Look at it from the Nets perspective. It makes no sense for them to be bad, since they don't have their picks. They are going to ask for a bunch of contributing players in a Durant and Irving trade, like Ayton, etc. Hell they could move Irving / Durant to LAL for Westbrook and AD. Its a fantasy to believe we are going to be getting top five picks from them for the next half decade.
2024 unprotected pick 2025 swap 2026 unprotected pick The swap will be worthless, so two picks...one for Bridges, one for the unprotected this year.
this is the greatest thing I have ever heard. I can't wait to watch Kyrie and Ben Simmons try to carry that team. Additional karma for Simmons, too.
Miami was typically in the lotto after they won the title and even had one of the worst records in basketball one season. The Cavs were the Cavs. The Lakers were a poor team for half a decade and couldn’t sign any top free agents. Yes, LeBron handpicked his spots but a comparison to him and what KD is a bad one.
The nets have no reason to tank, but reality is they gonna suck especially after KD and Irving leaves. There are no 1 for 1 trade for KD, picks can't contribute, so it's reasonable to assume after those two folks leave, they are gonna suck whether they want to or not.
The Nets should worry about themselves more than not giving the Rockets good picks. If they can get a team to offer 3 picks and 4 swaps, they should do it over picking up guys that would put them on the treadmill of mediocrity. If they can get a team to offer star for star swap, they should do it....but I see that as doubtful. Ideally for them, they should try to get Rockets as a third team to recoup some of their picks/swaps.
that would be a lottery team for sure, please do it. i'd love to watch russ and ben simmons try to play together.
And I think you guys underestimate that teams are bad because they choose to be bad. Brooklyn will never choose that without their own picks. They could literally flip Durant for Donovan Mitchell, or Jalen Brown, or Ayton. They could move Irving for try hard Westbrook They will have pick packages to flip for other pieces. If they have no incentive to bottom out, they won't.
Yep. There's no incentive for them to completely bottom out. Sean Marks isn't a stupid GM and they'll probably embark on the pre Harden era plan.
I don't think they would choose to be bad, but as the last 2 years showed it doesn't take long for stuff to go sideways despite your best intentions. I have a hard time thinking of them getting comparable win-now value back for Durant - they have to get picks back just to replenish
