The 2021-22 NBA season did not go as planned for the Brooklyn Nets. They came into the season as title favorites led by a Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. They finished the season with only Durant and Irving on the roster and a lot of questions about what is to come.
This offseason is a very important one for Brooklyn as they have to figure out which players they want to commit to long-term. Kevin Durant is under contract, but Kyrie Irving can opt out of his deal and become a free agent, making him eligible for a five-year contract worth $245.6 million.
Irving isn’t the only player that the Brooklyn Nets have to evaluate this offseason, as they have to also decide what to do with Ben Simmons. Simmons was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers in the James Harden deal but did not appear in a game this season.
Simmons underwent an operation on his back, hoping that alleviates the pain and he is ready to go for training camp.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Predictions For Kyrie Irving’s Latest Contract Talks With Brooklyn Nets
These are franchise-altering decisions that Sean Marks has to make. While Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving seem tied at the hip, Marks made it clear during a recent press conference what he and the franchise are expecting from their players.
“So he has to look at what he’s going to do with his player option, and so forth like that. I think we know what we’re looking for. We’re looking for guys that want to come in here and be part of something bigger than themselves. Play selfless, play team basketball and be available — and that goes not only for Kyrie but for everybody here.”
That is a direct shot at Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons. But, it is hard to take Marks seriously after how they handled Irving not being vaccinated.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Predictions For Kyrie Irving’s Latest Contract Talks With Brooklyn Nets
The organization decided to hold Kyrie Irving out at the beginning of the season until he was eligible full-time. But, once they started losing players, they changed course and brought Irving back into the fold as a part-time player.
Availability has been a huge issue for Irving and Simmons recently and it is hard to count on them going forward. Irving has had issues every season since he left the Cleveland Cavaliers and Simmons will have gone more than a year without appearing in an NBA game.
Ben Simmons is already locked into his contract, but the Nets could look to trade him this offseason. Handing Kyrie Irving a five-year deal would be tough to stomach as he has shown he cannot be counted on to play a full season.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Predictions For Kyrie Irving’s Latest Contract Talks With Brooklyn Nets
Committing to one player that is hard to count on is difficult enough. Committing to two and you could be committing organizational suicide. But, this is the route that Marks and the Brooklyn Nets chose when they decided to add a third star in Harden, setting in motion the chain of events that has led them to this point.
