ben Stinar of Amico Hoops relays (Twitter link). Mykhailiuk’s minimum-salary contract had a guarantee date of July 5.
- After suffering a torn Achilles, C.J. Wilcox thought his career was over. At 28 years old, Wilcox – who re-signed this week with the Pacers – is in the midst of a comeback attempt, Robby General of the Indianapolis Star writes. “Eight months ago, I was done playing basketball after tearing my Achilles,” Wilcox said. “Now I have some level of a contract, which is something to be proud of.”
Reaaaaally concerned about how this is going to change the Nets team chemistry. Coach Kenny is super positive, but will also get on guys for lack of effort or mental mistakes, which has been good for this team, but I wonder how the mood will change when he challenges Kyrie for holding the ball too long or taking one of those wild heat-check shots. I would worry that a culture of accountability isn’t going to work if your star can’t take that — which seems like what happened in Boston with Kyrie. I love the Durant signing, and DJ could be real helpful, but I don’t see the fit between Kyrie and this really egalitarian offensive type of team. Anybody else feel that, too?
It’s reasonable to be concerned but Irving shot 53% on 2s and 40% on 3s so the problem can be overstated. Also, unlike the Celts, the Nets have a direct level non-lying communicator in Dinwiddie, not a pack of brats. The team can make room for Irving like they did with Levert then Russell.
Because Dinwiddie has a ton of experience being “honest” with superstar level players and the young guys won’t be brats at all especially when Jarrett Allen gets his playing time cut into because the less effective guy KD and Irving’s brought in has to play the center spot.
Allen knew an anti-Embiid center was coming in, as he showed no enthusiasm for that assignment.
“Marc Berman of the New York Post opines that the Knicks’ failures warrant an image overhaul of the franchise if it hopes to lure top players in the future.”
Gee. Ya think??
I thought the same. As if no one else figured that out.