Brooklyn's Beat

With the Lakers closing out the Heat to win the 2020 NBA title, the Nets officially face what might be the biggest offseason in franchise history.

The status in Brooklyn? It’s go time. The urgency level must be high.

In a perfect world, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving retire as Nets. They are dominant forces for the next decade. And the Nets are a true contender for all of those seasons.

But the world is not perfect. When the 1995 Magic and 2012 Thunder made the finals, those young cores were supposedly poised to make multiple finals and dominate the sport. Neither returned. When the 2011 Bulls played the Heat in the 2011 eastern conference finals, it was billed as the East finals of the next decade. The Bulls never returned.

Contrast this with the 2019 Raptors. They were not true contenders before acquiring Kawhi, and despite their record without him in 2019-20 are not true contenders now. They had a one year window to win a title. They took it. That’s what the Nets need to do

Even when title windows open, they are often cut short quicker than expected. The Heat big three counted more titles at their welcome party than years they ultimately played together. The Warriors were seen as the next decade long dynasty. Two freak injuries and Durant’s departure to Brooklyn later, and their window is shut after five years … maybe for good. The Cavs? After LeBron said he was done with free agency for good, he still left. They won one title by the skin of their teeth. A bounce here or there, and they win zero.

You might think hey, what is there to worry about? Durant and Irving said they will be here long time. They might be! They also might not be. Stars these days join teams to eventually leave, Durant and Irving included – even when they say that’s not the case. Both KD and Kyrie are on their third team, the former after talk he was not the free agency type and the latter after pledging to stay. Third teams are also the standard for Leonard and George – after the latter said he was here in Oklahoma to stay. LeBron has jumped ship in free agency three times. Chris Paul chose the Clippers then left by choice for a third team. Dwight Howard, Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony, Deron Williams, Gordon Hayward, LaMarcus Aldridge, Chris Bosh left their teams.

All of this is to say, the following. No matter who you are, if you have a window to win a title, you have to assume the window is this year and this year only, and your window is only as long as your star decides to stay in town. Assuming you have years and years and acting accordingly, is a mistake. Just ask the Thunder: they traded Harden for long term sustainability.

What does this mean for the Nets? It means this offseason is not the time to be content with the roster. This is not the time to say let’s “see how this mix works,” with the logic being you can make trades later if this mix does not work. Do that, and you just burned one season with Durant and Irving.

And, for all you know, that one season may have been your only chance to win a title.

So, for this offseason, the key is to be aggressive. This Nets roster has real weaknesses. Every non LeBron led title winner in this era has had multiple high level two way wings to throw at the league’s premier players – LeBron’s, Kawhi’s, Giannis, Butler, George, Durant (we are covered there!), and etc. The Nets are really weak in that area, and the taxpayer midlevel is not fetching that caliber of player.

For this reason, you hear the trade word so often around this team. Kyrie Caris and Spencer cannot play as a unit. While 1-2 sit in crunch time (read: the last two), the Nets are forced to finish with players like Chandler Kurucs and Prince – that’s how poor their wing rotation is. This team needs substantial upgrades in that area of the roster, or a third star so talented that he can compensate for the lack of defense. A center who can shoot would not hurt either – nobody outside of Harris truly spaces the floor around Durant and Irving, and they will need that space to operate in the paint.

Moves will likely mean the Nets bid farewell to some players the fanbase has come to love. One or Spencer or LeVert is likely gone to truly make this team a champion. Allen, too. And perhaps more than that. I get the nostalgia of hoping guys stay. Warriors fans love Curry over Durant, Heat fans love Wade over LeBron, and neither Durant or LeBron were adored at other stops like they were in Oklahoma and Cleveland. It’s not hard to understand why that is. And I get the feeling that the Nets may feel like a bunch of ringers if too many “here for the tough times” pieces are moved.

Still, a title heals all wounds. I think Lakers fans are just fine with how this season ended. And if the Nets win, the love for the group that does it will be so deep, that the wounds of trading anyone – even LeVert – will disappear.

Maybe it’s Beal. Maybe Holiday. Maybe Covington or Gordon. Or maybe someone we are not thinking of right now. All I know is the Nets, armed with tradeable contracts and a full arsenal of picks, have an opportunity to improve substantially this offseason. And they must take advantage.

Because yes. We like all of these players. But I remember the Nets making the NBA finals.

I like that more.

Sean Marks has shown that he is not nearly as big on continuity and sticking with who brought him here, as he may want portrayed publicly. The fabric of the Nets after his first three years was DLO and Kenny. Marks dumped both. That gives me confidence he will do the same with the current long term Nets, if it makes us better.

For fans desperate to get back to the finals, that is a relief.

Buckle up.

June 19, 2016. Game 7 of the NBA finals. It is 49-42 Warriors at halftime. LeBron James has been good, but has not the LeBron we know.

And suddenly, Lue has a demand: If we’re gonna win, you gotta be better … your body language is terrible … your legacy is on the line.

The rest is history.

It takes gumption to challenge any superstar, let alone LeBron. Lue did it, and won a title with him.

And Lue won a title and made four finals in Cleveland, with a collection of gigantic egos that required regular maintenance. LeBron and Kyrie, as we now know, was a powder keg waiting to explode. LeBron was aloof during streaks of losing, telling the front office he wanted trades with his lazy play. Kyrie wanted his own team. LeBron said of Kevin Love, “fit in or fit out,” breeding tension there. JR Smith is a wild card.

The Cavs were in a constant state of chaos, and required an ego manager to handle that chaos, channel it into title caliber basketball when needed. A person who knew when to crack the whip, but when to let go of the rope and let the players be.

Lue aced the test. The Cavs won a title under his watch and if Kevin Durant did not join the Warriors he may have won two or three.

The Nets, next year, need exactly this from their head coach. Durant and Irving are sensational players, around whom a dynasty can be built. They are also, like a team built around LeBron and Irving, a powder keg potentially waiting to explode. Both soured on their first two NBA stops, despite both seeming like good situations from afar. Durant felt a lack of outside credit and validation despite two titles and finals MVP’s. Kyrie felt LeBron got too much credit and media attention in Cleveland, and struggled in Boston at his first endeavor leading his own legitimate roster.

The key word with the powder keg here is potentially – this may not explode, or may only explode in the very distant future after championship level success. And that is where ego management comes into play.

Coaching stars is not just about installing a good offense and defense, or being quick on your feet to make tactical adjustments. Stars have egos that a title caliber coach needs to manage, without the star running them over.

It requires a powerful personality – like Lue, who just did this in Cleveland. If you can stand up to LeBron during his Cleveland return, you can stand up to anyone.

At the same time, Lue was not just one with gumption. He knows “what buttons to push,” the saying goes. Sometimes you need to stand firm to a star and lay down the law. Sometimes, Durant and Kyrie are great, and you just sit back and let them be great. Lue is capable of that, too – the 2017 Cavs finished third in offensive efficiency with underrated schemes that shredded defenses, and massacred the eastern conference before running into one of the greatest teams ever assembled.

Lue is the right person for this job. The Nets need their next head coach to do exactly what the coach of the 2016-2018 Cavaliers did. And that man is on the market.

None of this is to say that Lue comes without any risks. LeBron is a superhuman force of nature – what if Lue was not as causative of winning as I think? Still, every reported candidate comes with risk, and the risks as to Lue are most important palatable because I have seen him do what we need our next coach to do, in a highly similar situation.

Gregg Popovich has somewhat quietly become a bit outmoded in very recent years – and what if he is partially a creation of Tim Duncan? Not to mention he is unlikely to leave San Antonio. Jeff Van Gundy has not coached since 2007 – the NBA was a different sport then with how much tactics and positions have changed. Can he be effective in the modern game? Ime Udoka has never coached before. Jason Kidd and Mark Jackson are simply poor candidates – just look at the 2015 Warriors and 2019 Bucks.

And then there is Jacque Vaughn. Since he has been with the Nets for several years and the Nets played well in the bubble, momentum built around him as deserving of a shot. There is a human element to that. Most of us do not work in billion dollar industries; if we work hard and earned the right to stick around, we should stick around. But billion dollar industries are different.

Vaughn’s resume is most strongly bolstered by the Bubble. But the job next year is different. The job next year is to manage star egos, not to get lesser players to play hard. Also. with players rounding into shape and teams resting players to focus more on seeding than standings, the bubble was a somewhat fluky atmosphere before the playoffs. It would not be prudent to make a hiring decision based largely on that.

The Nets have a job that is in incredible demand. The next coach has the chance to coach two superstars, coach in the city, and compete for titles. The job is the best – why not see if you can recruit the best? Why settle for Vaughn? What if his Orlando tenure is more representative of who he is as a coach? Why take the chance, given this is a two year window (your window in this high star movement era is the guaranteed years on the contracts of your stars).

The feel good decision and story is to settle for Vaughn. The ruthless decision is to replace him. But ruthless decisions win titles, and feel good decisions do not feel good when the results do not come. It was ruthless to replace Dwane Casey after 59 wins, Mark Jackson after 51 wins, and David Blatt after losing Kyrie in the finals and having the Cavs at 30-11. Something tells me those three fanbases are ok with it now.

And on the other hand, the feel good decision in Philadelphia was to empower Brett Brown. He saw through the Process. He deserved to coach Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons during their playoff years …

But now that he has failed to help Philly progress, that feel good story is stale.

Sean Marks faces a huge offseason. With a two year window to compete for a championship, he cannot waste the first year seeing what he has. 2019-20 was a time to experiment. In 2020-21, the Nets need an all in, all business approach.

And that starts with Tyronn Lue as head coach.

The day was June 23, 2016.

The Nets were coming off a moribund 21-61 season. Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young, two sturdy veterans who bought in and contributed to past playoff runs, were fan favorites.

Kenny Atkinson, prior, was interviewed and asked about Young. He said, Thad Young was “my guy,” and Sean Marks expressed a preference to retain him.

But then on June 23, the Nets traded him. The draft pick was used on Caris LeVert. It may seem silly now, but at the time, the trade was perceived negatively by Nets fans, and mixed at best. A fan favorite was traded for a first round pick. The pick was used on a player mocked lower in most mock drafts.

Fast forward four years, and LeVert is now the fan favorite. As fans, you ultimately support the team, are resilient, and move on from tough organizational decisions.

In every way, LeVert has earned the title of fan favorite. He has overcome injuries, adversity. He is a tireless worker. He seems like a genuine, good person. He supports strong social causes. He has improved immensely since his rookie year. He shows happiness when his teammates succeed, even on nights when he is not a participant in the success, or was hurt. He has accepted a variety of different roles. He is even a friend of Kevin Durant, although it should be noted he was a fan favorite regardless of KD.

Dealing LeVert would be a tough pill. You can say similar things about why it would be a difficult pill to deal any of the younger Nets who have been here since year one or two under Marks, but LeVert takes the cake.

Still, whether it is LeVert or any of the other Nets, the Nets should trade anyone, if they benefit on the court. No matter how popular, or deservingly beloved, the player. That is because the ultimate goal is a title – that matters more than keeping any player.

Certainly, Sean Marks thinks this way. He let D’Angelo Russell and Kenny Atkinson go, despite all they did for Brooklyn. It was not because of anything they did wrong. It was because Marks felt replacing them with different people (Kyrie and TBD, respectively), increased the probability of a title for Brooklyn.

NBA history tells us that three high level star teams are dominant, and win titles. Whether it’s the KD Warriors, the Heatles, or some of the old school Lakers and Celtics teams, if you had an elite superstar, and two more bonafide stars, you will likely win a title.

The Nets are the only franchise in the NBA that has the ability to enter next season with three such players. If a Bradley Beal like player is available, the Nets should jump on it. Would that require dealing LeVert? Yes, it would. But it would significantly increase the Nets’ title odds. Losing LeVert would hurt, but fans are resilient. When they see Beal (or Jrue Holiday, or Donovan Mitchell) in black and white, they’ll move on just fine.

Can the Nets win a title, as is? Yes, they can. KD and Kyrie, with the roster depth in place, can carry the Nets past the rest of the NBA. But that does not mean the Nets should be content with the roster.

Look no further than KD’s last team. The Warriors went 67-15, and dominated the NBA en route to their first title (the Grizzlies and Cavs series were not as close as six games would reflect, and a healthy Kyrie and Love would not have mattered, but that is a story for another day). The Warriors followed that up with the only 73-9 season ever, and likely win a second title if Draymond Green keeps his foot away from LeBron’s groin. The Warriors easily could have said “we will not disrupt this continuity to blow the roster up.” Instead, they relinquished two starters, and multiple rotation players, to add KD. You could argue the Warriors do not win a second title without that move – instead they won a second and third.

This Nets team, while talented, has holes. To win a title, the Nets need to go through Giannis, LeBron, Kawhi, and George. Or perhaps Tatum, Simmons, and Luka. That is going to require high level perimeter defense on guards, wings, and stretch fours. The Nets menu of options to throw at these players defensively is, quite candidly, weak.

There’s Jarrett Allen. But if he is your primary cover on ballhandlers, he is unavailable as a rim protector behind your primary cover. There’s KD; he can do it. But off a ruptured Achilles, do you want him to be your primary in that spot? After that, the options are bleak. LeVert has tools but has never put it together as a defender. Dinwiddie and Prince, same thing. Harris is too limited. The Nets simply have to improve their two way wing corps to win a title. Sure, they have the taxpayer midlevel of around $6 million per season, and minimum exceptions. But those are avenues to add reserves to shore up your depth, not high level options to start and finish games.

The LeVert Dinwiddie combo becomes the area of the roster to touch, first and foremost, in order to add anything of consequence. Both have significant value as a secondary playmaker to take pressure off Kyrie and KD, and help run the offense – this must be noted. In seeing the Lakers struggle in the Bubble, you can see the value in having that. However, there are diminishing returns with having two such players. The Nets cannot play all three together, and at times not even two of them together, because the fit is awkward; they all need the ball. This led to countless closing lineups for the Nets (dating back to DLO) where they had to bench one or two of their three lead players, and play lesser players like Temple, Chandler, Dudley, Prince, and Kurucs at the wing positions so that the parts fit.

Dealing one of LeVert or Dinwiddie to get a high quality wing who can play next to Kyrie and KD, or a true third star, is smart business. Turn those duplicative, cannot play together skills, into players who can play together and address weaknesses.

Allen is another trade piece in a similar vein. Unless your center is one of the league’s few stars (think Jokic, AD, Bam; do not think Capela), there is not much value in an expensive rim runner (which Allen will be soon) because many centers can fill the role. Note how the Lakers use Dwight and McGee. As a result, it simply makes sense to package Allen, for a star or for wing help that fits. Once again, smart business, albeit a hit to the heart.

The above captures what the Nets’ plan should be this summer. Plan B: turn players at positions where you can afford to become weaker (you do not need two secondary creators and two rim runners), into high level two way wings at the 2-4 spots who can shore up this significant roster weakness. In my opinion, if this means one of LeVert or Dinwiddie are moved (I would not deal both of them to achieve this plan), then that is what the Nets should do.

Plan A: get a true third star (LeVert and Dinwiddie are very good, top 50-75 players who help support your best players; stars are bonafide top 20 players who carry franchises and ARE those lead players). Become so talent heavy at the top of the roster, so tough to guard at full force, that this talent overcomes your weaknesses. If this means both LeVert and Dinwiddie must be moved, then that will need to occur.

All of this, admittedly, is tough to reconcile with fandom at times. It has gotten easier as an adult, but you still feel it. LeVert, for all the reasons I offer above, embodies everything these current Nets stand for. It hurts to see players like that leave. Dinwiddie grew from bit player to elite sixth man as a Net. Allen has been a good Net too and represented the borough well, taking underprivileged children shopping on Thanksgiving to help feed families and teach math and budgeting, supporting strong social causes, and being a genuine good person.

Still, if moving any or all of them is best for the Nets in pursing a title, then the Nets need to do it. That may sound like a tough pill but as fans, we are resilient. We also want a title more than we love any player.

As a result, when the new additions come, we will love them, and move on from the players who departed.

Just as we got over Thaddeus Young and appreciated Caris LeVert all those years ago.

Brooklynsbeal, as they say on Twitter, is upon us.

According to Stefan Bondy of the Daily News, the Nets have internally discussed avenues to acquire Bradley Beal. Bondy did not mention, in his article, what a trade may look like, whether Washington would partake, or whether Beal wants to be a Net. For now, these are questions, and obstacles to a deal.

But for now, I will say this: if the Nets can get Beal this off-season, and if Beal wants to accept a third banana role, then they should get him.

A starting and finishing five built around KD, Irving, and Beal, would be devastating. With Kyrie and Beal’s ability to get downhill and create creases in defenses, and shoot the three, defenses would not have a place to hide bad defenders. Picture a lineup built around those three, Joe Harris, and DeAndre Jordan. What does a defender do when Kyrie, Beal, or Durant gets by his defender? Cheat off Jordan in the dunker spot? Cheat off Harris at the arc? Cheat off one of the other two stars? Any of those recipes spell death for opposing defenses.

Furthermore offensively, it is not as though the ball would stick. All three have thrived playing off the ball next to other mouths whom need feeding. Beal, unlike say, Oladipo, thrived next to John Wall for years. Kyrie thrived next to LeBron. Durant stepped into a ready made offensive system flush with others scorers and there was no adjustment period to learn how to play with him. Thinks clicked immediately, because Durant is a willing passer who does not need to dominate the ball to be effective. All three are willing passers, and fantastic perimeter shooters who excel off the ball.

The fit defensively is admittedly clunkier, but the team should survive. Durant was a legitimately great defender in Golden State. Kyrie can get lazy defensively, but when locked in in huge playoff games, he has defended well. Beal is not a good defender but was a part of multiple average defenses in Washington, and the 2015 Wizards ranked sixth in defense. He will not render the Nets ineffectual on that end. Place tough minded role players around them and a good coach can cobble a decent defense together.

Decent may be all they need. Remember, defense was the same knock on LeBron’s Cavs early in his second Cleveland stint.

I have read the various concerns about getting Beal (Twitter was the place to be today!). Fit, price, and the post KD Kyrie window. Let’s address them.

The fit concerns are understood. When you think about what KD and Kyrie provide, it makes sense to surround them with hard nosed role players who will shoot the three and defend, who will be ok without a ton of shots. Beal does not fit the mold.

And if Beal were Oladipo – a player we have never seen thrive as a second or third option – I would agree. However, we know Beal can thrive next to a ball dominant point guard like Kyrie – we saw it with John Wall. And at some level, a team’s talent level gets so high that, despite fit concerns, they figure it out and make it work. Talent trumps all.

Look at the 2010-2014 Heat. There were fit questions abound when they came together. How do LeBron and Wade share one ball? Who takes the last shot? How does LeBron or Wade play off ball, since neither is a perimeter shooter? However, they, and Bosh, WANTED it to work, and talent trumped fit.

Which brings me to my original point: the Nets should get Beal, IF he wants to be a third banana. If Beal does not want to be a third banana, then the Nets should stay away. This would not work if he does not accept his role. But if Beal wants to be part of something bigger than himself, then the Nets should make it happen.

This is why, before any deal, KD and Kyrie should talk to Beal. Is this what you want? You’re going to get maybe half the shots you get in Washington. On some nights you may only get 5-10 shots. Is this what you’re looking for and are you ready to make that kind of sacrifice?

If the answer is yes (but not otherwise), then let’s get it done. Elite big threes win championships.

There is also the question of price and the future. The Wizards would be dealing a top 15-20 player with two years left on his deal here. The Nets, lacking a blue chip asset (like a Jayson Tatum, or a Zion or Ja Morant) would have to go deep into their pool of assets. LeVert (approaching 26 and not a star or top 40 player), Dinwiddie (a decent starter and nothing more), Allen (a year from a payday), picks in the 20s, and Claxton (who was just drafted 31 and has had maybe three decently solid games as a pro) is not exactly a great pool of assets. The rest of the pieces on the roster are worth little in deals. The Wizards would definitely demand Dinwiddie and LeVert, and probably a combo of Allen or Claxton and 2-3 firsts.

That’s steep, I get it. But why are the Wizards dealing a star on a long term deal for less?

Here is the thing with trades though. Yes, depth is lost. But the Nets would presumably retain pieces in house. They likely still have Harris, one of Claxton or Allen, Jordan, and Temple after the deal. From there, they have the taxpayer midlevel and minimum exception slots in free agency, with a trio that free agents will be dying to play with. The Nets can use free agency, and any remaining 2020 draft picks, to mitigate the loss of depth (and can do so again in the 2021 summer).

As for the concerns of a post KD Kyrie window? Right now, the Nets should be all in on winning a title while they are here. Title windows are precious and even when you think they will last forever, they can close in the blink of an eye. So, you cannot hedge against your window to focus on the future. The 1990s Magic and 2010s Thunder were supposed to be the next NBA dynasties. The 2010s Bulls were supposed to challenge the Heat for East supremacy behind Derrick Rose every year. The Warriors went from “it’s not fair how great they are” to 15-50 in the blink of an eye. The burgeoning 2002 Kings were going to see the Lakers again before Chris Webber got hurt.

Sure, KD and Kyrie purportedly want to retire here. Well, LeBron wrote a love letter pledging to stay in Cleveland forever. PG told OKC he was there to stay. Kyrie for his part said he would resign in Boston. Stars change their minds constantly. The Nets have to operate as though KD and Kyrie will leave in 2022, and maximize their title shot through that date. The same goes for the Lakers Clippers and others with their stars.

Also, the issue is a red herring — there is no post KD Kyrie window because there is no player or asset that can be built around. Suppose KD and Kyrie walk in 2022. LeVert, who is not a star, will be 28. Dinwiddie, a decent starter, will be 29. Even if Allen grows as a rim protector, players of his ilk are not cornerstones. Claxton is fun, but if he really had massive potential to be an elite player, would he have fallen to 31 in the draft and barely played this year? The rest of the roster, in terms of the future cornerstone conversation, is not in the conversation, and the impending picks in the 20s and below cannot be counted on to acquire a blue chip, either.

Translation: if KD and Kyrie walk in 2022, the Nets will be doomed to a long rebuild, with no blue chip in house to build around, no matter what. If the future is bleak regardless, you may as well maximize the present.

Plus, if anything, Beal actually improves the Nets future. He gives them a blue chip to build around, or trade for a hefty sum of picks and kids, if KD and Kyrie defect.

This is a big impending offseason for the Nets. They have a real championship window here, and they have to seize it.

How can they do it? By getting Bradley Beal.

Bar none, if you are a NBA fan, you are glued to the Last Dance.  If you are reading this article, you are most definitely glued to the Last Dance.

The Last Dance is a phenomenal, compelling documentary.  The easy takeaway is that it displays Michael Jordan’s brilliance.  The other takeaway, bubbling under the surface?

That the 90’s Bulls dealt with their share of drama, their share of reported issues that they may not have wanted out in the public sphere.

That dealing with drama, as a NBA franchise, is perfectly fine.  In fact, as long as the drama does not evolve into dysfunction, it is a good thing.

The Last Dance puts on full display that the Bulls managing their share of interpersonal issues, negative reports, and a slew of talking heads getting their licks in.  Michael Jordan was crucified during the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals for going to Atlantic City the night before a game. He responded by shunning the media for two weeks. Jordan and Scottie Pippen detested the Bulls’ general manager, Jerry Krause, and appeared to hate their own future teammate, in Toni Kukoc. Jordan did not want the ball to be passed to certain teammates.  Tension brewed between Jordan and Pippen concerning how Pippen handled his summer of 1997 rehabilitation and contract demands. Dennis Rodman fled from the team to go to Las Vegas. Jordan, if you read content from historians of the era, coach killed Doug Collins.

And yet, despite all of that reported drama — documented then and now — much of it was barely recalled, before the Last Dance.  Why is that?

Hint: number 23 can give you six reasons.

All of this begs a question.  The 90’s Bulls seemed content letting this drama be made public.  There was no rush to dance around these issues, or pretend they were not going on.  The Bulls simply let their results speak for them.  So, why is it that when teams and players face drama today, there is a rush to quiet the noise? Why do we feel that need?

The answer, of course, is social media.  When the teams of yesteryear dealt with drama, the issues were reported by a select few newspaper reporters covering the team, and maybe a national beat or two.  The reporter documented what happened, and folks took the report for what it was. There was no need for the reporter to sensationalize the story for clicks — with fewer voices covering teams, why force it?

Today, on the other hand, there are hundreds of voices closely covering and discussing teams, at various levels.  Inevitably, competition leads to some media members wanting to stand out, which leads to sensationalism of the issue to ensure that said media stands out. Jordan skipping town for AC today? We would have seen hitpiece after hitpiece, tweet after tweet.  “He lost his desire to win.” “He wants out of Chicago.” “Did you see the grimace he gave Scottie? He’s done with Pippen as a teammate.” Fringe folks wanting in on the action would take something Jordan did or said (like a glare towards Phil Jackson), and used that to launch a hit piece as well.  Different coverage leads to a different fan response.  When a dependable newspaper voice simply documents that Jordan was in Atlantic City, fans can accept that at face value.  But, when media sensationalize the events as something way more dramatic than what it is, the natural response from teams, players, and fans, is to oppose that, take umbrage to the characterization.  It leads to an overly drastic market correction, wherein the Bulls and Jordan likely would have denied the claim he was in AC, and fans would have run with that denial.

This cycle leads to an interesting phenomenon.  The response to teams or players dealing with drama, is to attack the reporting of said drama.  The perception: “drama is bad, and we must deny that we are facing it.”  This leads to outcomes like LeBron James denying his personnel power in Cleveland and Los Angeles, Kevin Durant denying reports of drama within the 2019 Warriors and his having one foot out the door, and the like.

But as we saw with the 90’s Bulls, there is no reason for that.  The 90’s Bulls were loaded with drama and interpersonal issues.  But it does not matter, because they won six championships.  As the Bulls showed us, drama is fine, as long as it does not lead to dysfunction.  Just look at the Shaq and Kobe feud.  The feud predates their three peat.  So, clearly, drama between the two superstars did not harm the Lakers.  However, the feud, eventually, grew into dysfunction in 2003 and 2004.  The Lakers handled drama just fine — we all do.  It was only when drama veered into dysfunction, that things went off the rails.

This brings us to the Brooklyn Nets. Just about one year into the KD Kyrie era, there has been plenty of drama.  Jackie MacMullan Jackie MacMullan reported, after spending days with the team, that KD and Kyrie were reluctant to engage in portions of the Nets’ daily routine for players. KD and Kyrie reportedly had no desire to play for Kenny Atkinson next season, and he was fired.  Kyrie said it was glaring the Nets needed more players to complement just six players on the roster — a quote that implies that the non listed players are not part of the core and must be upgraded. And, in a move that was just too on the nose, it was reported that KD and Kyrie’s tension as to Kenny arose in part from their wanting DeAndre Jordan to start over Jarrett Allen, and Jordan “won” the starting job in interim coach Jacque Vaughn’s first game.

That makes for a lot of drama.  And, you know what, that is good. Embrace it.  If the media is not uncovering drama within your organization, that means you are not relevant.  The best teams deal with public drama, whether it was the 90’s Bulls, the Shaq and Kobe Lakers, the Heatles (between this “accidental bump” and LeBron-Wade tensions over whose team it would be, the issues in Miami were real until they won a title), or the Warriors.  LeBron’s Cavs? One issue after another, after another. Tim Duncan’s Spurs were the exception, not the rule. All of these teams won, because all is well in paradise as long as drama does not become dysfunction and affect performance. In fact, when you win, you recall the drama fondly.  Jordan tells tales about Rodman with a smile, not a frown.

The Nets will encounter drama during this KD Kyrie run.  Who knows what exactly it will be, but it will be reported.  Maybe KD or Kyrie will give a dirty look to a teammate, or to each other. Maybe KD and Kyrie will be reported as wanting some substantial trades to upgrade the roster.  Maybe they’ll say something passive aggressive about their teammates.  Without a crystal ball, who knows what it will be, but it will be something. Some of it will be exaggerated, sensationalized.  Some of it, however, will be true.

My suggestion? Embrace it.  Enjoy the drama, the colorful rumors, the explosive reports. It is a sign of relevance — only good teams are covered that way.  As long as KD, Kyrie, and the rest of the Nets focus on their play, and do not let the drama become dysfunction and affect their on court performance, the Nets will be just fine.  They might just win a NBA championship.

The Warriors do not deal with drama now.  The Nets did not deal with drama during 2017-2018.  Things are pretty calm in about 20 NBA cities.

They can have the quiet.  I’ll take the drama, and a shot at Larry O’Brien.