Off-Season Interviews: Brooklyn Nets
Jul 16, 2022 0:55:40 GMT -5
Golden State Warriors (Caleb), Indiana Pacers (Jon), and 1 more like this
Post by The Athletic on Jul 16, 2022 0:55:40 GMT -5
--Brooklyn, NY-- Andre was thrown into the fire about a week into the regular season. He responded with a 23-6 regular season and a 2 seed. Unfortunately KD and Capela went down meaning this team really didn't have a chance. There are multiple different paths Andre could take this team. Let's sit down with him and find out.
Hey Andre! Thank you for taking some time to sit down and chat about the squad and congrats again on getting married!
Pleasure to join the interview cycle. Ready to lay it all out there
Obviously 23-6 season and a 2 seed is awesome but the first round exit had to hurt. What are your overall thoughts on your first year?
Winning is fun so I enjoyed the season honestly. Really just a feel out season since I started a week into the regular season. We’ve got some interesting characters in this league so it was cool to sit back and observe what everyone is like.
With untimely injuries to Durant and Capela, we had a tough debut in the playoffs but we learn and we bounce back. Would have felt terrible losing with a healthy crew though
Okay bro I’m sorry I’ve got to ask it. Given your situation do you regret dealing Kuminga and first for Wendell?
Honestly, outside of the obvious talent in Luka and Durant, I really disliked the squad I inherited. Just a ragtag bunch of players that I felt like made no sense together…shout-out Josh? so I got pretty trigger happy with trades to kick off my first few days as a new GM.
Totally a rookie move not accounting for the inability to resign Wendell, but I honestly felt bad taking it back and wanted to grind it out for the season and see what the squad could do. I mean what if we just won it all in our debut season?!
Wendell was awesome and we wish him well. So I don’t regret the trade - it is what it is but I do regret feeling bad about taking the trade back (taking back trades doesn’t seem that out of the ordinary lol) I would say I’m never trading with Lor again but I think I traded with him like two weeks ago
It’s been a pretty quiet off season overall in Brooklyn. What would you say your main goals were with this roster coming into the off season?
Clean my books of pricey, inefficient contracts. Move towards younger talent with potential. I’ve got two of the league top 5 players locked up on long contracts. Everything’s about being patient until the management in Brooklyn feels like it’s time to strike. Could be this year but definitely doesn’t have to be
You’ve got a really young roster outside of KD/Capela. Forgive me if you already answered this in the previous question but how do you view both of those guys? Are they available?
The slim reaper is staying!
Capela, on the other hand, his talents are respected but we like to check his price every so often. Remy is in my DMs probably twice a week saying “CAPELAAAAA”
As I said a lot of younger talent in Brooklyn. Is there anyone outside of your big 3 that you are particularly high on that you want to highlight?
Got love for the irl team out in Golden State on our squad. Loved the grit that NBA champ Kevon Looney showed the world, and my draft crush, Ryan Rollins, is going to have some great mentors at the guard spot as he kicks off his career
What is the expectation for this team as you head into this year?
Want to echo what Orlando said in his interview. If you believe in your squad, be patient. Only one team can win every season. I don’t think my team is the best in the league so I’m in no rush. We’ll let the squad develop and find our keepers.
Have no doubt, Brooklyn will be in the playoffs and they will give nightmares to some middle of the pack team making a desperate push to win it all this year.
Also I know other GMs like to say the Nets are just one injury away from collapsing. But let’s put it this way…what if my team… doesn’t get injured…
Good luck out East fellas
What’re the odds that Luka plays for another franchise in here in the next 10 years?
Unless Luka gets permanently paralyzed or forgets how to play basketball, he is a Brooklyn lifer. Even if those things happen, we’ll probably still keep him around
If you could eliminate one other franchise in the playoffs this year who would it be and why?
Orlando, we’ll see you in the springtime for Round 2 🤜🤛
Hey Andre! Thank you for taking some time to sit down and chat about the squad and congrats again on getting married!
Pleasure to join the interview cycle. Ready to lay it all out there
Obviously 23-6 season and a 2 seed is awesome but the first round exit had to hurt. What are your overall thoughts on your first year?
Winning is fun so I enjoyed the season honestly. Really just a feel out season since I started a week into the regular season. We’ve got some interesting characters in this league so it was cool to sit back and observe what everyone is like.
With untimely injuries to Durant and Capela, we had a tough debut in the playoffs but we learn and we bounce back. Would have felt terrible losing with a healthy crew though
Okay bro I’m sorry I’ve got to ask it. Given your situation do you regret dealing Kuminga and first for Wendell?
Honestly, outside of the obvious talent in Luka and Durant, I really disliked the squad I inherited. Just a ragtag bunch of players that I felt like made no sense together…shout-out Josh? so I got pretty trigger happy with trades to kick off my first few days as a new GM.
Totally a rookie move not accounting for the inability to resign Wendell, but I honestly felt bad taking it back and wanted to grind it out for the season and see what the squad could do. I mean what if we just won it all in our debut season?!
Wendell was awesome and we wish him well. So I don’t regret the trade - it is what it is but I do regret feeling bad about taking the trade back (taking back trades doesn’t seem that out of the ordinary lol) I would say I’m never trading with Lor again but I think I traded with him like two weeks ago
It’s been a pretty quiet off season overall in Brooklyn. What would you say your main goals were with this roster coming into the off season?
Clean my books of pricey, inefficient contracts. Move towards younger talent with potential. I’ve got two of the league top 5 players locked up on long contracts. Everything’s about being patient until the management in Brooklyn feels like it’s time to strike. Could be this year but definitely doesn’t have to be
You’ve got a really young roster outside of KD/Capela. Forgive me if you already answered this in the previous question but how do you view both of those guys? Are they available?
The slim reaper is staying!
Capela, on the other hand, his talents are respected but we like to check his price every so often. Remy is in my DMs probably twice a week saying “CAPELAAAAA”
As I said a lot of younger talent in Brooklyn. Is there anyone outside of your big 3 that you are particularly high on that you want to highlight?
Got love for the irl team out in Golden State on our squad. Loved the grit that NBA champ Kevon Looney showed the world, and my draft crush, Ryan Rollins, is going to have some great mentors at the guard spot as he kicks off his career
What is the expectation for this team as you head into this year?
Want to echo what Orlando said in his interview. If you believe in your squad, be patient. Only one team can win every season. I don’t think my team is the best in the league so I’m in no rush. We’ll let the squad develop and find our keepers.
Have no doubt, Brooklyn will be in the playoffs and they will give nightmares to some middle of the pack team making a desperate push to win it all this year.
Also I know other GMs like to say the Nets are just one injury away from collapsing. But let’s put it this way…what if my team… doesn’t get injured…
Good luck out East fellas
What’re the odds that Luka plays for another franchise in here in the next 10 years?
Unless Luka gets permanently paralyzed or forgets how to play basketball, he is a Brooklyn lifer. Even if those things happen, we’ll probably still keep him around
If you could eliminate one other franchise in the playoffs this year who would it be and why?
Orlando, we’ll see you in the springtime for Round 2 🤜🤛