Free Agency Recap: Brooklyn Nets

The Nets won the free agency sweepstakes, but what needs to go their way, for a championship to come to Brooklyn?

The Kevin Durant saga finally reached an exciting conclusion, as KD announced Sunday night ( just after Woj broke it first and ruined his Instagram Live decision ) that he would be heading to the East, and joining the Brooklyn Nets. Not the outcome most expected, Kyrie then hopped on the Nets bandwagon, and drove the dagger that little bit deeper into the hearts of Knicks fans. This puts Brooklyn on the map, but they still have work to do.

The immediate concern is obviously Durant’s injury, and whether he’ll return the same player after rupturing his achilles during the NBA finals. Historically, the list of players who suffered this kind of serious injury and proceeded to come back the same player or better, is relatively short. Dominique Wilkins is the famous example; just a year after Wilkins tore his achilles, he returned and averaged 28 and 7 for two years straight. Rudy Gay came back in decent fashion, but had clearly lost something. Kobe Bryant is the example Nets fans do not want to talk about, but granted, Kobe was 34 when he tore his achilles- Durant will likely be 32 when he returns to the court.

Despite the injury, I really think the Nets took a good risk, simply because it’s Kevin Durant. The Knicks pulled out late for fears over his injury, and while this isn’t an absurd decision to make, a player of Durant’s calibre is rare, and definitely worth the potential upside. I don’t think KD will come back and be the same- he’ll lose a little bounce, a little explosiveness, and then age will start to catch up with him. But fact of the matter is, Durant is a pure scorer, the best since Michael Jordan, in my opinion. Game 5 of the Finals gives us the best example of why Durant will still be a star when he returns. Obviously, he wasn’t 100%, and had not played a game for over a month. Yet, in his 11 minutes before going down, he had 11 points on 3/5 field goals, all of baskets coming from the three-point line. This was a rusty Kevin Durant playing hurt, and he looked ready to drop 40. It’ll take him time, and he won’t be the same, but come 20/21, KD will be ready to lead the Nets, no doubt.

Kyrie Irving was the other All-Star to choose Brooklyn over the Knicks ( and Lakers ), and I’m convinced we’ll be seeing a very different Kyrie than the one we witnessed in Boston. I’m not too excited about next year, as it’s a similar situation to what he had last year ( few talented young guys, similar roster level ), but when Durant returns, Kyrie will flourish more than ever. Last season proved Irving can’t be the number one option on a title team, and let me first clarify that this is no insult. There are 4 guys in the league that definitely fit this criteria ( Lebron, Durant, Kawhi, Steph ) and perhaps 2 fringe players ( Giannis, Harden ). It is incredibly difficult to be the #1 guy as a small guard, and Kyrie simply isn’t good enough a leader to put a team on his back either. But when Durant returns, Kyrie can break free of the shackles, and be able to play the role he did in Cleveland. KD will take the scoring pressure and leadership role that Lebron is used to, and Kyrie will thrive in that pressure-less second scoring option, knowing most of the media will turn to Durant in the event of a bad loss.

This is why I love the Durant and Irving partnership. Irving has proved he can do it on a title team, just not as the main guy. Provided Durant comes back healthy, and the Nets are smart in free agency and handling their young pieces, the Brooklyn Nets will have a respectable shot at the title in 2021. LeVert and Dinwiddie must be kept around, as should Jarrett Allen. Joe Harris is also a piece I like, even thought he struggled massively this past postseason. ( Healthy ) Durant, Irving, LeVert, Dinwiddie, Allen, Harris and some smart roster management, is a championship team. Kyrie Irving must be welcomed and kept happy next season, and Deandre Jordan shouldn’t take too many minutes from Allen. The young pieces must be developed, and a playoff run should be the target. Brooklyn won’t go all the way next year, but title aspirations in the next few years are now extremely realistic, and all of Brooklyn should excited about the future. Knicks fans however, better pray, pray and pray some more that RJ Barrett is a superstar, or this past free agency could turn out to be the biggest flop of all time.