It improves our pick by however much this year (perhaps more than a couple of picks), but more importantly when you combine James's health, Kyrie's situation, and Kevin's inevitable injury that's coming...not this one... all the signs are there. Add to that Post Season failure...An EXIT STAGE LEFT, with us holding all the cards grows in likelihood.
Nets-Warriors Finals is going to be so so so lit. Durant (joined and left), Harden (nearly unseated them without a super-team), Irving (beaten them in the Finals with the clutch game winner too) have such unique story lines related to the Warriors, the drama will be crazy. Hope our pick is as high as possible though. Looking at the East it's highly likely Miami and Philly will get better while Bucks are always good. BKN might chill in 4th place, the only homecourt worth anything is vs the Bucks, and if that's out of hand in 4 weeks I feel like they will not push hard in the regular season given all the winning playoff experience on the squad.
That Harden injury didn't look good. Not that it was a bad injury but it appeared to be a non contact muscle pull of some kind. Gotta start taking elite care of his body all year long or it will deteriorate.
“It must be noted that there is enough noise circulating leaguewide about Harden's reported openness to quitting on another team.”
It must be noted that there is enough noise circulating leaguewise about Harden's reported openness to take his newly found injury proneness to a new location.
Great news if true. Ideally the Nets keep dropping in the standings improving our pick this year, the Nets flame out again in the playoffs, and then Harden leaves them, improving our odds at better picks. That would be lovely!
I said he will never win a ring as an alpha and now we know he probably wont win one as a beta. Okc days the last time he was in the finals and the next time he will be is probably as third option „you can change who you are but thats just the top layer”
That's the least Harden owes us for how he left us! Would be fitting for him to stick it to the Nets and head to the West Coast or Philly.
I hope he leaves Brooklyn so I can actually root for him. Despite his shitty behavior on the way out I still have love for Harden, but the rockets will always come first, so I'll never root for Brooklyn to succeed. But I'd like to be able to root for him on another team.
It’s no secret given Kyrie is a nut job and Durant is a walking injury he will reunite with Morey . That or he will go to the Clippers to finish his career in Los angles
You know if a guy like Harden is available the Lakers would roll out the red carpet for him. Then I REALLY wouldn't be able to cheer for him.
You know I was thinking that too since they've been riddled with problems and inconsistency. But then when I saw they're somehow still 2nd seed with Harden a shell of himself to start and Kyrie just starting to play half the games. No one is beating these guys if they're healthy man. The warriors of course have historically magical chemistry, I had them making the finals before the season started when people had them somewhere in the 4-10 seed range. I don't personally like them but it's silly to deny them on that basis. They have reinforcements coming and their stars have another gear for the playoffs. It will be sad but they won't lose more than 4 games before the Finals. You may have a feeling it's not going to happen, but clearly the data is saying: holy fck they're so good.
Harden remains invested in competing for the title in Brooklyn this season, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation. But Harden has recently informed several confidants—including former teammates and coaches—of his interest in exploring other opportunities outside of Brooklyn this summer, league sources told B/R. "James isn't going to hold back," said a person familiar with Harden. "He's gonna tell you where he stands." Harden has been vocal to Nets figures and close contacts alike about his frustrations regarding Kyrie Irving's part-time playing status. A recent injury to Kevin Durant has exacerbated the issue, leaving Harden to shoulder the majority of the offensive burden during Brooklyn home games. Nets coach Steve Nash's fluid rotations have also disappointed Harden, sources told B/R. Nash has favored hot-hand closing lineups, rather than a fixed crunch-time unit. His new city could also be an issue. According to multiple sources, Harden has not enjoyed living in Brooklyn, compared to his days as a central Houston magnate. Outside of the change in climate, the chasm between state taxes in New York versus Texas is quite obvious as well. To be clear: There has been no trade request. A Nets-Sixers deal is highly unlikely to materialize prior to the deadline. Yet Harden's apparent openness to joining Embiid and reuniting with Philadelphia president Daryl Morey will loom over the Sixers' trade conversations for Simmons these next three weeks. A potential sign-and-trade for Simmons this offseason, was noted by Bleacher Report back in early December. If Harden were to reach free agency, teaming with Embiid in Philadelphia would present one of the few situations that could offer Harden a similar chance to capture the championships he desires. Since his Rockets days, Dwyane Wade's three titles have long been somewhat of a self-imposed benchmark for Harden's career. His connection to Morey is clear, and Harden is also known to hold a relationship with Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin. Philadelphia is not necessarily holding onto Simmons to acquire Harden this summer, sources said. But it seems both the Sixers front office and Harden himself are viewing that potential marriage as a backstop for their respective futures. Philadelphia officials and executives across the league continue to monitor Bradley Beal's status in Washington.
