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The Brooklyn Nets have been a dysfunctional basketball team this season. The team changed coaches less than a month into the season and their starting point guard is serving a suspension. This follows a summer in which their star player Kevin Durant requested a trade.
Durant ultimately did not get traded and has been the steadiest part of the Nets line-up since the season began. During a conversation with Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, Durant talked about some of the things that led to his frustration.
“Ask Steve Nash, you can go call him right now. I would say, ‘Yo, I need more closeout drills. We need to practice more.’ That's what I was on. I wasn’t feeling that, and nobody was on that same vibe with me. Jacque Vaughn is.” - Kevin Durant
From Durant’s statement it feels like the team was not living up to his expectations while under Steve Nash. Durant has a right to be critical of the direction team was heading considering he is the most visible face of the franchise. The main person who will have to answer questions in the media will be Kevin Durant.
Under Jacque Vaughn, the side appear to be playing better. The team is 4-4 under Vaughn but are still 6-9 overall and at the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings. Durant has been a bright spot for the team, leading them in scoring with 30.3 ppg and 5.3 apg.
Will the Brroklyn Nets stay together?
The Brooklyn Nets decided to keep their team together this summer, despite Durant asking for a trade and Kyrie Irving seeking a trade partner, but were unsuccessful. Within a month into the experiment, the organization felt Steve Nash needed to go.
How long is it before the Nets get tired of the roster as it is now? The team has already had issues with Kyrie Irving and could look to move him. Despite the issues they have had with him off the court, Irving has averaged 26.9ppg in the games he has played this season.
The Nets already know the problem they had with attempting to trade Durant during the offseason. The team is going to want too much in compensation for Durant. Then there is Ben Simmons, who still hasn’t got going.
Ben Simmons would not be an attractive piece in any trade and the team would not receive much in exchange for him. The best thing for the team right now is to play it out till closer to the trade deadline. If Vaughn can get the team to continue to grow and Irving returns, they may have a chance to make the playoffs this season.
