Brooklyn Nets: Super team to Super trash!

Brooklyn Nets: Super team to Super trash!

The Brooklyn Nets are now facing a harsh reality. Five years ago, we were talking about Brooklyn's chance of winning a championship. This was when they signed Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. They missed the first season due to injury, and the second season they were healthy. Then, at the start of the 2020–21 season, we all remember the news of James Harden getting traded to Brooklyn. Everyone thought we were about to see a super team. We are now dealing with another stacked team after the death of the Warriors. But COVID happened, which took Kyrie out of action. Along with Kevin Durant having his toe on the 3 point line, which ended their postseason against the Bucks'. In the 2021–22 season, James Harden demanded out. It seems like something was off in Brooklyn as players started asking to be traded. The Nets, in a desperate move, traded James to Philadelphia and got disgruntled star Ben Simmons. In the mid-season of 2022–23, Kyrie Irving was traded to Dallas. Kevin Durant got his way out in a trade and went to Phoenix. The Nets have found themselves in a new situation.

The Nets have regrouped from these trades. They fired Steve Nash and promoted Jacque Vaughn. The Nets got Dorian Finney Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie from Dallas. They also got Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson off the Suns. They finished last season strong, as they made the sixth seed in the playoffs. This put optimism in the hearts of Nets fans. Mikal Bridges was expected to make the All-Star game and be the Most Improved Player. But the Nets have not met expectations. Brooklyn has been trash so far this season, as they are the 11th seed in the East. The Nets have no room to be trash as they do not have their draft picks. They owe their picks to Houston, which they gave up for Harden.

Due to the Nets not having draft picks, it has forced Brooklyn to compete. They have to win games so they do not have to give up lottery draft picks to Houston. Because of this, they had to trade for Dennis Schroder. They also have to hope that Ben Simmons can stay healthy. And they extended Cam Johnson to a four-year, $108 million deal. Rumor has it that they refused to trade away Dorian Finney Smith and Mikal Bridges. If that is true, then the front office is on drugs. Sean Marks is great at drafting players and bringing players up from the G League, but he is weak at hiring personnel. Joe Tsai has shown that he is incompetent. He wants to build around Mikal Bridges, which does not make sense.

Building around Mikal Bridges does not make sense. He is 28 years old and entering the prime of his career. He is what he is at this point. At best, Mikal is a 3rd or 4th option on a championship team, but the Nets are insistent on making him a center piece. Yes, he has increased his points per game this year due to having the ball more. Bridges has a weird reputation for being a good defender, which he has not been this year. This might be because he has taken on more of a load on offense. He does not score enough to carry a franchise to anything note-worthy. The expectations of Bridges winning MIP have failed. A high-end role player is the perfect way to define him. Ben Simmons is another guy who has not met expectations.

From comparison to LeBron James and Magic Johnson to now being forgotten. Ben Simmons is not the star we thought he would be. After losing in a horrible fashion against the Hawks, we all wanted Ben to bounce back. Joel Embiid and Doc Rivers threw the three-time All-Star under the bus. He got his wish as Philly traded him to Brooklyn. We find out that he was having back problems. Fans thought it was pure bullshit, and he is faking it. It turned out it is true. Ben has lost his athleticism. Never developing his jumper, it has stagnated his game. Now, it seems like he can be a high-end role player. Not only does he lack confidence in shooting a three, but he doesn't even look at the rim. He is one of the most confusing players I have ever seen. His contract does not help the Nets in the future. It is untradable. The only positive thing about the Nets future is Cam Thomas.

Cam Thomas has shown signs of being a good scorer. He is great at taking players off the dribble. But the problem he has faced is that Vaughn did not play him consistently. Which does not make sense since the Nets need to win. Cam has had stretches where he looks like an All-Star. Yet he has had moments where he is inconsistent. Thomas is only 22 years old and has a lot to add to his game. Kevin Ollie could play Cam more and let him develop. He is the only untradable player on the team. The Nets have many role players they could trade.

The Nets have many players they could have trade away. Guys like Lonnie Walker IV have continued to be a solid player since his Laker run. Dennis Smith Jr has found himself a role on the Nets. After dealing with many injuries and trades it is good to see DSJ find a role in the NBA. Nic Claxton has become the franchise leader in rebounds. He is a good young center in the league. Cam Johnson is known for his shooting. Dennis Schroder is a solid point guard who is good off the bench. Dorian Finney Smith who is a good two way player. The Nets have solid role guys who can play for contenders. But, a roster made up of role players will not go far. That is the problem that the Nets have faced.

The Brooklyn Nets have a lot of talented role players. But, they do not have a star on their team. That is what limits the Nets from competing. The Nets are stuck. Brooklyn sucks which is why they will not win games. And they are too good to lose games. Now, they have fired Vaughn and promoted Kevin Ollie. The Nets are desperate to make a play off run. The franchise's best course of action is to release Sean Marks. The Nets need a guy with a new vision. Joe Tsai should not be hands on with organization decisions. The future of the Nets is bleak. There is no brightness in the dark future.

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