1 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:22,640 What is up, fellow thermonuclear a Eppers. I am dam Pavalley coming at 2 00:00:22,679 --> 00:00:28,679 you with an emergency ish YouTube live slash which will eventually be a podcast slash. 3 00:00:28,719 --> 00:00:37,320 This will be me crying irreversibly about how you know, Kevin Durant ruined 4 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:43,359 our YouTube or report cards for the Atlantic Division since we went through with the 5 00:00:45,119 --> 00:00:50,079 with the Nets, and clearly their grade is going to be impacted by whether 6 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:53,560 or not he was going to stay, and he's going to stay. So 7 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:57,359 that's the moral of this podcast. Very quickly, hit that subscribe button if 8 00:00:57,359 --> 00:01:00,759 you're new around these parts, even though no one is in here right now 9 00:01:00,759 --> 00:01:03,480 as I'm talking. Just did this very impromptu, like the video, drop 10 00:01:03,519 --> 00:01:06,719 a comment, help us break the algorithm, but please, it means the 11 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:11,680 world if you would just subscribe. Let's get into this Kevin Durant nonsense, 12 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:14,599 whatever whatever we want to call it at this point. Is this the end? 13 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:18,480 Is it actually the end? So the NETS released a statement that Kevin 14 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:22,400 Durant's agent, Rich Climate, along with Kevin Durant, and then Joe Si 15 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:26,680 and general manager Sean Marks met with Kevin Durant and I think it was Los 16 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:32,400 Angeles on Monday and Kevin Durant agreed to stay with the franchise and that in 17 00:01:32,439 --> 00:01:38,280 the end they're committed to building a winner in Brooklyn. This comes weeks after, 18 00:01:40,439 --> 00:01:44,000 weeks after Kevin Durant request I think over a month ago at this point. 19 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:49,879 I remember when it was when Kevin Durant requested a trade. It's hysterical 20 00:01:49,079 --> 00:01:52,920 because I think this is, you know, this is going to be a 21 00:01:52,959 --> 00:01:57,760 win in the sense for teams and their governors to show that stars don't necessarily 22 00:01:57,799 --> 00:02:02,040 have the ultimate finals. Say, kevindur had four years left on his deal. 23 00:02:02,239 --> 00:02:06,040 He named the Miami Heat and the Suns that we know of his teams 24 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,159 he wanted to play for, and Boston was kind of floating around the ether, 25 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,919 and if Janalen Brown was actually available, it makes you think that Kevin 26 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,400 Durant actually would have wanted to go to Boston. Otherwise, why else give 27 00:02:15,439 --> 00:02:20,039 him give that up? But this is pretty much proof that the Nets drawing 28 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:24,120 that hard line in the sand worked with Kevin Durant having four years left on 29 00:02:24,159 --> 00:02:29,000 his contract. I don't think that this was some sort of revelation on Kevin 30 00:02:29,039 --> 00:02:31,680 Durant's part where they're all of a sudden aligned on the same vision. He 31 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:36,479 was pissed that they fired an assistant coach that he was close with. He 32 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,919 was either pissed at Kyrie or pissed about how they handled the Kyrie Irving situation. 33 00:02:39,159 --> 00:02:44,199 We know that Kyrie Irving is committed to the franchise because he had no 34 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:49,560 other options. And so the two immediate things that spring to mind here for 35 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:54,639 me is if the Nets stayed together, where are they in the MBA the 36 00:02:54,759 --> 00:03:00,639 NBA title race? And two like, is actually over? Like are there 37 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:06,879 any other issues that are sort of looming in the backdrop of of all of 38 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,800 this, And so first looking at the Nets, like the implications for the 39 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:15,240 other teams around the NBA Phoenix, I don't think this hurts them too much 40 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:17,960 in the sense that they're still just going to be ridiculously good. Where a 41 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:23,240 team like Toronto or even like, if you were gonna argue if New Orleans 42 00:03:23,319 --> 00:03:25,960 wanted to get involved, they need Kevin Durant to get to that title contender 43 00:03:27,039 --> 00:03:30,599 level. Phoenix is there, Boston is still there. I don't know how 44 00:03:30,599 --> 00:03:32,759 you feel about Miami. I feel like they're kind of in that Tier two 45 00:03:32,879 --> 00:03:37,400 or Tier three contender category. And so this is a blow if you thought 46 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,280 you were really involved. I don't even know who. It hurts really the 47 00:03:40,319 --> 00:03:45,240 most because what team really believed that they had a chance at Kevin Durant. 48 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:51,879 The asking price was absolutely out of this world. They they wanted picks, 49 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,199 they wanted like an all star caliber prospect, and it never felt like, 50 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:58,159 you know, the Raptors weren't giving up Scotty Barnes. If the Celtics really 51 00:03:58,199 --> 00:04:00,439 did include Jawn Brown, that's a big name, but the pel And said 52 00:04:00,439 --> 00:04:03,479 they didn't want to include Brandon Ingram. We had the report from Shams on 53 00:04:03,479 --> 00:04:09,479 Monday that the Grizzlies were willing to include picks put not Desmond Baye or jam 54 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:14,120 Jackson Junr. And so these teams like, we're clearly half assing it, 55 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:15,800 and we have comments, I'll get to them in a couple of minutes or 56 00:04:15,839 --> 00:04:19,399 seconds. We're clearly half asking the offers because they either thought that the next 57 00:04:19,439 --> 00:04:23,160 we're gonna have to move Kevin durantt for less than he was worth. This 58 00:04:23,199 --> 00:04:27,879 is someone entering his age thirty fourth season, very mercurial injury history now and 59 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,480 then two like or they were just gonna keep him. And so I don't 60 00:04:30,519 --> 00:04:34,000 actually think any team was invested in the idea of getting Kevin Durant, whereas 61 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:38,160 like if the Knicks don't get Donovan Mitchell, I think that's a genuine blow. 62 00:04:38,519 --> 00:04:43,160 I don't think this actually impacts the rest of any other teams weren't banking 63 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,720 on him that much, And even Phoenix once they signed DeAndre into that contract, 64 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:50,120 it made it hard to include him in three team scenarios. Really, 65 00:04:50,199 --> 00:04:54,120 Galaxy brings shit here, though. Kevin Durant, maybe he wants to go 66 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:58,240 to Phoenix so badly he sends his trade demand now only to reservice it back 67 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,319 in January one. DeAndre eight in his trade eligible. Just keep that in 68 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,959 the back of your minds. But I don't really think any team was banking 69 00:05:02,959 --> 00:05:08,160 on getting Kevin Durant. When you look at the net specifically, and as 70 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:12,879 Lance Lance Robertson says in the chat, the nets only have thirteen nationally televised 71 00:05:12,879 --> 00:05:15,519 games that don't include the Bland NBA TV outlet. That stuff is valuable. 72 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,480 It can change, It certainly will change. Maybe Kevin Durant went through this 73 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:24,519 entire uh you know, trade demand process just so he could have off on 74 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,639 Christmas. He wanted to doing sure that the nets weren't part of the Christmas 75 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,040 Day matten ae unless unless they were, I kind of forgot the NBA Christmas 76 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:34,920 Day schedule already. But anyway, so that that stuff is valuable, I 77 00:05:34,959 --> 00:05:39,240 don't think that's like a huge concern, Jodan Freeman said. I just find 78 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,199 it hard to believe that Kadi, Nash and Marks are all going to be 79 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:45,439 fine and dandy when you look at the potential other distractions that Kyrie and Simmons 80 00:05:45,439 --> 00:05:47,639 seemed to carry. And so this is I guess, even before we get 81 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,160 into what the nets might actually look like, this is going to be part 82 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:55,279 of it. Like this isn't over. Kyrie Irian's on an expiring contract. 83 00:05:55,519 --> 00:05:59,079 There's always stuff going on with him, whether it's the it's the vaccine and 84 00:05:59,079 --> 00:06:01,079 stuff, or whether he's going mia in the aftermath of what happened at the 85 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:08,800 Capitol in January, or he's you know, shirking his media responsibilities with the 86 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:13,040 team that are collectively bargained with the MBA. Just for anyone who cares about 87 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,160 that, if they think that Kyrie shouldn't have to talk to the to the 88 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:20,639 media, and the fact that the extension talks were so contentious with him ending 89 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:25,959 not in an extension. This isn't over maybe, like, does this make 90 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,920 it more likely to me that Kyrie Irving stays long term too? Yes, 91 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,600 because him and Kevin Durant still remain super tight. But this isn't a team 92 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:33,720 that's just gonna be drama free. All of a sudden, Kevin Durant wanted 93 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:38,560 Shawn Marks and Steve Nash fired. That's that was the report, and it's 94 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:42,079 not something that he actually rebuked, and maybe he will during media day. 95 00:06:42,079 --> 00:06:45,959 I won't believe him, but maybe Hill rebuke that reporting. So this is 96 00:06:46,079 --> 00:06:50,839 so very very absurdly or measurably combustible, and it just wouldn't shock me if 97 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:54,879 it all sort of goes belly up in the middle of the season now, 98 00:06:55,959 --> 00:06:59,600 And like, Kyrie Irving's probably the player I watched more than anyone, because 99 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:00,800 he's someone who might agitate to get out if he's playing well, and all 100 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:06,720 of a sudden it seems like he holds trade value. And the other thing 101 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,199 too with this team is Ben Simmons. As Jan had mentioned in his comment, 102 00:07:11,519 --> 00:07:15,360 like it's not even just I don't want to get into Ben Simmons' mental 103 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,079 health other than I'm just going to believe someone who said that they were having 104 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:21,000 problems coping, Like my default is, I'm going to believe that. But 105 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,519 his back, He's just coming off of back surgery and he just missed an 106 00:07:24,639 --> 00:07:27,600 entire season. What does he look like? There are still questions with this 107 00:07:27,639 --> 00:07:31,120 team. The fit. I've maintained this all along was if he or a 108 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:34,040 little bit more iffier than people who thought it was just very plug and play. 109 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:38,040 Yeah, Simmons brings a lot of what the Nets needed defensively, but 110 00:07:38,079 --> 00:07:41,839 he prefers and is better operating on ball. On offense, Kevin Durant and 111 00:07:41,879 --> 00:07:45,439 Kyrie Irving can work off the ball. But if your solution to like your 112 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:47,720 team is let's put Kevin Rant and Kyrie i Ring off the ball a bunch 113 00:07:47,759 --> 00:07:53,319 more, I don't necessarily think that's going to be tenable. And you do 114 00:07:53,439 --> 00:07:57,319 have to worry about his injury history now too. Is how much is he 115 00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:59,279 going to be available? What does he look like? Does he have sort 116 00:07:59,279 --> 00:08:01,160 of the same downhill burst? Is he as good at just sort of flying 117 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:05,199 around the perimeter? On defense? Could this back get your stuff crop up 118 00:08:05,199 --> 00:08:07,160 again? What does the rest of your defense look like? I know that 119 00:08:07,199 --> 00:08:11,120 you traded for Royce O'Neill, and I kind of feel like we've veered too 120 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:15,040 far away from reality with Royce only at this point, Like he was not 121 00:08:15,079 --> 00:08:18,399 good last season, But you don't need Royce O'Neill to be what he was 122 00:08:18,439 --> 00:08:20,720 in Utah two or three years ago, especially if you have Ben Simmons there. 123 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:26,759 But Royce O'Neill and Ben Simmons or your Nick Klaxton, like those are 124 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,160 your plus defenders. I guess if t J. Warren is healthy, he 125 00:08:30,199 --> 00:08:33,279 showed a lot of on ball defensive progress when he was in Indiana. Joe 126 00:08:33,279 --> 00:08:37,279 Harris again, if he's healthy, he's always been like a little bit underrated. 127 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:41,480 I do find it hard to believe that this team is going to be 128 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:46,000 like sort of good defensively. Still, maybe they have a crack at a 129 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:50,279 league average. But Tom And said in the chatil I didn't think Mitchell to 130 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:54,240 Brooklyn was likely because Simmons is on the roster. But I wonder if this 131 00:08:54,279 --> 00:08:58,120 has momentum new Mitchell deal getting done. I would agree that if you're like 132 00:08:58,159 --> 00:09:03,759 the Heat or the Raptors, and you were in on the Kevin Durant sweepstakes 133 00:09:03,759 --> 00:09:05,879 and now you want to pivot to Donovan Mitchell. That certainly could speed it 134 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:11,399 up for sure, and it might give the Knicks more competing or like they 135 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:13,720 might get the Jazz more leverage because they're not just negotiating with the Knicks now, 136 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,080 if other teams decide to creep into this. We know the Hornets and 137 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:22,159 the Wizards were the only teams that really mentioned in that. So I do 138 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,240 agree Jonah, that that could speed up the Dono Mitchell stuff with the next 139 00:09:24,279 --> 00:09:28,200 specifically, though they just still feel like sort of unfinished and maybe they're willing 140 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:31,039 to there's other moves that they can make. They have some salary ballast, 141 00:09:31,919 --> 00:09:37,200 but I just I would struggle to see them as I think a lot of 142 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:39,080 people are going to think that they're like these title heavyweights now and they're absolutely 143 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:43,000 a title contender, but we've just seen with Kevin Durant, with Kyrie, 144 00:09:43,039 --> 00:09:46,639 with Ben Simmons time and again, like their stuff is going to crop up, 145 00:09:46,879 --> 00:09:50,960 whether it's injuries, miss time for different reasons, or just the the 146 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:56,639 theatrics of this, of the trade request, of what Kyrie was doing trying 147 00:09:56,639 --> 00:10:00,639 to find assigned to trade for his extension. This actually the the biggest loser 148 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,399 of all, this might be the Lakers just because the rust plus two picks 149 00:10:03,399 --> 00:10:07,000 for Kyrie scenarios off the table, and I have to imagine that like that 150 00:10:07,159 --> 00:10:11,159 was probably always overplayed just because the Lakers were actually refusing to do that. 151 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:15,519 It's just something I find very hard to believe. And this leads me to 152 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:18,120 believe that just like the Nets were actually steadfast and no, we're not going 153 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,200 to give Kyrie up for that trade package. I just think we're at the 154 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:24,799 point where we can't even come close to say that this is that, this 155 00:10:24,879 --> 00:10:28,000 is over. I think Kevin Durant could become just as disenchanted by the middle 156 00:10:28,039 --> 00:10:31,279 of the season. This is someone who tried to request a trade with four 157 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:37,159 years left on his deal. If things don't go if things don't go according 158 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,799 to plan once the season starts, if they get off to sort of a 159 00:10:39,799 --> 00:10:41,879 slow beginning out of the gate, does all this drama crop up again. 160 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,120 I would argue that like everyone's kind of on the hot seat here, with 161 00:10:46,159 --> 00:10:50,440 the exception of Joe Side just because he con like owns the entire team, 162 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:52,799 but like Steve Nash, his job security is going to be talked about. 163 00:10:52,799 --> 00:10:56,200 If the Nets don't get off to a good start. I mean, this 164 00:10:56,279 --> 00:11:00,840 is just like like, this is like a season long of Remember Dwight Howard 165 00:11:00,879 --> 00:11:03,799 wanted stan Van Gundy to be fired and there was that ultra awkward press conference. 166 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:09,000 Like now this is like just Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving coming back to 167 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:13,679 the coach that I'm assuming they both wanted to get fired, and but he's 168 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:15,919 not going to be fired. It doesn't seem like or does this make it 169 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,399 more likely that it gets fired. I would say the fact that Kevin Durant 170 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:22,440 is coming back makes me think that a coaching change, maybe not before the 171 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:26,000 season, would be more likely. But Steve Nash was mentioned by name in 172 00:11:26,039 --> 00:11:28,919 the announcement I believe, and if not at least by by some of the 173 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:35,960 reports. So I like, I just think this team is going to be 174 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:41,000 so fascinating because of how combustible that it remains. And we've spent so much 175 00:11:41,039 --> 00:11:43,960 time talking about, well, where could Katie go? How is this Kyrie 176 00:11:43,039 --> 00:11:48,039 situation going to end? We haven't really thought about the basketball fit of this 177 00:11:48,159 --> 00:11:50,840 roster, and maybe we didn't assign enough value to the idea that the Nett 178 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:56,440 still wanted to compete conceptually, even if they traded Kevin Durant, and they 179 00:11:56,440 --> 00:12:00,440 made it like you know, as soon as like the Royce O'Neil trade where 180 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,480 they gave up a first round pick was basically be an in tandem with the 181 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:07,159 with the Kevin Durant trade demand. And so this was a team that was 182 00:12:07,159 --> 00:12:09,039 always very clearly thinking in the now, and they are, Look, they 183 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:13,240 have their their highest end outcome. It's it's a championship ceiling. This is 184 00:12:13,279 --> 00:12:16,720 not like a stretch where if you're trying to think of the best case outcome 185 00:12:16,799 --> 00:12:22,080 for the Hornets or the Wizards or the Knicks, like they have a championship 186 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:26,200 ceiling, but their floor can also just be ripped out from under them at 187 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,679 any point. And like we're talking about someone in Kevin Durant who over the 188 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:33,240 past half decade has played in fewer playoff in regular season games than than Joel 189 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:37,200 Embiid. Like that's an actual concern. And I think though, when you 190 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:41,000 look at like the landscape of the rest of the East too, you're like 191 00:12:41,039 --> 00:12:43,559 you have Milwaukee, you have Boston. I do wonder if this and you 192 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,840 have Philly, Like does this impact the way that Miami's thinking right now at 193 00:12:46,879 --> 00:12:52,480 all, or maybe it's maybe Toronto now that we know that they're out of 194 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:54,320 the Kevin Durant sweepstakes. Are they a team at cam pivot to Donovan Mitchell. 195 00:12:54,399 --> 00:12:56,679 Are they a team that thinks that they need to level up harder than 196 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:00,840 they did over the off season when they got out of report Junior brought back 197 00:13:00,879 --> 00:13:05,320 Chris Bouche and Daddy is Young. I do imagine now though that this Kevin 198 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:07,759 Durant trade is off the table, they'll sign their second round draft pick, 199 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:11,639 Christian Coloco. We've been winning on that for a while. Like Kevin Durant 200 00:13:11,639 --> 00:13:16,320 returning to Brooklyn, I think he firmly puts them in like the I'm not 201 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:18,000 gonna put them as high as Boston in Milwaukee. I just need to see 202 00:13:18,039 --> 00:13:22,600 a season of full health and like cohesion. But when you're talking like Philly, 203 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:26,720 like that area, Philly, Miami, Toronto, like they're right there, 204 00:13:26,759 --> 00:13:30,679 And so that makes the East like instantly more fascinating. And if you 205 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,399 were a team that were hoping to craft the top six, if you're a 206 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:37,840 Charlotte, if you're the Knicks, it becomes a lot harder now to do 207 00:13:37,879 --> 00:13:41,799 so the Wizards as well. If we think that Brooklyn and kd are going 208 00:13:41,879 --> 00:13:46,759 to to stay like stay together long term, and I just I still remain 209 00:13:46,879 --> 00:13:50,960 unconvinced that that happens because of how like this whole thing went about, and 210 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:54,720 you would to compare it to this, which I just, I mean, 211 00:13:56,279 --> 00:13:58,960 he tweeted. In the end, Kevin Durant and the Nets played out in 212 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,960 a similar way to Kobe and the Lakers in two thousand and seven, a 213 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:05,679 tumultuous summer after a trade request, talks with teams, no deal, and 214 00:14:05,759 --> 00:14:09,879 ultimately a decision to return to the franchise. That's just like, we don't 215 00:14:09,879 --> 00:14:11,840 have to make everything about Kobe as my first instinct. And then the other 216 00:14:11,879 --> 00:14:15,919 thing is there was a deal in place. If I'm not mistaken, I 217 00:14:15,919 --> 00:14:18,159 would have send Kobe to Detroit like this wasn't There was a trade lined up 218 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:22,879 and they had to talk Kevin Durant out of this. This feels more so 219 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:26,480 driven by Kevin Durant realizing that he is four years left on his deal, 220 00:14:26,879 --> 00:14:31,720 his leverage was minimal, and that he was in a situation that he probably 221 00:14:31,759 --> 00:14:35,679 would have needed to have held out of into training camp if we really wanted 222 00:14:35,679 --> 00:14:37,759 to force their hand, assuming they would have been forced at all. And 223 00:14:37,799 --> 00:14:45,000 it also feels like his requesting that Sean Marks and Steve Nash both be fired, 224 00:14:45,039 --> 00:14:48,360 which was just always unreasonable because forget about Steve Nash. Like, yeah, 225 00:14:48,399 --> 00:14:52,559 coaches, they could be I don't want to dismiss coaches like this, 226 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:54,639 but coaches are easy to replace. They are the thing. They are the 227 00:14:56,279 --> 00:14:58,799 assets of a team that teams are most likely to change, especially when their 228 00:14:58,799 --> 00:15:01,320 ca doubt. It's easier to change the coach than the players, basically, 229 00:15:01,399 --> 00:15:07,919 especially when you're talking about superstars. But it was an unreasonable request because you're 230 00:15:07,919 --> 00:15:11,039 asking for both and Sean Marks. We haven't seen the exact terms, but 231 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:15,759 he agreed to an extension at the start of this offseason, so it felt 232 00:15:15,799 --> 00:15:18,799 like that was Kevin Durant's last ditch effort to get out of Brooklyn and to 233 00:15:18,879 --> 00:15:24,039 really force the hands of everyone involved here. And since that failed, now 234 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:28,039 you run it back because you do have a chance to actually win a title, 235 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:31,000 and you look, you're still with Kyrie, which we've yet to see 236 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:35,360 any real conflicting reporting that Kevin Durant all of a sudden does not want to 237 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:39,320 play with Kyrie anymore. I would be understandable to me, just given how 238 00:15:39,399 --> 00:15:43,480 Kyrie kind of submarine their season last year. But Kyrie is still there. 239 00:15:43,759 --> 00:15:48,480 This team is still like on paper, it could be as good as anybody 240 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,159 in the NBA. And I think if you're Kevin Durant and you wanted to 241 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:54,320 go to Miami or Phoenix, yeah, those teams with you probably would have 242 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:58,440 been better than this team right now. Definitely in Phoenix Miami, depending on 243 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:02,240 if you're trading Kyle Lowry and Tyr Hero and your entire draft that that was 244 00:16:02,279 --> 00:16:04,320 felt a little shallow, but you also probably to recognize that, like the 245 00:16:04,399 --> 00:16:10,399 Nets didn't want any of those offers, and so this sort of feels like 246 00:16:10,639 --> 00:16:15,399 not so much a resolution or a reconciliation as a settlement. And to me 247 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,559 it could be fleeting, Like I want, I don't want to fast forward 248 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,840 because I enjoy warm weather, but like, let's fast forward in December or 249 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:29,679 January and see where see where this team is at, even if they're higher 250 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:34,240 up in the standings. Kevin Durant is just such an ambiguous person. Aside 251 00:16:34,279 --> 00:16:37,759 from knowing that we or we claim that we know that he loves to hoop, 252 00:16:37,799 --> 00:16:42,039 and the fact that he's just an all time great the way he's got 253 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:45,200 about things, especially here. It just wouldn't shock me if this trade demand 254 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,759 comes back in the middle of the season, or maybe there's a like it's 255 00:16:48,759 --> 00:16:52,799 easier to agree to a mutual parting of the ways next year. And I 256 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:56,200 do really think that Kyrie Irving is of right now, like that expiring contract 257 00:16:56,279 --> 00:17:00,279 looms over all of this. I don't know, like trade. I don't 258 00:17:00,279 --> 00:17:03,920 expect trade rumors to continue to sort of bubble to the surface involving him, 259 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:07,759 but those are certainly on the table if he's going to free agency, and 260 00:17:07,799 --> 00:17:11,960 he doesn't want to resign with the Nets because of how extension talks went the 261 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:15,119 first time around. But he's also someone who, like Kevin Durant, seems 262 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,200 to recognize that, well, this is different. Kevin Durant didn't need to 263 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:22,920 rehab his value. I think he realized he didn't have just the leverage because 264 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:25,440 of the length of his deal and maybe even how teams viewed his age and 265 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:27,480 weren't willing to give up you know, A. I mean, he didn't 266 00:17:27,519 --> 00:17:30,119 care about He didn't seem like he wanted to go to Toronto, but Toronto 267 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:33,920 wasn't willing to include Scotty Barnes or Memphis being like not wanting to include Desmond 268 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:37,839 Bade. It seems like he came to that realization, and then Kyrie sort 269 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:41,559 of came to the same one, realizing he didn't have a market because of 270 00:17:41,599 --> 00:17:47,079 what's sort of transpired in Brooklyn, specifically last season when he wasn't available full 271 00:17:47,079 --> 00:17:49,839 time. When he goes m I A and when like the Nets are just 272 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:56,000 absolutely roasted by the Celtics in the playoffs, he needs to rehab his value 273 00:17:56,119 --> 00:18:00,240 or image however you want to frame it, and like that incentive is like 274 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,400 maybe good for the Nets, and we like, I don't I don't particularly 275 00:18:03,519 --> 00:18:08,359 enjoy Kyrie as a person at this point, but he's a fantastic basketball player. 276 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,680 And so this team having that big three in place, if Ben Simmons 277 00:18:11,759 --> 00:18:15,279 is healthy, like that is, does Ben Simmons all of a sudden become 278 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:21,799 like the single biggest X factor in the NBA because we know like what Kyrie 279 00:18:21,839 --> 00:18:23,319 and Katie are going to be when they're on the court. There's still that 280 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:29,680 just level of anonymity to Ben Simmons's game where it's because he needs the ball 281 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:32,680 so much. Can we even envision him be used more as a screener in 282 00:18:32,759 --> 00:18:37,519 this system, I think the hope of him shooting ever is out the window. 283 00:18:37,559 --> 00:18:40,759 But well, they run lineups where it's Ben Simmons and four shooters and 284 00:18:40,759 --> 00:18:42,799 maybe you get Ben Simmons in the post more just really trying to push on 285 00:18:42,839 --> 00:18:47,559 the break, adding that element into the nets, or just driving their offense 286 00:18:47,599 --> 00:18:49,799 and having Kevin Rant and Kyrie play off the ball a little bit more. 287 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:53,240 There's so many permutations with this team, and they're still like when you look 288 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,599 at the offensive well of talent, Kevin Rant, Kyrie, Ben Simmons is 289 00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:00,519 a passer, a healthy Joe Harris, Royce, O'Neil can, it's Seth 290 00:19:00,559 --> 00:19:03,599 Curry, we know can uncork them from the Patty Meals, Cam Thomas human 291 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:07,720 bucket. And then t J. Warren just like if TJ. Warren's healthy. 292 00:19:07,039 --> 00:19:11,519 But I'm using the word if so many times in this I think Harris 293 00:19:11,559 --> 00:19:15,160 the ankle stuff should be fine, but Ben Simmons is back. The injuries 294 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:18,960 that have cropped up with Kevin Durant in the past, Nick Klaxton has never 295 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:22,839 really been healthy for an entire season, like and now TJ. Warren coming 296 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:27,599 back from that serious you know, costing basically two seasons of basketball there are 297 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:33,799 just there's so much uncertainty still tethered to a team that's just like a contender 298 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:37,039 on paper. And so we've had this conversation here before talking about the team 299 00:19:37,039 --> 00:19:41,680 that has like the widest range of outcomes. I think all of a sudden 300 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:45,720 that it's the Nets, because originally we were just assuming that Kevin Durant was 301 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:48,640 gonna get traded, and then Kyrie would get traded and they would either try 302 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:52,559 and exist in the middle or actually begin to rebuild. The fact that they 303 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:56,359 are not now and they're just there with Kde Kyrie and Ben Simmons and the 304 00:19:56,440 --> 00:20:00,799 rest of this roster. They're either the best They could be the best team 305 00:20:00,799 --> 00:20:03,160 in the league. They could win the title. They could also be like 306 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:07,200 a playing team again just due to injuries or like a mid season trade demand. 307 00:20:07,559 --> 00:20:11,440 This team is going to be like probably annoying. So they'll be fun 308 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:15,960 to watch on the court, but I'm wondering how much of the focus will 309 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:18,920 be paid to that, especially early on, and I don't think it's unfair. 310 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:22,400 I do believe we get to a point where we try to pull focus 311 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:25,599 too much from what's happening on the Court, and even this podcast about Kevin 312 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:26,920 Durants staying with the Nets, a lot of it's been devoted to the fact 313 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:30,079 that he's staying at all. But this is a situation that kind of warrants 314 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:34,640 it because of like, it wasn't just the trade demand, it was the 315 00:20:34,759 --> 00:20:38,480 Kyrie irving and the way those contract extensions went so poorly. It was the 316 00:20:38,559 --> 00:20:45,759 Nets themselves very brazenly letting this ship leak through different media outlets that painted dem 317 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:52,039 is like trying to seize or regain control of their organization and that they were 318 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:59,079 answering to some like higher level of morality to instill the team culture that they 319 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:03,319 squandered when they apparently signed Katie and Kyrie, And like that was also always 320 00:21:03,319 --> 00:21:06,319 bonkers because the Nets made this decision to turn the keys of their franchise over 321 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:10,160 in the first place. And that's also why I will be shocked. I 322 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:15,240 will be absolutely floored if this ends well or ends as currently constituted. Like 323 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:21,680 just the fact that you had the contentious extension talks with Kyrie, Kevin Durant 324 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:25,160 requested a trade, Kevin Durant wanted Steve Nash and Shawn Marks to get fired 325 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:29,359 and then the nets were letting this stuff leak about Kyrie and kad. You 326 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:33,480 had Josih tweeting about how he was committed to the execs, to the front 327 00:21:33,519 --> 00:21:37,359 office regime, to Steve Nash basically definitely Sean Marks, Maybe not so much 328 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:40,640 Steve Nash after the report comes out that Kevin Durant wants both of them fired. 329 00:21:41,599 --> 00:21:47,599 How does every how does every layer of that drama like come back? 330 00:21:48,279 --> 00:21:52,880 There's so many elements there that are just at the point of no return. 331 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:56,480 Steve Nash knowing those two players who wanted him the first or I shouldn't. 332 00:21:56,519 --> 00:21:59,759 I don't want to assign this to Kyrie, but Kyrie and Katy apparently wanted 333 00:21:59,759 --> 00:22:03,240 Steve's in the first place. Now of a sudden, Katie didn't. Sean 334 00:22:03,279 --> 00:22:07,480 Marks knows Kevin Durant didn't want him there. Kevin Durrett and Kyrieery certainly know 335 00:22:07,519 --> 00:22:10,680 what the team was probably letting lead to the media about their meetings or their 336 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:14,960 interactions or how they were trying to portrait portray them. Excuse me. And 337 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,240 then there's like just by the way, moving in the backdrop, Oh, 338 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:21,160 when's Ben Simmons gonna play? Like is he even gonna be ready for the 339 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,559 start of the season. We haven't heard too many updates about that, so 340 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:29,440 I'm I'm like, this team, to me is going to be interesting on 341 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,519 so many levels for what they could do on the court, but there's still 342 00:22:32,519 --> 00:22:33,920 the off court element there, and I think early on it's gonna warrant a 343 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:40,960 focus since all this stuff there's I just feel like there's a zero chance that 344 00:22:41,039 --> 00:22:45,000 it's all resolved and that everything is hunky joy like even go away from Kevin 345 00:22:45,079 --> 00:22:48,440 Durant. Let's just say he and Sean Marks and Steve Nasha now cool. 346 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,000 Do we really think that this is gonna end well for the organization in Kyrie 347 00:22:51,039 --> 00:22:52,960 Irving is he almos sud I'm just gonna want to stay long term maybe, 348 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:57,039 I guess if they're offering the full max and he knows that Kevin Durant is 349 00:22:57,039 --> 00:23:02,559 going to be there. But there's just been a there's just dimensions, Like 350 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:07,319 they're not even levels, they're dimensions. There are different realities to everything that's 351 00:23:07,319 --> 00:23:11,759 been going on here. Like I'm just I still can't wrap my head around 352 00:23:11,799 --> 00:23:15,759 the fact that the Nets basically told Kyrie to go find a better place and 353 00:23:15,839 --> 00:23:18,640 dare him to opt out, only to see him opt in. And now 354 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:22,920 he's just back there, and we're supposed to believe that he's committed and that 355 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,440 the team is fine. Kevin Durant demands a trade, demands the two most 356 00:23:26,519 --> 00:23:32,960 important non player basketball people in the organization, like they get fired. Oh, 357 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:34,799 but he's just coming back, and both of those guys are are still 358 00:23:34,839 --> 00:23:40,240 there. You have Joe Sigh tweeting about how he's committed to Sean Marks in 359 00:23:40,559 --> 00:23:45,000 the face of reports that Katie wanted him fired. This is just so combustible. 360 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,920 There's no way this was hashed out in a meeting or a tech thread 361 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:49,920 before that meeting. There's no way we're done with this. This is going 362 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:53,359 to be a circus, and deservingly so. This isn't gonna be a situation 363 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,720 where I come out and say we need to talk about the basketball element of 364 00:23:56,720 --> 00:24:00,799 this more. Maybe we get to a point of that during season. But 365 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:03,519 like when you go into media day, when you go into these you know, 366 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:07,519 shoot arounds, your pre game availability in the locker room, post game 367 00:24:07,519 --> 00:24:14,480 availability, if things go wrong, the first sign of adversity for this team, 368 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,119 this is all going to be asked about, not about what was but 369 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:18,759 Oh, are you considering requesting and trade again? Oh, where's this team? 370 00:24:18,759 --> 00:24:22,279 Too far gone? And you have to ask that question because this is 371 00:24:22,319 --> 00:24:27,839 just such an ass backwards way of what's happening, Like we're reverse engineering the 372 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:33,240 Nets at this point, and I if you believe that everything's actually fine, 373 00:24:33,559 --> 00:24:36,960 then yeah, I think you have to take the Nets serious. Is probably 374 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:40,599 one of the foremost contenders, at least within their best case outcome. I'm 375 00:24:40,599 --> 00:24:44,759 still gonna trust Milwaukee and Boston more in the East, specifically out west. 376 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,880 I'm gonna like the Nuggets more. I'm gonna like the Clippers more. I'm 377 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,640 gonna like the Warriors more. I'm gonna like the Sun's more. But they're 378 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:56,400 in that like top six to eight contender range immediately if you believe that Kevin 379 00:24:56,480 --> 00:25:00,640 Rant and Kyrie Irving is staying and everyone's healthy, including Ben Simmons. Whether 380 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:04,200 you should believe that is on you, But for now, I guess our 381 00:25:04,599 --> 00:25:08,319 nightmare is over. I will say this to sort of wrap up, and 382 00:25:08,319 --> 00:25:12,240 if there's anyone who's actually still watching and has questions, feel free to throw 383 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:15,640 them into the chat and we can talk about different things related to this. 384 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:19,279 I'm not like entirely convinced. This is the last Wee've heard about this in 385 00:25:19,319 --> 00:25:22,240 the off season. Like I'll just I'm more of the believe it when I 386 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:26,079 see it type person. And I'm not sure that I expected Kevin Durant to 387 00:25:26,079 --> 00:25:29,519 be traded at this point. My prediction was he would end up in Phoenix. 388 00:25:29,559 --> 00:25:32,799 That was clearly wrong as time went on. I think it was clear 389 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:34,559 that the Nets really seemed like they were prepared to let this get awkward. 390 00:25:36,279 --> 00:25:40,200 But let's just see how this does leading into training camp. Let's see if 391 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:45,599 they actually are able to like get through an entire season like this, because 392 00:25:45,599 --> 00:25:51,759 otherwise I just I can envision it. I do not think I will certainly 393 00:25:51,759 --> 00:25:56,559 say this team will look drastically different by two twenty three, two twenty four 394 00:25:56,559 --> 00:26:00,880 season. If you're asking me whether they'll look drastically different after the twenty twenty 395 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:03,279 three trade deadlines in the middle of next season, I'd still probably just bet 396 00:26:03,319 --> 00:26:08,079 on that. I remain unconvinced on what the Nets and Kadi at this point 397 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:12,400 are trying to sell, But I don't think you can doubt the basketball upside 398 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:17,400 here. It is. It is championship level. You do need Ben Simmons 399 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:18,759 to be healthy. This is not Kevin Durant, Kyrie riving alone or not 400 00:26:18,759 --> 00:26:22,160 getting the nets out of the East. That's just that's just not happening. 401 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:26,480 H J. T. McCusker says, the Kadi and Zion dream is over. 402 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:30,000 Look. All I'm saying is yes, in theory, that's what they're 403 00:26:30,039 --> 00:26:36,680 saying visa via this announcement. I'm just not I don't think the Kadi to 404 00:26:36,759 --> 00:26:40,720 Anyone dream is over. I'm I don't think this is the last we've heard 405 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:44,079 of the Kevin Durant trade. Man. That's not It's obviously not sourced. 406 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:47,279 It's more of a gut feeling. There's too much that's happened for me to 407 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:51,240 think that this is just that this is again Peche Keen, that we're just 408 00:26:51,279 --> 00:26:55,960 gonna move on from here. So I think, and I'm going to bet 409 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:57,039 if I had to bet, and we can come back to that and see 410 00:26:57,079 --> 00:27:00,400 if I was wrong, if I had to bet, And don't even want 411 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:02,640 to say it's whether Kevin Durant is still there, but if this roster, 412 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:07,759 if these three stars are still on the team, were like, let's just 413 00:27:07,839 --> 00:27:11,799 let's take the over under on Sean Marks Steve Nash, Kyrie Irving, Ben 414 00:27:11,839 --> 00:27:15,119 Simmons, and Kevin Durant all being with the Nets past the twenty twenty three 415 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:19,759 deadline. And let's set the over under at one point five. I'm gonna 416 00:27:19,799 --> 00:27:23,640 take the over. I'm gonna I think I'm gonna take the over there I 417 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:27,920 mean or the under. How should I frame this? Let's say the amount 418 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:32,559 of people that could be moved or jettison is one point five. I'll take 419 00:27:32,599 --> 00:27:33,960 the over on that. It feels like at least two of those people won't 420 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:40,319 be with the Nets, even in like the semi long term or the short 421 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:42,559 term, however you want to phrase it. So but at least we can 422 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:45,359 escape this. I guess for now we can at least plan on escaping this. 423 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:48,920 I do think if Kevin Durant really wanted off on Christmas, there was 424 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,839 probably an easier way to go about it. And now everythink focus is on 425 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:56,160 Donovan Mitchell. I am curious to know, though, whether we see other 426 00:27:56,519 --> 00:28:00,880 transactions or rumors pick up John Collins all of a sudden available again. We 427 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:06,039 know he was mentioned any Kevin Durant package from SHAMS, but that was someone 428 00:28:06,079 --> 00:28:08,440 who was It seemed like a four conclusion he was gonna be traded leading into 429 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:11,680 the draft, and then at least after the draft, then he wasn't. 430 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:15,799 Then the Kevin Durant trade request comes in and all of these other transactions get 431 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:21,079 held up. And also like I think now we're going to see other like 432 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:23,920 free agency transactions picked up. Like do I think Colin Sexon that we'll see 433 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:27,039 that get a resolution. He's still floating around the restricted free agency market, 434 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:30,079 so we should see that resolve sometime in the short term. I would think 435 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:36,240 Dennis Shrewders still floating around out there. That's someone that I could very easily 436 00:28:36,279 --> 00:28:38,920 see landing with the Lakers who are apparently interested in him again, go figure, 437 00:28:40,079 --> 00:28:41,279 I guess you know, run it back. Why not it worked out 438 00:28:41,279 --> 00:28:44,920 so well the first time, except that it didn't. They're just in on 439 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:48,039 options now if you're the Lakers, because you can't get Kyrie Irving. But 440 00:28:48,079 --> 00:28:51,680 I think that doesn't for me here If there are no other questions, this 441 00:28:51,759 --> 00:28:52,839 was a lot of fun. Kevin Durrant is back in Brooklyn. If this 442 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:56,000 was your first time with us, please consider hitting that subscribe button, hit 443 00:28:56,039 --> 00:29:00,640 the light button, help us mash the algorithm until next time and as always, 444 00:29:00,759 --> 00:29:03,799 I leave with the shout Out club one, the only, the legendary, 445 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:07,640 would never demand a trade because he's still committed to the grind. Frank Nilkina