Nets guard Seth Curry acknowledged that a difficult road likely awaits Ben Simmons next season, as relayed by NetsDaily.com. Curry and Simmons were acquired from Philadelphia in a deal featuring James Harden last season. Simmons didn’t play a single game with either club due to personal reasons and a back injury.
“There are always challenges. Foremost, he has missed a whole season. It is going to be a challenge getting his rhythm back playing basketball,” Curry told Australian newspapers The Melbourne Age and Sydney Morning Herald.
“I don’t know specifically what he has been through, mentally – that’s hard for me to comment on – but having that year off, having that time off, of competing and playing five-on-five basketball is going to be just as hard … just taking some time and getting re-acclimated to playing high-level basketball, but he is a special talent, has all the skills. The Nets need him on the floor.”
Here are some other notes from the Atlantic:
- Brian Lewis of the New York Post explores where the Nets‘ sudden upheaval leaves head coach Steve Nash. Nash was hired with the intention of guiding Brooklyn to a title, but with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant‘s futures unclear, it’s unclear how much longer he’ll be tasked with managing a team led by multiple veteran All-Stars.
- The Knicks remain the most likely landing spot for Donovan Mitchell if he gets traded, Steve Popper of Newsday reports. Aside from Mitchell having ties to New York, the Knicks own a significant amount of draft capital and young players to offer in discussions. Mitchell is coming off a season where he averaged 25.9 points per contest — his second straight 25+ PPG campaign.
- The Celtics‘ offseason has received good reviews from rival teams in the Eastern Conference, as noted by Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com. Boston is essentially bringing back its defensive-minded starting five, packaging it with Grant Williams, plus new additions Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari. “(Brogdon) will be good for them,” a rival Eastern Conference general manager said. “Going to Boston, with strong people around him, unfortunately, yes, he’ll be good for them. I think he’s going to make them a lot better — which pisses me off.”
I must admit that 2 years ago, I did not expect the Knicks to be the more stable and well run NYC team in 2022.
@reflect- lol. I feel the biggest punishment for Durant is to trade him to the Knicks. Let’s face it he never wanted to play there. It definitely looks like a mistake to run after Kyrie and joining the Knicks.
If I’m the Knicks, I move on from Mitchell and try to make a run for Durant. If I got to trade 5#1’s I would trade them for KD, not Mitchell. I would rather have a 33 year old All-Star then a 26 year old good player. Anybody out there agree with me? Lmk
Agree if they were able to move Randle out in the process (w/out taking a further loss)
Might be too late for another team to want to take that swing.
In theory tho the value’s better if you can get the bite. I just don’t see Durant moving till next trade deadline tho at earliest making it all mute
Hard to determine what you’d be giving up.
Jazz have so far said they want McBride and Toppin plus 5 firsts. I’m sure the Nets would want an even bigger return for KD.
I think it would mostly have to include RJ Barrett as he is the best asset you have, I doubt they care for Juilius Randle much. Solely because if KD leaves it means buildings round Ben Simmons and I don’t see Simmons and Randle as a good fit whereas Simmons and Barrett I do.
So any deal for KD I’m guessing would have to look something like this:
KD and Cam Thomas for Evan Fouriner, RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Cam Reddish and 3 first round picks.
This leaving the Knicks with a starting 5 something like Brunson Thomas KD Randle Robinson and a bench of DRose McBride Keels Sims and Hartenstein.
Nets would look weird on paper but really young and promising especially after a Kyrie trade.
You run into the same issue you do with a litany of other potential KD trades: Is there enough left on the roster to contend?
In my Knicks case … is there enough to begin with?
Assuming Randle is involved (he’d almost have to be the make numbers work), and assuming Barrett somehow is not involved I still don’t know. Is a core of Barrett-KD-Brunson in contention next year?
Maybe one of KD’s pals somehow comes along with him to NY? But unclear who that would be at the moment?
Whereas in a Mitchell scenario, you at least have a year or two to potentially make that subsequent move – w/ KD the window is literally this second.
One guys dream is to someday play for the Knicks. The other guys has repeatedly mentioned how he has never considered playing for the Knicks. The Knicks are basically the one team Durant has singled out on multiple occasions to mention that he doesn’t want to play for.
He mentioned it once, or maybe multiple mentions but referring to one instance. And a few months before that instance, he was more than just considering it. Two things happened that bothered him and his buddy. That said, I assume he will certainly have no interest in coming to the NYK now, just has he will have none in going back to GSW. I also assume the NYK are OK with it.
Celtics are clearly a better team than Warriors
GP II is huge loss because none of Warriors youth is ready
Unless they are good next April
Celtics don’t get past a healthy Bucks team in my opinion.
Loads of per season hype for the Celtics and rightly so after a great finish to last season the run to the finals and then a great offseason.
Brogdan and Gallo look to be great additions however I still have doubts over this side.
I still Remember when they though Kyrie and Gordan Hayward alongside Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum would take them deep into the finals. Hayward got hurt and Kyrie was a cancer for them. Then they got Kemba Walker and again the hype went up and they didn’t live up to expectations.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see them struggle at times but in the end I think they will click and be good. But I’ve seen people saying it’s the best foster in the league and they are clearly better than everyone else and stuff. We haven’t even had a tip off just yet, let’s just bump the brakes and watch them first.
And if things don’t go to plan then I wouldn’t be surprised if they double downed and traded for a third young star to go next to Jayson and Jaylen.
Derrick White (15mil), Malcom Brogdan (22mil), Marcus Smart (17mil), Al Horford (27mil) and Rob Williams (10mil) all have really moveable contracts. If they start the year off slow and don’t click just like last year before they made the Derrick White deal don’t be surprised to see them go even bigger.
Myles Turner….Bradley Beal….RJ Barrett….DeAaron Fox ….DeAndre Ayton….Zion Williamson….Shai….
Maybe Ayton, although I think Boston will probably come out the gates well. Not sure I see the fit for any others listed.
Unless Williams is having serious health concerns, Turner is a downgrade. Beal’s contract is basically prohibitive. Don’t see Barrett, Williamson, or Shai hitting the market this season. And not sure Fox’s offense makes up for what he lacks defensively given Boston’s defense-first identity.
I agree that as of right now none of those guys are really good options to trade for. However if they start slow and can’t manage to turn it around then I wouldn’t be surprised if they made a big move for one of these guys.
Turner is on the market now, who knows what the situation is and will be with Ayton, CP3 and Monty Williams. Barrett is due for an extension maybe they have issues negotiating, Williamson could try demand out or something who even knows with him. Shai I could see on the move for the right price and Fox I also agree would be a downgrade and poor fit but if they got desperate….
I disagree, I feel Boston has slowly risen and taken a small step forward every year –
This is what championship arc usually looks like, tho the ring isn’t always guaranteed
I doubt Brogdon will be anything close to the issue Irving and Walker were. But Williams’ knee and depth at center is the biggest issue right now. I still believe a Dwight Howard would put them over the top, yet I still can’t picture that happening money-wise or even Howard wanting to play in Boston, where I think he’d be a fan favorite.
I still think Boston makes the most sense as a Durant destination. A modest package built around Brown would give Brooklyn the best “win-now” package by far, and Boston would still have more than enough in the cupboard to contend with Durant.
Offseason was good, but I’m not 100% sure Brogdon or Gallo are playing playoff minutes; health with regard to the latter, defense for the former.
If I’m Stephens I’m just saying to myself … “If we had KD in Brown’s place this past June is there any way we’re not having a parade?”
I agree on Bos but without the assurances of a Brown ext it would only give Nets 2 yrs of Brown.
If Brown had 3~4 years locked behind him I think it would make perfect sense for everyone.
What I find fascinating is somehow the 2 best teams in the league (Bos and GSW) have the best chances (assets) at KD and both will most likely pass.
Pretty uncommon for the modern era where asset depletion is usually used to climb to championship levels and furthermore a chance at landing a top 5 player is usually always taken if opportunity arises
* I think Atl {coulda} gotten it done before the Murray trade, tho for the price and risk, probably best they went the route they did early
Agreed – there would probably have to be some winking and nodding that Brown would be interested in extending for a deal to get done for sure
It is pretty ironic, especially given KD’s history, that he could possibly end up joining a team that at least made the Finals last season (again)
I think if Marks was looking for an Ainge-like return it would be a different story. And idk he might have to eventually settle of a pick heavy deal if KD really wants out and BOS/GS don’t have interest.
I think the C’s should bring in Rondo with injury history of Brogdon & Gallinari and personally have no real trust in Smart he could be that backed coach/player at pg and this team is going to go through injuries especially after a long season w/ a good playoff run
They still have White. Rondo would get zero minutes.
KD to the Knicks ……. WHY ????
You are ALL Sillymans lols
He’s 35 and we are not ready to contend. We need a Stud who is 27 or younger. Why Mitchell fits the bill. I’m not anti DM. But imo it’s too much to give up. I’d rather go for Wiggins. It’d be cheaper.
He’s not 35… lol. Trader Danny is a joke just because he completely ripped off the T-Wolves doesn’t mean he’s ripping off my precious Knicks. Toppin stays, Reddish goes with Fournier, Grimes, and Quickley with 3#1 draft picks and a couple of 2nd rounders. Take it or leave it. I can live without Mitchell. He’s no LeBron or Jordan.
Ben has to come ready. Nets don’t need another Kyrie situation. At 25 he is the Nets.
KD again running away is just who he is. He created this in Brooklyn. And now that it falls apart. He is running like the little Bi123 he is.
I really believe Ben and KD can make a nice combo forward. They get value for Kyrie. They can contend in East. Even with Russ. Stop running away and finish what you started.
I think if the Knicks acquire Westbrook and a future #1?for Randle and Fournier, then release him he would definitely sign with Nets. I agree trade Kyrie and get picks and and get a veteran player in his last season. KD, Sim, and Wes would definitely be a playoff team.