I don't think that's the slam dunk you seem to think it is. Brown might have more percieved value around the league, I don't profess to know, but Mikal plays every night and is the consummate team player. Brown misses a lot of games and he and Tatum have frequently been at odds on who gets to be the man. Myself, I'd take Mikal and for whatever it's worth, he holds a nice career edge over Brown in VORP (9.8 to 8.1).
That's not accurate. Brian Windhorst on ESPN's reported it was the combo of trading two young players PLUS all the picks that the Suns were balking at. It wasn't reporting widely it was just because of Bridges. Windhorst made it sounds like the Suns were willing to do one or the other but not both.
I read multiple reports that it was the combo and they also reported that on the radio. It sure sounded like Sarver was the hold up. That's why I think Ishbia came in and said, do it. James Jones said he tried to keep Bridges but he never indicated it was no go just because of Bridges either. Who knows how these things go down behind closed doors though.
In any case, you may be neglecting the reality that Durant is still under contract for three more years. Brooklyn had all the time in the world (relatively speaking) to wait for a better deal... it wasnt like the clock was really ticking on their part. And frankly it wouldn't be that hard to top Cam Johnson, Crowder, and a bunch of probable low first rounders.
I doubt it. When you give up that much for a player you better believe the owner is involved and has the final say.
Yep this. They could have easily waited. A team that was unwiling to part with part X could have easily changed their mind if they fell short. There is no telling what the market would have done. Espeically, if KD came back during that time and looked good.
I think the fact James Jones initiated contact with the Nets twice knowing what it would cost indicates it was an owner thing. Just my two cents.
Sure that is possible but the opposite is also possible. At the end of the day the Nets were under no pressure to get rid of KD for anything short of what they wanted. If the Suns didn't give them what they wanted I don't think they had any issue taking their chances in the offseason.
The Nets the fist time made it clear they were not trading KD unless they got what they wanted. Sure KD would have been unhappy but there were multiple reports the Nets felt no obligation to trade him unless they got what they felt was fair value. If the Nets were in panick mode about his injuries the first deal would have gotten done. They were saying that once they decided to move Kyrie it opened the door for KD. If not for that deal they both would still be there. Doesn't sound like they were panicked to me about his injuries.
Again, if they had not decided to move Kyrie that wasn't going to happen this season. That likely would have occured after the season.
And I read multiple reports plus one and heard it reported on the radio, TV and the high speeds sports wire that it was not this way. So nanner nanner.
Yes they did. One led to the other. It's not like they had to which is the point.
Brian Windhorst on ESPN's Get Up. "To trade their two really good young wing players in Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, in addition to the four first round picks. That was a hard no from the Suns last year. That's why it didn't get off the ground.
If Kyrie would have stayed the KD deal doesn't happen at the trade deadline. So, yes, when Kyrie was out the door that changed everything.
I don't think it necessarily changed the deals being offered but I agree that the Kyrie situation changed the viewpoint of the Nets front office. Once he demanded a max deal and the team declined, the divorce was unavoidable. And IMO it made the Nets motivated sellers because KD's value was only likely to go down.
That's all I am saying. One led to the other. Once the Kyrie situation manifested all of the sudden the team direction did as well. Again, it wasn't because the Nets were desperate to move him because they were scarred he was going to get injured again. They still had hopes that Kyrie and Kevin could do something together.
