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When Sean Marks was employed as normal supervisor of the Nets 5 years in the past, he took over a franchise that was nearly totally devoid of belongings, together with first-round draft picks in 2016 and 2018 and a swap of the 2017 choose that price the Nets management of the No. 1 general choice. From that barren panorama, he needed to construct the group from the bottom up.
Quick ahead to this season, and the unimaginable has occurred. Some have recommended the roster assembled by Marks may be essentially the most gifted in NBA historical past with “Large 3” superstars Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden together with former All-Stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin becoming a member of the forged as function gamers, to not point out a deep supporting forged that includes gifted shooters Joe Harris, Landry Shamet and Tyler Johnson, the veteran savvy of Jeff Inexperienced and DeAndre Jordan and all-purpose participant Bruce Brown.
Abruptly, the Nets are considered by many as favorites to win the NBA title, however there’s a competing narrative they one way or the other are tainted as a result of Durant and Irving got here as free brokers in 2019, Harden compelled a messy commerce to the Nets this season and Aldridge and Griffin negotiated buyouts. Some decry the dearth of “home-grown” expertise, however actually, the groundwork laid by Marks 5 years in the past and the shrewd strikes he has made since then recommend he must be the runaway winner for NBA govt of the 12 months.
Harden not too long ago scoffed on the notion the Nets one way or the other have gamed the system to construct an unfair benefit. “I assumed that was the objective,” Harden stated. “The narrative at all times modifications. We’ve obtained to get wholesome to get this practice going, and on the finish of all of it, we’ll see what they are saying.”
Harris is certainly one of two gamers remaining from that first season below Marks together with Spencer Dinwiddie, who has missed all however three video games this season whereas recovering from knee surgical procedure. He credit the family-style tradition established by Marks together with the optimistic vibe and enthusiasm the Nets at all times displayed below former coach Kenny Atkinson for attracting such high-powered expertise.
“Clearly, Ky and Kevin took discover of that, and then you definately come to a spot like Brooklyn with a possibility to construct one thing particular the place it’s by no means been completed earlier than,” Harris stated. “All these issues sort of issue into each other and made it a really fascinating place. We add Kevin and Ky to the combination and the tradition stays the identical, however clearly, there may be much more expertise. I believe extra expertise intrigues different expertise to return as properly.”
Harden turned down a two-year extension price $100 million to drive the Rockets to commerce him. Each Aldridge and Griffin gave up tens of millions of their buyout packages to signal with the Nets for the veteran’s minimal.
The Nets have this one window of alternative to go all-in for an NBA title, and so Marks made the hardest determination of his profession to money within the worth he constructed when it comes to creating Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen when the chance to acquire Harden introduced itself.
“Once we traded for James Harden, we gave up some actually good younger gamers and draft picks — tons of them,” first-time head coach Steve Nash stated. “We obtained two guys within the buyout market that had nice careers and are nonetheless in a position to contribute. It’s not like we did something unlawful. The thought of this league is to place collectively the perfect crew you possibly can put collectively.”
The choice Marks made to half methods with Atkinson, who deserves credit score for the event that constructed the worth to draw high free brokers, was a troublesome one, however each agreed it was the suitable transfer. Marks’ determination to rent longtime shut pal Nash seems to be dangerous from the skin, however Marks beforehand indicated his conviction was absolute as a result of he had seen firsthand what Nash did as a participant to assist run the Suns once they had been teammates.
Clearly, Durant and Irving signed off on that transfer, simply as they did on the Harden commerce, in line with a number of sources acquainted with the collaborative philosophy embraced by Marks, who engages along with his gamers nearly day by day, particularly the celebrities driving this course of. Harden not too long ago stated he consulted with Durant, specifically, earlier than he was traded to the Nets.
Since becoming a member of the Nets, Harden has emphasised his playmaking whereas sacrificing his scoring. Durant not too long ago stated all of the Nets’ big-name gamers perceive they “should verify their egos.”
Some have recommended the mercurial Irving may be the figuring out think about how the chemistry develops. However he made an enormous dedication to the crew he grew up rooting for in New Jersey and a dedication to Durant once they selected the Nets. He additionally has obtained help from the Nets after calling on them final season so as to add extra expertise, and the enjoyment with which he has performed the sport in entrance of household and mates this season is palpable.
All of the items are near falling into place for the Nets. Harden at present is out with a hamstring however is predicted again inside two weeks or so. Even Dinwiddie is a risk to return by playoff time and has made it clear on his social media that’s his objective.
When Harden first joined the Nets, he described the probabilities for them as “scary hours.” That anticipation solely has continued to construct, and all of it is the results of good design and execution by Marks to assemble what may be an historic crew.
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