I’m intrigued to hear thoughts on the future after 10 games, and what we’re feeling as a fan base. I’ve often found it hard to separate my own enjoyment of watching a fun team/a team that can actually win some games, with the process of rebuild or retooling. I became a fan in 03, so I’ve seen a lot of change during my time, from the league’s worst record to championship potential teams. I still watched a lot of losing with Brook and Dev in 2010, but it wasn’t much fun!
I guess my main question would be - where should the Nets go from here? Keep this team together as best as possible, and hope Cam/Mikal/Clax are a good enough core to win a title eventually? Make a trade for a superstar to try and push for success earlier than later? Offer up players and begin a retool? Full tear down OKC style and amass 10+ first rounders over the next few years?
It’s hard to see this specific core winning a title without a superstar - there is little evidence that’s how you win in the NBA, but man, I hate watching my team lose. It’s all a head/heart conundrum, but I’d struggle with a full rebuild, even if it’s the best long term option. Thoughts? Feelings? Emotions?
This core isn’t good enough to win a championship which is fine. They’re playing fun, team basketball and its great to watch. I’m totally happy enjoying a 4-8 seed entertaining first round exit type of team.
I think we should try buying low on younger players for a DFS, Oneil, or Dinwiddie. I’m thinking someone like Kuminga. Someone with that type of upside and needs a change of scenery. Would also love to take a chance on Zion if we could get him for cheap.
Regarding acquiring superstars. With Beal’s back continuing to act up, I think we should hang onto the earliest Suns picks. I previously thought the 2025 pick would suck but that could end up being the golden ticket.
Without our picks there’s not much we can do which sucks. I can’t believe we’re in this type of scenario again haha.
It appears to me we are going the superstar route. I was originally in favor of trading everyone worth a shit that was 27+ but I came around on the idea. Unfortunately, Embiid seems less likely to ask out given the 76ers hot start and cap space going into next year but as a big market team with little control over our pick I am still anti-tank
Y’all typing some novels I ain’t gonna read:
This team is fun. We can always compete. I like fun. D-lo/Caris era was also fun. Super star era was not fun. That was stressful. I like fun.
I honestly really like watching this team. The big 3 was fun that one year but was then such a drag it wasn’t even worth it. These guys play hard and are in every game. I love a lot of the new guys and have to trust Marks that he can figure this out. I’m not sold Ben is going to ever be the type of player worth playing when the games really matter so that’s been sad. With that said, we go really deep so we don’t need Ben if he won’t drive or improve his half court game at all. I’m also not sold Clax will fit on this team if he wants a huge contract.
I’m excited for the future but I’m still not sure JV is the right guy. I do think he’s done very well managing minutes and giving the guys that deserve time minutes. But I’m not sure he’s the X and O type of guy that we’ll need if we want to truly compete.
It’s just a waiting game for us at this point and hope something opens up, whether it be maybe a disgruntled star or low risk high reward trades like when we got Dlo. We just want to stockpile assets for now and see if Cam Thomas/Mikal/Johnson can take a step forward. Maybe a contender is willing to overpay for someone on our team come trade deadline and we can grab an extra 1st or 2. I wouldn’t be surprised if we run the same gameplan next season as well. Get a bunch of guys who are obviously not min guys but couldn’t get contracts they wanted and then either keep them so that our team remain competitive or use them as trade bait. I think a lot of outsiders are looking at the Nets as a team who is desperate for any all star talent, saw some people talking about how we should be looking to take in Towns or something. But I personally wouldn’t mind our team just staying afloat as a 40ish win team taking low risk gambles on players. If don’t find any opportunities to snag a star, we can talk about potentially resetting in 2-3 years because all our guys will still have pretty high value then. I’m okay with a rebuild as long as when it does happen, we have something to look forward too, whether it be loads of picks or a good young guy. Nothing can really be worse than like 2016ish Nets.
Not every team has to be title or bust
Just because this core isn’t looking like a guaranteed championship doesn’t mean we give up on it and rebuild. Watching a rebuilding team will be 50x worse than watching this above average team.
It’s fine to just enjoy watching a team that wins more than it loses and shows progress every season