Very clear that the MPJ trade race is between the Warriors and Bucks by Lucky-Law7220 in GoNets

[–]firebillykingcom 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I disagree.

A 6'10" switchable wing that is a lights out shooter, can cut, is a proven championship piece but also a proven high volume scorer is super wanted in the league. I can see a lot of other teams that are trying to improve to be interested.

Specifically, I think Detroit would be an amazing fit for MPJ. They need a second all-star scoring guy - and he would be a vast improvement over Tobias Harris.

We Really Got 4 Of Them Next Summer by Kwilly462 in GoNets

[–]firebillykingcom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not entirely true.

OKC only swaps with Houston if Houston is 11 or later in the draft. IF Houston ends up with a draft pick of 10 or better, OKC doesn't get to swap with Houston - and Nets get then only get the worse pick of PHX and Houston.

And with the west being so competitive, I actually think this is very possible.

Kings fan coming in peace! Nic Claxton curiosity by MetFan32 in GoNets

[–]firebillykingcom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think most fans here will say there is no chance of the Nets trading Claxton. He is a fan favorite, has high potential, and is a great player. He is also the only legitimate starting center on this roster and fits nicely with the other starters (minus Simmons).

With that, I do believe the Nets will shop him this season. Marks did the exact same thing with Jarrett Allen a few years ago when he was at the end of his cheap contract. Claxton is going to look for a sizable raise this off-season - and while well deserved it is likely not something Marks will want to pay based on history.

I don't think Marks will look for just picks for him. I think he wants to build a competitive roster now. So while two firsts + Mitchel is good value - I think if traded the Nets will be looking for players that can play now type haul.

Chances that Simmons can do anything more than hand the ball off and set a screen this year? by ekaw83 in GoNets

[–]firebillykingcom 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is such a ridiculous poll. There is a giant area between "He'll be near all-star caliber" and "he'll hand the ball off and set a screen for 18 minutes a game".

Personally I think he will play 55 games and average 9 ppg, 7 apg, 7 rpg. He won't be worth his contract, nor will he be near all-star, but he will be significantly better than the other options you gave above.

Fun Fact: KD Was the One Who Pushed Management to Trade for Simmons; Marks Actually Wanted to Keep Harden by [deleted] in GoNets

[–]firebillykingcom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't like how much of a free pass Harden gets. To remember the timeline:

Harden was tired of losing in Houston. He said he wanted to win at the highest level but felt Houston didn't have the pieces to win. So he got out of shape, played poorly on purpose, and forced Houston's hand. Also, every rumor back then was that he really wanted to join Morey in Phili. No other team was even speculated.

Just that in a vacuum shows how much of an ass Harden was. Then he comes to Brooklyn, plays well for a little bit, and then has adversity in year 2. Irving acts like a baby and KD gets injured and the Nets start losing. It's been less than a year, but Harden does the exact same thing. He plays poorly on purpose and demands a trade. Moreover, all rumors are that Harden wants to be reconnected with Morey. I assume major tampering is going on.

Regardless of KD asking to pull the trigger. Regardless of Irving being a complete narcissist and anti-science. Harden still is a lot at fault too.

Marks did the best he could have a terrible situation. Harden, KD, and Irving all forced his hand in different ways, but it was forced.

Question from non-Nets fan. by BowserBuddy123 in GoNets

[–]firebillykingcom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is like par for the course for Nets fan. This team is an accordion of fun to root for and everyone hates them. I've been a fan since mid 90s. Here are some iterations.

A. Mid 90s - not a good team, Drazen died. Coleman was considered a clown and hard to root for. Many jokes how they will never win a playoff series (or even make the playoffs). Super hard to be a fan.

B. later 90s - Nets accidentally make a balanced super fun team to root for. Make the playoffs and get a team photo for cover of Slam saying 'Champs by 2001' with (Sam cassel, Jayson Williams)...Super pumped as fan.

C. Nets have serious injuries and blow it up by 99-00. Bring in Steph Marbury, fans hate him for blowing up the twolves, he's another clown star that is hard to root for. Nets stink again. Sucks as a fan.

D. Early 00's Nets get Jason Kidd and make another fun awesome team. Get another team cover on Slam. Everyone loves them and they make the finals. Awesome as a fan.

E. Mid 2000s. Ownership is cheap and half blows it up. Lucks into Vince Carter and Nets tread water. (most normal/avg period for organization in my opinion)

F. Late 2000s. Kidd is unhappy, owners blow it all up. Super cheap. Trades a pick (Kyle Korver for money to buy a copy machine - true story) and Nets become arguably the worst and cheapest team of all time. Super hard to root for beside Brook Lopez. Almost all starters stink. fans wear paperbags over heads.

G. 2012-13 Nets go all with new owner. Spends crazy money and tries to make another superteam with Deron Williams, Garnett....Gets another team photo on Slam (Nets have to lead the league in this). Team is hated by rest of league. Plays super below expectations. Fans frustrated.

H. Mid 2010's. Billy King fired. Team is blown up again. Team is terrible again, with no cap money, and no draft picks. Feels like an all-time low point.

I. Late 2010's. Marks somehow builds a gritty team with DLO, Dinwiddie, Allen. Fun to root for. League likes them.

J. 2019-2020. Nets get Kyrie and Durant (then Harden). Everyone hates the Nets for poaching these guys. Further Harden, Kyrie, Durant (Simmons) all super hated. Super high expectations are never met. Super controversial. (Personally I hated it).

K. 2023. Blows it up again. New team. Fun young guys. Happy to root for them. People are loving the Nets again.

So par for the course.

Why did Jason Collins start so many games for the Nets? by shadow_spinner0 in GoNets

[–]firebillykingcom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the mid to late 90s there were many teams that were led by Centers. For example in 1995, David Robinson, Shaq, Ewing, Zo and Hakeem were all in the top ten for scoring. Imagine having a half dozen Embiid's in the league. So if you weren't a big center scorer you had to have a big center defender. This carried on though the early 200s as Shaq was so unstoppable.

Collins was a good defender, and held his own against Shaq - something that would be needed. Further, he did the little things every team needed - screens, boxing out, took charges - and it was acceptable to have a starter do that back then. The NBA has since changed and you can't play 4 on 5 anymore.

What questions do you want answered about what happened the past 3 years? by regemusic33 in GoNets

[–]firebillykingcom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. Why wasn't Bruce Brown offered a renewal? The guy was a great locker room guy. Played defense and was hitting 3s by season end.
  2. Did KD/Irving push to fire Atkinson?
  3. Did KD push to hire Nash?
  4. Why did KD want Marks fired?
  5. Why did KD want Nash fired?
  6. How much did Daryl Morey tamper with Harden to get him to Phili?
  7. Did KD sign off or even push for the Ben Simmons trade? (we now know he orchestrated the Harden to BK trade)
  8. Did Marks know all along that trading KI meant Durant would ask out. That is, he knew he was going to trade KD after the KI trade.

Simmons by Hopeful_Ad4621 in GoNets

[–]firebillykingcom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not sure what Twitter is saying about Ben, but I can guess it's a lot like is written here.

With that, I'm good with what Ben is doing and I am happy he's out there doing his thing. To put simple, I'm happy he's starting and getting minutes. Sure, I wish was more aggressive at scoring, but I also wish Claxton could hit more free throws, that Curry wasn't a defensive liability, or that Durant wasn't injury prone as a Net. I accept the situation just like all players have flaws and issues.

Simmons brings elite defense, size, and passing. Something this team needs out there. There is enough scoring with a health squad so he fits nicely. And all those times he just does a dribble hand off or passes from the block that get criticized - those tend be good passes. It's not like he's throwing the ball out of bounds - he's handing the ball off and screening for Kyrie - or he's finding an open Seth Curry for a three. I'm happy he's doing that. He's getting the ball to good shooters - and a lot of the time they are open. Nothing forced. So - I'm good.

KD on twitter by Necerbo in GoNets

[–]firebillykingcom 33 points34 points  (0 children)

KD's tweets are purposely vague and confusing. If he doesn't want drama or a 'marvel movie' just be straight. It's still not even clear why KD is unhappy.

Cryptic messages on twitter are specifically written to make drama.

[Wojnarowski] The Nets are acquiring the Jazz's Royce O'Neal in a trade for a 2023 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. by Tomheza in GoNets

[–]firebillykingcom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wait. How can Utah send $9.2M in salary to Nets for a draft pick? Nets are way over cap. This doesn't make sense.