Brooklyn Nets Still Paying For Ultimate Mismanagement

The Brooklyn Nets seemed to have it all. At one point, they had a team built around hard-nosed basketball and development, but then they pivoted. Instead of continuing to grow and build off of what they had established, they went for more seasoned veterans, and at the time, it seemed like there was a possibility of it working out. However, as we all know at best, that ended poorly.

At the time, few thought that the nucleus of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden would end the way it did. Considering how much offensive talent there was, it's shocking that they had as little on-court success as what we saw. It needed to end. Everyone involved needed to move in different directions for their careers. But the Dallas Mavericks are making it work with one of the players in question.

Granted injuries and player availability, including for Ben Simmons later, had a large part to do with how the situation unfolded. But even when everyone was on the court, it was a tough product to watch more times than not. However, Jason Kidd seems to have found the right buttons to push in order to get the most out of the product from Duke. In fact, some are even going a step further.

Fans of the Brooklyn Nets need to stop to consider everything that went on then and everything that is currently going on within the organization. Irving and Luka Doncic are considered by some, like Stan Van Gundy, to be the best offensive backcourt players of all time. And while that's a stretch too far, unquestionably, it's working. What's more impressive is that theories are two dominant players.

It's unfair to compare the two organizations directly, but there are some lessons to be learned from both scenarios. Some of the same initial concerns were present at the start when both acquisitions were made. Growing pains were apparent in the opening stages of this journey. If the Barclay's Center is going to see winning basketball again, they need to at least examine what is going on in Dallas.

Helping The Future Of The Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are hoping to get back into the winning column enough times to make a playoff push. But after watching Kyrie Irving on the Dallas Mavericks, is there something for them to learn?

Firstly, it cannot be forgotten that they had a strong team that had developed and grown together. However, at the time, they felt the need to add superstar power in place of the journeyman high-effort level players. They then placed the hopes of the franchise in a coaching newcomer, Steve Nash. Predictably, this combination made it impossible to install a winning culture.

Fast forward to today at the American Airlines Center. The team has two established stars who are veterans and are willing to sacrifice of themselves while still maintaining the edge needed to be individually brilliant when needed. Furthermore, they have a coach who himself has experience under his belt in his role and has learned from his past mistakes.

No single organization will be without flaws, but give credit to Mark Cuban's team. They were patient when some would have prematurely pulled the plug, and they had a longer-term vision in mind. Notably, the team and city have embraced some of the quirkiness and oddities of both of their star players and simply appreciate them for what they're able to do on the court.

Back to New York. Jordi Fernandez has a tough task ahead of him. They believe that they have their desired player to build around in Mikal Bridges. Conversely, some are almost demanding a splash for another big-time name. This isn't to say that that's not a good idea. But the Brooklyn Nets better make sure that the fit is right or that they are willing to make the adjustments as needed.

About the Author

Gabriel keeps his curiosity on the pulse of the sports world. Agree or disagree you can reach out to him on Twitter/X @BigTenGabriel, or send an email ([email protected]). He will respond! He's a fan of sports and competition in all forms. His past work includes content on various sites covering college football, college basketball, UFC, boxing, soccer, MLB, and the NFL.

(Article originally posted on Curious Sports Pulse)