“I don’t think you can go into the next season with both of them”

The Brooklyn Nets are going to have a wholesome Ben Simmons subsequent season, whereas Kyrie Irving has already expressed his need to proceed taking part in in Brooklyn. If each can have a full coaching camp and keep wholesome, the Nets might be one of many favorites to win the 2023 NBA title.

Not so quick, although, in accordance with Sports activities Illustrated senior author Howard Beck. On an episode of “The Crossover,” the veteran sportswriter insists that just one must be with the Nets subsequent season.

Right here’s how Beck mentioned the Nets ought to proceed with their mercurial gamers:

“I do not assume you possibly can go into the subsequent season with each of them. You may’t go in with each Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons, as a result of you possibly can have one unstable, unreliable, unpredictable star. You may’t have two.”

The “Crossover” co-host continued:

“On paper, they’ve bought three stars. On paper, they need to be a contender subsequent season. However that’s just like the flimsiest on-paper model of a contender I believe I’ve ever seen. I don’t know what these two guys are gonna do, what number of video games they’ll play.

“Ben Simmons has by no means performed a minute with this workforce. We don’t actually know the way he matches with them or what he’s keen to do.”

Irving talked of extending his stick with the Nets to go on a four-year dominance with Kevin Durant. These have been daring phrases from a participant who has missed extra video games than performed in his three seasons in Brooklyn.

And Irving’s unavailability isn’t nearly his refusal to take the vaccine that had the Nets virtually banning him from each workforce exercise. The seven-time All-Star was a no-show in a number of video games with out even telling coach Steve Nash and basic supervisor Sean Marks about it.

Extra importantly, KD and “Kai” have solely received one playoff collection, which was in 2020 towards a depleted Boston Celtics workforce. A retooled Celtics workforce led by Jayson Tatum ran them off the court docket within the first spherical of the playoffs this yr.

The Celtics sweep the Nets 4-0 in Spherical 1

It is the primary time Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have ever been swept within the playoffs.

The Celtics sweep the Nets 4-0 in Spherical 1 It is the primary time Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have ever been swept within the playoffs. https://t.co/YHXJekXSIF

Simmons must be absolutely wholesome subsequent season after present process again surgical procedure. However what his psychological well being might be when the season suggestions off is anyone’s guess.

GM Sean Marks defends Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons was on the receiving finish of vicious criticisms for a way dealt with his total season first with the Philadelphia 76ers after which with the Brooklyn Nets. First, he sat out to drive Philly to commerce him on the deadline in February. Then, psychological and again points prevented him from taking part in for Brooklyn.

Right here’s what basic supervisor Sean Marks on the YES Network needed to say about the entire Simmons brouhaha:

“It’s somewhat little bit of a testomony that, one, he tried to get again on the market and tried to assist his teammates, and secondly, we’ve to watch out to not decide individuals. And should you’re exterior that medical occupation, whenever you’re chiming in from afar, you simply must be a bit cautious of what you’re saying, since you actually don’t know.”

Howard Beck, with the Kyrie Irving and Simmons conditions on Marks’ arms, doesn’t wish to commerce locations with the final supervisor:

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“I don’t envy the place that Sean Marks is in proper now. They’re capped out, they’re within the tax, they haven’t any flexibility, they’ll’t simply afford to let Kyrie stroll if he opts out. You may’t afford to provide Kyrie the max deal, both.”