The Nets have had a tumultuous off-season. There is a time and a place for it. The Nets gave the NBA an extra year. The league watched the turmoil unfold throughout the summer and looked at every move the organization made. Kevin Durant, who requested a trade, then requested for Sean Marks and Steve Nash to be fired, is ready to start the season with the Nets. The roller coaster continued as Irving was asked about his future in Brooklyn. There was speculation about a possible reunion with the Los Angeles Lakers but no deal materialized. Irving, who played just 29 games last season because of his vaccination status and New York City's mandate, decided to opt out of his contract with the Nets and become a free agent. Ben Simmons hasn't played in over a year since he was acquired by the Philadelphia 76ers. Simmons missed the rest of the year while dealing with mental health concerns and a back injury that forced him to have surgery over the summer. The Nets appear to be on the same page for the first time in a long time. The Nets will play in the 2022-23 season. This is the first thing. The Nets had discontent during the summer. After getting swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, KD said he had no regrets. It's not time to feel bad or angry. He said in April that it was about how we could find solutions to get better. A few months can change everything. After internal conversations within the organization, he outlined exactly what he wanted to see in the future. It's just a matter of team building, according to KD. Great teams do that. We don't have any respect out there on the court, and that's what I want for us. The NBA community has respect for the way we play on both ends of the floor from the general manager down to the equipment manager. I would like that respect. Because of the circumstances, we skipped some steps in how we worked throughout that year last year. I try to keep pressing forward and that's what I try to do as a player. I don't preach anything that I don't practice. Every rep matters to me and I want everyone to feel the same way. Three years after he signed with Brooklyn, the organization has put him at the center of everything it does. That likely won't change now, either, but how he approaches each day with the team that he appeared to not want to be on will set the tone for the rest of the season. There are two Irving will be a part of the team. Everything was hanging over Irving's decision not to get vaccine. He was away from the team for two weeks during the 2020-21 season for personal reasons. The hope within the organization is that without a vaccine requirement this season, and with the motivation of a possible contract extension hanging in the balance, Irving will rebound. The All-Star guard is on his way to Brooklyn after holding out for four months. • Sixers send Simmons to Nets for Harden
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He played more games than I and James Harden in the first year. He was more reliable than we were. If it wasn't for the vaccine, he wouldn't have played. This year there isn't a vaccine mandate. I assumed he'd be here every day once the mandate was gone because he was very reliable before. He enjoys playing. I should not have to say that. Everyone knows that.
He can still play at a high level when he's on the floor, as evidenced by the 27.4 points he averaged over 29 regular-season games last year. Marks said that he understands that in order for him to be a free agent he will have to show commitment.
There are three. Simmons is ready to play.
The Nets want to contend in the East and Simmons' reemergence is the most important variable.
Simmons hasn't played a game of professional basketball since the Philadelphia 76ers' Game 7 loss against the Atlanta Hawks in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals in which he took a lot of criticism for his passive play.
Simmons was traded to the Nets the following season and after back surgery and missing time last season to address his mental health, he has to show he is still capable of playing at an All-Star level. Simmons is confident that his body and mind will hold up.
Simmons was happy to have his back surgery done. It was necessary. People don't know where I am. I woke up on the floor and couldn't move because I was supposed to play Game 4. I couldn't walk very far. I am happy to be in this situation. I was able to get myself into a place where I could compete. I'm looking forward to it.
Stephen A. Smith is not happy with the lack of commitment to the teams that he plays for.
One of the most interesting questions in the league is how he meshes with the other two. Figuring out how to handle adversity is equally important. Simmons responded quickly when asked what it had been like practicing with both players.
He said it was incredible.
There are four. Nash is asked how he responds.
Steve Nash came into a training room after a shootaround in Salt Lake City and began to talk about how the team would break it. As an undersized guard out of Santa Clara University, he was far off the NBA map, but he found a way to carve out a career. Nash said with a smile that he loved this s---.
He has been in the NBA for a long time. While he understands the scrutiny that can boil when losses mount and things go awry, he also earned a Hall of Fame nomination and two Most Valuable Player awards during his 18 seasons in the league.
Isn't that pro sports? Marks said that he and Nash would both be fired. There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes. We know what goes on inside the locker room because we both lived on the other side.
I agree withurant's frustration. I'm not sure if anyone was more frustrated than us. All of us are in on this. We all know what is at stake here.
There are five. What's going to happen at center for the Nets?
There is only one center on the roster who played more than 18 minutes per game. Simmons played just 8% of the time at the 5 in his four seasons in Philadelphia, and that's one of the things that's been talked about. Simmons will be at center, according to Nash.
"If he is the quote, unquote 'lone big,' that is a role we would definitely play him at," Nash said. He's our point guard and our most important player.
Nash said that second-year big man Day'Ron Sharpe will have opportunities as well. Nash's choices are limited after losing some of his best players.
The 13-year veteran is a 5 for Nash. While discussing his role a few minutes later, Morris said he was willing to help the team in any way he can.
I am not a center. Steve would like to call me a center if you wanted to put me there.
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