KD or Nash

 KD has demanded his Net's coach, Steve Nash, and GM Sean Marks go or he goes. The controversy is on, talking heads yapping, and clapping back. All kinds of opinions. Nets holding out for a huge trade package. Doing a Danny Ainge, asking for the moon. I love KD's game and no one doubts Kyrie Irivng is as good as it gets on offense, while being very unenthusiastic on D. If the two stars could mend fences, get it together and ball like they're capable of, with the roster of quality secondary players Sean Marks has put together, the Nets could compete for a championship in the East. But it would require the two superstars to be TRULY on the same page. Moi, I don't see that happening. Sooo, UNCOMMIETED DUO, as good as they are and as decent as the supporting cast is, can NOT get past the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

That said, what's left for the Nets to do? Again, lots of opinions: Trade one, trade both, keep both for a year, since they're on contracts, see what happens, etc, etc. I'm on the side of trade them both. But I have a different take on what the trades should look like from what. I'm not buying in to this value for value nonsense. Define value. Frankly, I don't see a lot of value in either KD or Kyrie the way things are playing out and I don't see teams willing to forfeit their futures to get either of these players. They want them, but not for the MOON. The moon is a long way off as any amateur astronomer will tell you. 

Here's my take on what the Nets should do. Don't shoot for the moon. Stay firmly rooted to the earth. Get rid of these two flacks as fast as you can. Not a fire sale, mind you, but take an offer that provides you with rising young stars and first and sccond round draft choices. But make your asking price that a team would really consider.  

Let's take one trade scenario for example that is probabably still on the table. The Boston Celtics have offered Jaylen Brown, a true rising star, along with Derrick White, a solid mid-age two way guard and an unprotected first round draft choice. The Nets countered that they wanted Marcus Smart too. No, said the Celts. I don't blame them. However, a dynamic duo of KD and Jayson Tatum is far too great an enticement that the Celtics would not entertain a counter offer. How about forgoing Smart and asking for Grant Williams and a second to go along with the 2023 first round unprotected draft choice? The Celts would be nuts not to go for it. Sure, I admit, for the Nets, it would not be value for value, But this is not the point. The Nets need to get rid of the two head-cases and get younger, more stable and more mature. There is a ton of value in Jaylen Brown. And lot's of value in a two-way young wing like Williams. It's reasonable to think that the Nets might be handing the Celtics an NBA Championship, but that's okay. The Nets' only concern at this moment in time is moving on from insanity. 

While the KD trade is going on, the Nets should also be seeking to trade Kyrie Irving. As long as the Nets ignore that silly ass value for value idea, they ought to find a couple of young rising stars and more draft choices that teams would be willing to give up for Kyrie's instant offense. The way the game is being played today, I'm all for finding tall, long two-way players. HERE'S THE DEAL, as President Biden says. Nets, you need to shed the nutjobs, get YOUNG, accumulate FIRST AND SECOND ROUND DRAFT CHOICES. You need to THINK BROOLYN. If players don't want to play in one of the best hoop meccas in the NBA, screw 'em. Let 'em go! Build a team of men, not cry babies. It's ok to pay big $ to grown ups, but not to spoiled children. Right now, for example, if I was Sean Marks I'd much prefer to build my team around Jaylen Brown than KD. And I'd take Jaylen Suggs with Franz Wagner as part of the deal from Orlando for Kyrie in a heart beat. I can think of a bunch more young up-and-comers I'd rather have than Kyrie. 

ZEN OF BASKETBALL    by Tom Meschery

The game is still the game,
round ball, round hoop, glass
through which fans wave to you
to score free points or wave for you to miss. 
What's on your mind is a kind of nothingness.
You crouch, you shoot. The ball will enter or it won't.

Durant to the Warriors???

 This morning I read an article written by Dieter Kalltenbach of the Mercury News about Durant returning to the Warriors that made some sense. Whether the Dubs would entertain such a trade is the question. In terms of solving the Warriors massive tax problem, it seems to be a solution of sorts since Durant is already signed and would be a known financial entity. It also makes some sense because it does not force the Warriors to entirely give up their future team. The writer, Kalltenbach, predicts that the Nets would definetly entertain a package of Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathon Kuminga and a 2023 first and second round draft choices. It's possible. Say they do agree to this package and the  Curry led team and KD would say no hard feelings and the reunite would happen, what would be the result? Pretty amazing stuff, I imagine. For the next 3 or 4 years the Warriors win the NBA Championshiip. While that is happening, the weriter believes those years would see James Wiseman and Moses Moody (I'm a huge fan of Moody's potential) develop their game. Both have a chance to be excellent, even NBA All Stars. 

Granted, losing Poole and Wiggens are significant losses, Kaltenback writes, but Durant is Durant. As much as Wiggins is a fabulous wing scorer and defender, he is not KD. Poole is a future star, and his presence in the post Curry era would be missed, but for a player like Durant a team must be willing to give up a great young player. With that deal with the Nets made and Durant back in the linewup, the writer suggests the Warriors would still have part of their strategy of growing a future dynasty in place and time during the championship years to keep building on the Wiseman, Moody core. A still young Divenzenzo could remain. The Warriors would still have their two draft choices: Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins. Throw in a fiesty young Mac McClung and whomever the ever creative Warrior GM Bob Myers could discover, hey, worth thinking about seriously?

What do I think of this scenario? Well, according to the writer, it would help the Warriors tax situation, and God knows, Joe Lacob has been totaly generous, and could use a break. That said, Warrior ownership is very smart and determined. I suspect they'll give it some  consideration. But will they go for it? I think a lot would depend on KD. According to the Kalltenback article, KD admitted he made a mistake leaving the Warriors. I checked all through the internet and found no such public admission. Lots of ex-players-talking-heads are saying it, but not from the horse's mouth. Another thing to consider and it's Big, The Warriors think-tank believe in its present old and young core. They feel they have the players in place NOW. Why reinvent the wheel, even for KD? In addition, and the writer did not point this out, there's going to be a huge uptick in the cap-space with the new TV contract the NBA is about to sign. So, perhaps solving the luxury tax problem is not so crucial. 

Okay, Meschery, we're getting old out here. Yes to this scenario or no? Oh, I dearly love KD's game, but here's my answer, Drum roll please! This old Warrior predicts there would be lots of discussion, but in the end the Warriors would stick to their plan.  

Next, one of the top ten funniest sport's poem I've read:

I TRY TO TURN IN MY JOCK   By David Hilton

     The way I see it, is when I step out on the court
      and feel inside that I can't make the plays,
      it'll be time to call it quits - Elgin Baylor

Going up for the jump shot,
Giving the kid the head fakes and all
'Till he's jocked right out of the door of the gym
And I'm free at the top with the ball and my touch
Lofting the arc off my fingertips,
I feel my left calf turn to stone
And my ankle warp inward to form when i land
A neat right angle with my leg,
And i'm on he floor,
A pile of sweat and sick muscles,
Saying,
Hilton,
You're 29, getting fat,
Can't drive to your right anymore,
You can think of better things to do
On Saturday aaafternoons than be a chump
For a bunch of sophomore third-stringers;
Join the Y, steam and martinis and muscletone.
But, shit,
The shot goes in.