Brooklyn Nets Must Learn From Los Angeles Clippers’ Mistakes

There are plenty of parallels between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.

They’re both far-and-away the second-fiddle NBA teams in their respective big markets. They both have deep-pocketed owners. And, most importantly, both sent shock-waves through the league by landing superstar duos last offseason after exceeding expectations the previous year.

Injuries prevented Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving from playing together in 2019-20, but Kawhi Leonard and Paul George did – and their first season ended in embarrassing fashion, a 3-1 second-round series lead over Denver turning into a 4-3 playoff ouster in the bubble. The collapse ended up costing Doc Rivers his job, with Ty Lue taking over. There were chemistry issues, and a roster reportedly divided over preferential superstar treatment.

So much for an LA vs. LA conference finals. Even worse for the Clippers: the rival Lakers ended up winning the title on the strength of superstar duo LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The Clippers went all-in to pair Leonard and George, and suddenly that partnership is already on the clock. This isn’t to say they can’t turn it around, but the pressure is very much on. Leonard aligned his contract length with George, with both having the potential to get to free agency after this season by declining their third-year player options.

Likewise, Durant and Irving are both on guaranteed contracts through the next two seasons before holding player options for 2022-23. It basically give the Nets a two-year championship window — with the hope that it ultimately becomes three years (and beyond) if everything goes right.

All of which is to say: this upcoming season is extremely important for Brooklyn.

Just like with the 2019-20 Clippers, there are plenty of reasons for optimism. A superstar duo with plenty of motivation and a lot to prove, complimenting a strong and versatile supporting cast. In Durant’s last five healthy seasons, he’s reached at least the conference finals in all of them. He’s also appeared in three NBA finals and won two championships.

Depending on who starts and who comes off the bench, the Nets could have their own share of sixth-man contenders – like Montrezl Harrell (now gone to the Lakers) and Lou Williams – in Spencer Dinwiddie (an impending free agent, assuming he opts out as expected), Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen. There’s also a possibility they could look to package those pieces – and several future first-round picks – for James Harden (granted that doesn’t appear to be happening anytime soon, if at all).

That’s perhaps the biggest difference: the Nets still have their picks. Brooklyn has already emptied the asset clip and had nothing to show for it, while Boston ended up with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Sean Marks inherited and empty cupboard, and had to build through the late first-round and the dregs of the free-agent market. The Nets were promising a two-year window after acquiring Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, but that promise was empty. A year later, they had a new coach and were beginning to slash payroll and talent.

Brooklyn did go the Hall of Fame point guard turned first-year coach of a title-or-bust team route again, but is hoping for better results under Steve Nash (not having to go through LeBron James, Dwyane Wade in the East certainly makes life easier than it was for Jason Kidd). Both of LA’s coaches have already won titles before.

The hope is Nash ends up with the same hardware as Steve Kerr and Nick Nurse did in Year 1 of their respective tenures, but that’s no guarantee. Neither is a conference finals that pits Durant and Irving against Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday. Health and egos could get in the way. So could a team like Philadelphia, Miami or Boston.

An early playoff exit could quickly lead to turmoil, as well as roster/coaching staff turnover. It’s not difficult to envision. This is Durant and Irving, after all, future Hall of Fame players with potentially combustible personalities. If it can happen to the Clippers, it can happen to the Nets. The hope is Brooklyn can take those lessons and learn from them – rather than repeating LA’s mistakes.