NETS INSIDER

  Kyrie Irving didn't exactly leave the Nets on great terms. After demanding a trade and being dealt to Dallas ahead of the 2023 NBA Trade deadline, both Irving and Nets fans can't help but think what could have been in Brooklyn.  A Crazy time for sure! https://t.co/jrEGCH3BsN — Kyrie🤞🏾 (@KyrieIrving) July 16, 2025 It's amazing to think what the Nets' big three could have achieved had a pandemic not disrupted the world, but alas, we'll never truly know.

 

Brooklyn Nets fans rooted for the team to lose games intentionally. Tanking was in vogue. Log on to your favorite social media platform, specifically Twitter/X, and droves of accounts celebrated with each passing Nets loss.  While general manager Sean Marks executed a trade with the Houston Rockets to reacquire draft picks last year, but he failed to deal several veterans before the start of this season.  A few veterans were dealt at the deadline including Dorian Finney-Smith and Dennis Schröder, but other veterans in contract years including Keon Johnson, Trendon Watford, Zaire Williams and Cam Thomas elevated their level of play.  As a result, the flawed plan of intentionally losing games went down the tubes. Add to that a rookie coach in Jordi Fernandez, who won the coaching battle on most nights, and you had a team that was not an a true tanking position.  The Nets acquired D'Angelo Russell from the Lakers in the Finney Smith trade. Russell, in his second stint w...

 The message from the the Nets fan base is clear. No more shortcuts.   Sean Marks has picked up the pieces from a failed big three era and a discontented Mikal Bridges by turning ugly situations into a cupboard loaded with future first round draft picks.  Every indication from Marks and the Nets is that they will continue down the pathway of a steady rebuild by developing young assets and keeping future draft picks. There is one clear exception, however.  Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks 30-year-old star may be staring at another first round exit in Milwaukee and might possibly ask out this summer.  The Nets' general manager indicated that he would be opportunistic if there was a player of Giannis's ilk that could single handedly change the trajectory of a franchise.  While in theory the Greek Freak might be able to be the start of a huge turnaround in Brooklyn, the timeline for the player and the organization just does not align. The Nets would need t...

  The New York Knicks rested most of their starters but that did not matter on Sunday in Brooklyn.  Mikal Bridges checked in for a mere six seconds and then exited to the bench to prolong his games, played streak and complete 82 games played this season.  Trendon Watford and Tyrese Martin had 20 each, but after scoring 66 points in a torrid shooting Pace. In the first half, the Nets offense got stuck in the mud and only scored 39 in the second half.  A miserable season has drawn to an official close for the Nets and now everyone's attention turns to May 12th NBA draft lottery.  

 Brooklyn was outpaced 28-16 in the first quarter and never recovered. The Nets were dominated in every statistical category and had no answers for Rudy Goebert's 35 points and 11 rebounds.  Keon Johnson tallied 20 and Drew Timme finished with a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Without many key vets and with the Timberwolves aiming to lock up a playoff spot, Brooklyn faced an uphill climb. Anthony Edwards had just nine points in 31 minutes, but Minnesota hardly the support as it coasted to a 26-point victory.  Brooklyn's final game of the season comes Sunday at Barclays as they will play host to the Knicks. In a season where Nets fans were split about whether to tank or not to tank, a win in the regular season finale against the reveled Knicks is good for the Nets fan's soul.

 Atlanta outscored Brooklyn 33-14 in the first and never looked back.  Zaccharie Risacher had a game high 38, while Trae Young added 24.  Jalen Wilson led Brooklyn with 20 and Toscan Evbuomwan added 18.  The Hawks scored 66 points in the paint and shot an unconscious 57.1 from the field.  The Nets play a back to back as they visit Minnesota on Friday.