The Nets have a busy summer ahead of them. The futures of point guard Kyrie Irving, reserve guard Patty Mills, wing Bruce Brown, and center Nic Claxton, as well as the team’s coaching and chemistry, are among the big offseason issues facing Brooklyn, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
Lewis wonders if the Nets will want to reward Irving with a long-term contract should he choose to opt out this summer, after what has been a challenging season for the point guard off the court. Lewis notes that Irving has been unavailable for 123 of 226 regular-season contests since signing with Brooklyn in 2019. The team also faces an intimidating luxury tax bill moving forward.
Mills and Irving currently have player options for the 2022/23 season. Claxton is a restricted free agent, while Brown is unrestricted. How many Nets under contract will even be available to start the year is in question, as both Ben Simmons and Seth Curry underwent postseason surgeries, while Joe Harris had two ankle surgeries during the season.
Lewis notes that the Nets, coached by Steve Nash, were swept by the Celtics, coached by former Broolkyn assistant coach Ime Udoka, in the first round. Lewis wonders if Nash can improve as a coach and if he might be willing to hand off the defense to an assistant.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- The Nets used all five of their draft picks in 2021. Alex Schiffer and Sam Vecenie of The Athletic take a look at Brooklyn’s rookies for 2021/22: shooting guard Cam Thomas, small forward Kessler Edwards, power forward Day’Ron Sharpe, forward Raiquan Gray and guard Marcus Zegarowski. Schiffer and Vecenie then ponder the younger players’ fits with the club moving forward.
- Sixers All-Star Joel Embiid has shown his historical greatness in his return to Philadelphia while nursing two injuries, writes Derek Bodner of The Daily Six. The center’s outstanding performance in the 76ers’ two home playoff victories in their second-round matchup against the Heat exhibited how his greatness could elevate a supporting cast of at-times ill-fitting parts, opines Bodner. Miami currently leads the series 3-2.
- Following the Sixers‘ 120-85 Game 5 loss in Miami Tuesday night, Philadelphia All-Star big man Joel Embiid reflected on Nuggets center Nikola Jokic besting him for the 2022 NBA MVP award, per Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice (Twitter link). “Obviously, congrats to Nikola, he deserved it, he had an amazing season,” Embiid said. “There’s no right or wrong, there [were] a lot of candidates. It could have gone either way. Giannis [Antetokounmpo], Devin Booker being on the best team in the league by far, so I guess every year it’s all about whatever you guys decided, whatever fits the narrative as far as who’s going to win.”
Defense
76ers are not well -prepared tonight
They did not know social distancing at 2 feet, they thought it’s 6~feet
If losing the series, 76ers can waive Doc Rivers and he can join the Lakers who have championship expectation
Sixers won’t pay Doc to coach the Lakers, he’s here for 3 more years.
We will see, I think he is gone…maybe I am just being hopeful. I would love to see Sam Cassell coaching us next year.
Lakers can trade for him
I’ve long talked about narratives that start a week after the season ends being what determines the winner of these awards decided by the clowns in the media, so good for Joel for realizing it
That being said, Jokic did put up ridiculous numbers, and him winning isnt as bad as the previous 3 years before last year
Embiid had an excellent season… but his return in the playoffs might have helped PHI win some games… but, with that said he hasn’t played well at all, so what is for sure is that in this series he hasn’t shown any historical greatness, right? That he did in the RS, not now!
Doc Rivers is the most over hyped Coach next to Stan Van Gundy. How they keep getting jobs is beyond me. If Philly signs Harden long term they are fools. But as a Celtic fan we love the drama that is Philly. All those picks and they have 1 player to show for it.
worst decision was letting Butler go to Miami. if I remember correctly Butler and Simmons didn’t get along, and owners chose Simmons over Butler.
Jokic is Metrics Valuable Player. Embiid and Giannis were much more Valuable and dominant players this season.
Embiid needs to do what to win mvp? Answer: stop trying to get the foul call every play. Stop the flailing. I can barely watch Philly play. It’s ridiculous. Embiid is a great player, super great talent but I could never respect them giving the mvp to a player who flops and flails like that.
POR/BKN: Ingles, Bledsoe, Winslow, and a 1st for Simmons and Claxton.
POR:
Lillard
Simons
Simmons
Claxton
Nurk
BKN
Expiring contracts, a 1st, and Kyrie to go shopping.