The Nets started winning when D’Angelo Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie figured out how to work together, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Brooklyn’s point guards had an uneasy relationship early in the season, which left coach Kenny Atkinson reluctant to put them on the court at the same time. But with them working in tandem, the Nets have the league’s best record since December 7 at 16-5.
“Now they’re accepting their roles,” DeMarre Carroll said. “Those two are the head of the snake; they’re going to take us as far as we go. They finally realized that and understand they’re not in competition with each other anymore. They can do it collectively. One guy can have one night, and the other guy can have the other night. Or they can do it both together. But that’s maturity. They’re finally growing up, and you can see them maturing on and off the court.”
There may have been a financial component to their competitiveness. Russell is headed toward restricted free agency this summer after not getting an extension in the fall, while Dinwiddie signed a three-year, $34MM extension last month.
There’s more news from Brooklyn:
- Dinwiddie plans to appeal to Kevin Durant to join the Nets in free agency this summer, relays Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. Brooklyn will have enough cap space to offer Durant a maximum contract and could get close to two max offers by trading Allen Crabbe for an expiring deal and renouncing the rights to Russell.
- Caris LeVert had a promising workout yesterday, but team officials are refusing to comment on when he might return, Lewis relays in another story. LeVert hasn’t played since suffering a dislocation in his right foot on November 12. “I’m not going to speculate,” Atkinson said. “I don’t want to give you something and be wrong. That’s the last thing I want to do. No specific update. [He’s] progressing. I know he had another great workout [Friday]. That’s as far as my medical background goes, but progressing nicely.”
- Kenneth Faried was waived this morning after agreeing to a buyout, just three weeks after Atkinson complimented him on the way he has handled minimal playing time. “He’s been fantastic,” Atkinson said at the time. “It’s weird, some guys, they check out. He hasn’t.” Acquired from Denver in an offseason trade, Faried appeared in just 12 games for the Nets, averaging 9.8 minutes per night.
KD would make BK team to beat in East!!
I just can’t picture Durant in a nets jersey
KD in Boston makes sense for everyone
pg kyrie
sg tatum
sf hayward
pf durant
c horford
My dude 4 of those players require max contracts its not possible
Going to be hard to add him when they are already in the luxury tax next year…
with a little financial engineering it can be done: horford can opt out, kyrie takes less and gordon’s got 2 yrs left. maybe back load the contract
Kyrie isnt taking less. Nor is durant. Hayward already has his contract. And i dont see why horford would opt out. Plus you also have Smarts contract. And a few other factors
Horford is not opting out if 27M lol c’mon what are u smoking?
Durant is not joining a team unless it’s a automatic ring.
Based on what? Isn’t it obvious to everyone yet that durant truly enjoys the type of basketball the warriors play? He wants to be happy, and having fun while winning games is a happy recipe. Unless a teams pitch includes a detailed plan of why their style will be better for him, he’s not leaving the warriors. He can go down as a legend with golden State, or just another good basketball player anywhere else. It’s the reason none of the warriors are leaving.
He is basically the NBA version of Drake. The style he likes is Front running. If there is a time when it’s not a given GSW are going to be in the finals, hes out. Like if Kawhi, Jimmy, Kyrie, etc.. go West and they dont win the West. Maybe he goes to the best team in the East.
Dont talk to about comparing LeBron bc that team was bounced in the 1st round of the playoffs before he arrived.
3 or 4 posters on HR, going back a while, have expressed enthusiasm for a Russell-Dinwiddie backcourt.
Took them long enough!– to win with it, anyway.
SD’s contract sure, but what was the on-court difference or key to the success?
I don’t want durant anywhere near my nets!