The Nets completed one major piece of offseason business when they signed Kevin Durant to a four-year, maximum-salary contract extension worth nearly $198MM. Now, the team is shifting its focus to James Harden and Kyrie Irving, both of whom are extension-eligible too.
Speaking today to reporters, general manager Sean Marks said the Nets have engaged with both star guards about new deals and are “confident” that they’ll get something done before training camp begins in late September (Twitter link via Malika Andrews of ESPN).
It’s unclear if Brooklyn will simply put long-term, maximum-salary offers on the table for Harden and Irving, as the team did for Durant, or if more extensive negotiations will be required.
The largest possible extensions for the two stars would work out to $161MM over three years for Harden (starting in 2023/24) and a projected $186.6MM over four years for Irving (starting in 2022/23), according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link).
Here’s more on the Nets:
- Marks admitted today that he thought restricted free agent Bruce Brown might get a big offer sheet from another team that would make life difficult for the Nets (Twitter link via Brian Lewis of The New York Post). However, Brown – who accepted his one-year, $4.7MM qualifying offer – told him that “the job wasn’t done” in Brooklyn.
- While he acknowledged that the roster could look a little different in a month or two, Marks said the plan is “definitely” for DeAndre Jordan to be part of the team moving forward (Twitter link via Lewis).
- The Nets made defense a priority in free agency, according to Marks (Twitter link via Lewis). Lewis wrote about that subject in more depth for The New York Post, noting that in addition to re-signing Brown, the team brought in Jevon Carter, DeAndre’ Bembry, and James Johnson.
- Marks pointed to rebounding as an issue the Nets still need to address, whether via a roster addition or internally (Twitter link via Lewis).
Nets are more willing to spend money than Celtics, Suns and Rockets
Extension per year salary
Harden $54 million
Durant $50 million
Irving $47 million
3 players total $150 million per year
3 injury prone players for $150M, as long as they get a title it’ll be worth it.
True but its easy to pay players that are willing to play for you.
Trade Kyrie back to CLE
for Love and Sexton, etc.
You can actually look this up. So why just throw stuff out there. Salaries for 2021-22 NBA season
Harden — 44.3 mill
KD ——- 40.9 mill
Kyrie —- 35 mill
That’s 120.2 mill Total.
Article is right. Nets have to address their team D. I just don’t get why Jordan is not a part of this. Although I get they can probably get 2-3 guys for his salary. To help address their defensive woes. But no one is taking him unless they attach a player or pick. Nets are the team to beat in East. In the playoffs a 7 gm series. You can play them and set up gm plans. It will take a good D team with depth. But they can be beat. All teams stay healthy. I don’t see them coming out of East.
Totally agree, if they all extend … their salary just for those 3 will be around $150+/year.
Any sign and trade they do will def hard cap them for that year they do so, not sure why they didn’t trade Jordan before resigning the extensions since his salary slot will become so valuable.
I think this is the year they HAVE to win it all, going forward, depth will probably be a major issue if they have any sort of injury issue (and these players are def not spring chickens).
Simple answer. The Big 3 want DJ there. As for the answer for rebounding, if he can play to his former potential, he could be part of the answer. Another possibility is on their bench. Alize Johnson is a prolific rebounder.
Sign Harden first then tell Kyrie sorry all your pens ran out of ink!
Seriously tho, this is a reality Tv show under the hood so guessing which characters will reamin on the Island after the season is almost fruitless
Great job getting KD done already tho ! That was a master stroke that probably got a little lost in it’s gravity with all the action of last week
You should pass on extending Kyrie….
How many championships do the Nets need to win to make these high contracts worth it? IMO definitely more than one
I’m glad SOMEONE has a brain!
tryna be the Maple Leafs of the NBA