Nets’ formula to find harmony is obvious, but it may not be easy

Nets’ formula to find harmony is obvious, but it may not be easy

After suffering through a summer of discontent, how can the Nets become one big happy family again? Or at least tolerate a marriage of convenience?

It might not be that easy.

Look up discord, and you’ll likely find the app; but it might as well have a picture of Brooklyn’s offseason, a strife-filled one they’re desperately hoping to put behind them once training camp starts later this month.

The cliché says time heals all wounds. But in sports, winning soothes strife. And piling up some early-season victories may be what’s needed to get over their tumultuous offseason, including Kyrie Irving’s contentious contract talks and Kevin Durant’s attempt to get a trade — or his coach and GM fired.

In truth, last season itself was an intolerable roller coaster, right from the start.

Irving’s refusal to adhere to New York’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate pulled the first brick out of the foundation, and the house appeared ready to crumble.

Irving’s absence for two-thirds of the season kicked off a chain reaction, starting with James Harden demanding a trade and ending with Brooklyn getting swept in the first round by the Boston Celtics. And that’s when things really got ugly. Irving’s contract talks turned testy. Durant asked out. And the offseason was thrown into chaos.

Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts as they sit off to the side of the bench during the fourth quarter. The Boston Celtics defeated the Brooklyn Nets 114-107.The sweep Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving suffered at the hands of the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs was only the start of what would be a tulmultuous summer for Brooklyn.Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

But now the Nets are going to have to learn to be comfortable in chaos. The Post broke the news on July 12 that Irving intended to stay with Brooklyn, and the Nets dropped the bombshell of Durant’s heel turn on Aug. 23.

After Nets owner Joe Tsai stood firm against Durant’s request to have both coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks fired, the star rescinded his trade request and is staying in Brooklyn. For now.

Durant (and business partner Rich Kleiman) had met in Los Angeles on Aug. 22 with the two men he’d tried to get removed, along with Tsai and his wife Clara. Feelings were heard. Laundry was aired. And whether or not hugs were offered — or needed — there is plenty for Brooklyn to work through this coming season.

Talks on Irving’s max deal had broken down when he refused to get vaccinated, then negotiations for an extension got testy this summer. Now he’s on an expiring contract and can be an unrestricted free agent after this season. Durant was satisfied after leaving that L.A. summit — but how long will that satisfaction last?

Nets media day (expected to be Sept. 26) should be must-watch viewing. If last year’s media day was dramatic, the unvaccinated Irving barred from the building and appearing only via Zoom, this should make that look tame by comparison.

The assembled press corps will get their first opportunity to ask Durant why he wanted his coach and GM canned, and quiz Nash and Marks how they plan to work while managing the player who tried to oust them.

Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash speaks with Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) and forward Kevin Durant (7) in the second half of Game 3 of the first round NBA playoffs against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Brooklyn, NY.Steve Nash and Durant may have some awkward moments early in training camp after the Nets superstar asked for the coach to be fired over the summer.Corey Sipkin

That work begins the next day, when training camp starts.

If the first step toward reconciliation (presumably) came in that California tête-á-tête, the next could begin in camp. While just about every Net had made his way through HSS Training Center so far this offseason — including Ben Simmons, who was acquired for Harden and has yet to make his debut, and Irving — Durant has largely kept his distance. That distance will be closed during camp.

Still, training camp will merely be preamble. Practice is, well, like Allen Iverson said, practice. Building real chemistry will have to be done in real games, with real pressure on their shoulders and real results on the line.

That will require keeping the oft-injured Irving healthy. And the previously-perturbed Durant happy. And Simmons in the right headspace.

“I think it’s going to be scary,” Simmons had said of playing alongside Durant and Irving. “Having those guys run alongside me with multiple different weapons on the floor. And I think at the pace we want to play at, it’s going to be unreal.”

Despite Simmons’ optimism, nobody truly knows how Brooklyn’s new Big Three will mesh until it happens.

Irving and Simmons have a preexisting connection from playing together under legendary high school coach Kevin Boyle, so they’re friendly. And from his NBA debut through 2020-21 — his last healthy season — Simmons was second in the league in 3-pointers assisted (996). That should make for a good fit with Durant, Irving, Joe Harris and Seth Curry.

“We lost a franchise player (in Harden), and we got a franchise player back,” Irving gushed after the season. “But we didn’t get a chance to see [Simmons] on the floor…Ben’s good, we have Ben, we have his back. He’s going to be good for next year. But now we just turn the page and look forward to what we’re building.”

Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets hug after a game on January 15, 2020.Ben Simmonx and Irving share a connection that stretches back to high school.NBAE via Getty Images

There may not be a perfectly analogous situation to what the Nets are facing, but there are plenty of examples of teams that won despite feuding amongst each other, or with their coaches, or both.

For New York fans, the most famous example is the 1977 Yankees, when slugger Reggie Jackson got into a shouting match and physical altercation with manager Billy Martin in the Fenway Park dugout that June 18. The Bombers went on to win 100 games and the World Series over the Dodgers. The next year was another 100 victories, and another title over Los Angeles.

But there are examples in the NBA as well, albeit perhaps not as amusing.

Boston won the 2008 title behind their Big Three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, despite the fact that Allen clearly had locker room issues with Rajon Rondo and others.

That year the Celtics beat the Lakers in six games to claim the championship. The summer before, Kobe Bryant — who famously had a tumultuous relationship with Shaquille O’Neal — had gone on Los Angeles radio to demand a trade. And just like in the case of Durant, the team held on to their generational talent.

Bryant went on to claim the MVP Award that season, and led the Lakers to the next two championships.

Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant celebrates during a victory parade at the Coliseum stadium in Los Angeles after defeating the Orlando Magic in the NBA final series, on June 17, 2009. The Lakers won the series 4-1Two years after asking for a trade, Kobe Bryant was celebrating winning his fourth title with the Lakers.AFP via Getty Images

Granted, those are examples of internal strife between stars, while in Brooklyn’s case it was the star that tried a power play to get his coach fired. That’s precisely what happened in Miami in 2010, when the Heat started just 9-8 in LeBron James’ debut season in South Beach.

James wanted coach Erik Spoelstra fired, and Heat co-owner Raanan Katz admitted as much. But team president Pat Riley summoned James into his office and told the star in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t going to get his way. In the ensuing four years, Spoelstra went on to coach James and the Heat to four Finals — and two titles.

For a Brooklyn team that already had to fend off one potentially-catastrophic Durant trade request, avoiding a similar slow start is paramount.

The Nets have a dozen road dates in their first 20 games, the most in the Eastern Conference and second-most in the entire league. Their five back-to-backs in that stretch are also the second-most in the NBA, and they have the least rest days.

It doesn’t bode well for a fast start. But that’s exactly what the Nets need to tamp down any talk of Durant’s trade request, and assuage any fears of another.