Appearing on The ETCs with Kevin Durant podcast, Nets guard Kyrie Irving said he never felt like he was fully “back” during the 2021/22 season. Irving’s decision to not get vaccinated against COVID-19 meant he didn’t make his debut until January and only appeared in a total of 29 regular season games. It also meant he was uncertain in the first couple months of the season about whether he’d even suit up for Brooklyn again.
“I was wondering at home what my future was going to look like, you know?” Irving said, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “Whether I was going to be traded, whether I was going to be released, whether I was going to get the opportunity to be on another team, how I was going to spin this for myself in a positive way.
“So, I kept affirming to myself things are going to change. I had people around me — and I’m grateful for them — affirming that things were going to change. But I never felt like myself throughout the season, because I’m usually sustaining a level of growth throughout the year, instead of trying to catch up with everybody that’s been playing for four or five months. They’ve been at it every day since October or September.”
Irving has an opportunity to become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he turns down his 2022/23 player option, but has indicated he has no plans to leave the Nets.
Let’s round up a few more items from out of the Atlantic…
- During a discussion on The Athletic NBA Show about what the Sixers‘ roster will look like beyond this season, Sam Amick said he wouldn’t be shocked if James Harden‘s next contract with the team is worth a little less than the max. “When the Sixers got (Harden), their intel was that he would potentially be willing to take less,” Amick said (hat tip to RealGM). “And obviously, you know, nobody knows him better than (Sixers president of basketball operations) Daryl (Morey).”
- Al Horford‘s $26.5MM salary for 2022/23 is only partially guaranteed for $14.5MM, but that doesn’t mean the Celtics will necessarily part with him this offseason, writes Sean Deveney of Heavy.com. “He has been so valuable to them, the way he has defended, the way he passes, the way he shoots,” a rival executive told Deveney. “He has helped develop Robert Williams, too. He is a leader.” As that exec pointed out, Horford’s partial guarantee would also increase to $19.5MM if Boston makes the NBA Finals, which would affect the team’s decision.
- ESPN draft analyst Seth Greenberg identifies Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan as a player the Knicks should seriously consider if they’re picking at No. 11 or 12 in this year’s draft, per Marc Berman of The New York Post. Greenberg also singled out Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin and Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis as other logical targets for New York.
I mean Harden needs to opt-in. Then they can reevaluate after 1 more year. Dude could be cooked. If he opts out, idk let him shop for a deal and match it? He’s a better PG than Ben Simmons, but lot of money to tie up in an older player on the decline.
Sixers don’t have a ton of options, but they could move on from him and technically open up enough cap space for a Max contract by waiving Green, and trading Korkmaz for a late 2nd.
He needs to opt-in to a diet plan more then anything even though they clearly won that trade because Simmons is ur typical whiny millennial who doesn’t want to work for his money
Don’t use Ben Simmons as an excuse to bash millennials. Dude is his own thing.
Not to mention he isn’t a millennial.
Don’t you know? Everyone between the ages of 12 and 50 is a millennial. The rest are boomers.
Actually, Simmons was born in the final year of millenials.
‘95 was the last year for Millennials. Simmons was born in July of ‘96.
Actually, it is typically defined as ending in 1996.
Every 15 years, starting in ‘50.
Seems like there’s a mix of sytems being used including the lol type.
When do millennials end?— When they start complaining about the kids?
@padam
Actually historically there has never been a system of limited years. It’s been based on the culture of each generation until there is a clear change from one generation to the next. It’s more like having an era of people representing a part of history. This is real life, not stats and data. There are no preset mathematical restrictions. It is about changes in the culture.
@MFB
“Actually” – only pretentious mouth-breathers start every other comment with the word “actually”.
I think you answered your own question with regard to their options.
JH has the option to opt in – if not, having a max slot (or more if they can dump Harris on OKC) with a prime Embiid is probably a better option than paying top dollar to see what the James Harden Experience will be like for the next 5 years.
What a lame statement by Irving…poor Kyrie, didn’t know what was going to happen to him. He flat out sucked in every playoff game except Game 1 and instead of taking responsibility he blames it on the circumstances that he himself created? This is not a champion babbling like that…lame.
Agreed. He’s trying to blame the circumstances around him but fails to realize/acknowledge that the reason those circumstances exist is because of his own decisions. Like you’re free to make your own decisions but understand there are consequences with every choice made…this is the consequence.
His talent and skill is godly yet he behaves and talks so childlike. If only he would simply listen, instead of listening to himself…
Kyrie might be the most talented ever offensively, but he is the lamest ever as well. He is no leader and not a winner whatsoever. He hasnt deservingly earned his paycheck for at least 4-5 yrs. Pathetic! Let him opt out and RETIRE!!
Harden and Morey ALREADY have an agreement in place. It’s opt in and extension, so that Harden can have 5 yr contract. Yes, Harden might give up 1-2m less per yr to fake he signed a team friendly contract. Sixers will be doomed and title window officially closed.
Less than max, meaning what? Less than what Philly can offer him with an extension, or with a new contract if opts out (and resigns with Philly), or less than what another team could offer him if he opts out?
Three different numbers, and there’s a huge difference in what Philly can do for him and what another team can. Both because of the 5th year, and because his current contract provides for a higher salary next year than the current league max for new deals. The difference in salary could be about 80 mm, most of which would be in a potential 5th year that Philly might offer (that year alone can be as high as 60 mm).
Only thing I would add is: “difference between what Philly can do and what another team WOULD do.”
I don’t see a lot of teams lining up with even reduced max offers for James based on what we’ve seen basically since he pulled his hamstring last Spring.
His stats this season were basically DeJounte Murray’s – except Harden is old, rapidly deteriorating, and doesn’t play defense. That’s like maybe a 3/70M market value?
There wouldn’t be a lot of teams.
I just laugh when I hear about a player “taking less” like he’s taking less than his actual market value. When, in reality, he’s only accepting less than the league allows him to be paid, and usually only by one team. I’m guessing that Harden and PHI have agreed to split that 80 mm difference, and, when it’s announced, both will characterize it as evidence of Harden REALLY wanting to be in Philly.
Of course the Celtics should try to retain ‘Playoff Al’ Horford! He’s fabulous & instrumental to everything the Celtics are doing, offense & defense! But we couldn’t retain him a few years ago so who knows. But Al likes the Celtics & the Celtics & their fans like Al. Trust in Executive of the Year Brad Stevens! Go Celtics!
3 year 30 for Horford
I could see 2 years for $30 as possible but that still seems a little low.
1 for $20 to 25 or 2 for $35 to $40 seems more probable.
The only way I could see a 3 year deal is if both sides agree to it to help spread the cap hit.
Horford the hedger 3/$52. Desirable.
Harden the hedgable 2/$40 though I would pass entirely at any price, anymore, assuming alternative PGs are available.
Berman is a non …… guy knows nothing about ball.
Mathurin will be gone. Love to trade up for him. I’ve been saying it for months now. At 11 Davis will be gone too. Not a fan, sorry. Sochan is raw and yrs away. He’s not for us. Agbaji could be there. I like him. Take him and move Grimes. I like Duren too. But I’ve been reading he could be gone too. Trade Mitch and draft Duren. If Sharpe is there at 11, which I doubt. I don’t pass on him. He’s got way too much upside.
Mathurin, Agbaji, Duren can all step in and play next yr. I would start Mathurin at the 3. Start Agbaji at the 2. Duren can give you major mins. He and Sims is a very good tandem next yr.
Mathurin, Sharpe, Agbaji, Duren ……in that order.
Davis, Sochan & Agbaji will most likely be there at this point. Let’s see if the lottery and/or combine changes things. Out of these 3, I’d take Agbaji or trade down to dump Forunier IF a miracle happens. If Duren somehow makes it to 11, things get reaaal interesting…
Whoever signs Harden is a FOOL ……
Hes a “use to be somebody”. He will never be what he was in Houston. He don’t take care of himself. He’s no max player. He’s a max diva. This guy at 35 will be finished. And you will be on the hook for 110 mill more for last two yrs. He must opt in. Then I let him walk or trade him if somebody is crazy enough to want him. He will be worse than Wall and Westbrook put together. Only a Moreyon would sign him OOOOoooooopppppss
When does it seem fair to say that a team built around Embiid may not win? He’s had Butler, Harris, Simmons, and Harden all at some point in his career and hasn’t been successful in the playoffs.
Ask Doc Rivers. He’s seems to have a feel for when one of his players may fall short of championship quality, and is not bashful about telling those who ask.
To be fair, Embiid had no control over the situations with those players and how they didn’t work with Embiid for a championship run.
Harris and Simmons are not good enough to be the #2 guy on a championship team.
Harden has mostly played only one side of the ball which is why the only time he’s ever been in the Finals was as the #3 guy behind KD and Westbrook. Now he’s a declining player.
Butler was misused in Philly the same way he was misused in Minny, where he was hindered from being allowed to be a leader on the team. You see the results when he joined a team whose culture already matched Butler’s game before he was acquired by them.
And Butler has won what? Nothing!
I have to wonder what is going through Durant’s head. He left Golden State and talked a lot of trash where Kerr was concerned, thinking he was building his own super team in Brooklyn But it’s been one thing after another.
Injuries are one thing, but the head games Harden and Kyrie play, another. And now Simmons is the icing on the cake. I refuse to believe these Durant doesn’t have deep regrets.
And to top it off, KD had a chance to join teams like Miami, Philly or Boston.
Durant’s mistakes started working the teaming with Kooky Kyrie. They got rid of Atkinson and brought in a terrible coach in Nash. They become GMs and somehow force Harden in and get rid of Allen and LeVert. Another year with Nash wear and tear, KDs window is closing but Sean Marks is a good GM, will be interesting to see what he pulls off this off season. Nash though will probably screw anything good up like he did by benching Thomas Aldridge Day Ron and Blake and ending up with Durant at the 5 and getting totally embarrassed.
Why in the world would KI opt out?? The Nets put up with all his antics, play him when they legally can and praise him in the press. Would he get that in many other places?
anyone else misread “back”?