Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press
Kevin Durant hasn’t played a game for the Brooklyn nets yet since he signed with the club last summer, and has already become a key player on the team.
This should not be surprising after signing a four-year deal of $ 164.25 million in free agency, yet with the team apparently at a crossroads, it takes things as much as possible in hand, according to general manager Sean Marks, although it continues to rehabilitate from an injury to Achilles who put him aside for the whole season.
“It continues to be a very strong voice in terms of where we will go in the future and what we are doing and I involve it like the other players and staff and how we will continue to build this team and how we move forward,” said Marks (h / t Ian Begley of SNY.TV).
Marks added that Durant has been involved in conversations regarding the roster and front office moves. Yes, his presence was felt on the sidelines.
Network manager Kenny Atkinson resigned in early March – just days before the NBA went on hiatus – in part because of his relationship with Durant and fellow free agent Kyrie Irving.
Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports:
“Several sources told Yahoo Sports that Atkinson didn’t like coaching Durant and Irving based on what he saw this season, and would prefer something to happen now than at the end of the season.
“This surprises me with Marks who says that he and Atkinson have been discussing this for weeks, even months now. It is difficult to embrace Atkinson putting the franchise so much at stake, but ready to wash his hands of it months in this season.
“If Atkinson didn’t bend over enough to accommodate his skilled veterans for fear of alienating those who knew him as something different, or the situation was too embarrassing to work, it seems fair to speculate.”
It is difficult to imagine that the nets, which are currently led by interim coach Jacque Vaughn, would take over from Atkinson without the help of Durant and Irving. Irving in particular has already suggested that the pieces are not exactly in position for the nets to make a real title after a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in January.
The networks will participate in the restart of the NBA in late July. The real intrigue for the team will come later, when Durant and Irving start helping Marks shape the future of the franchise for years to come.
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