Sports Business

Brookyln Nets Off Season Plans: Championship or Bust? by Hussein Abdullahi

Boston Celtics Complete the 4-0 Sweep Over the Brooklyn Nets

Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

After a 116-112 victory, the Boston Celtics completed the series sweep over the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets have become the only team this playoffs to get swept in the first round. The story of this series was all about the Boston Celtics, who outclassed, out-coached, and outplayed the Brooklyn Nets. The Celtics’ superstar Jayson Tatum was the difference-maker in this series. Tatum's unique play-making ability and versatility are what spurred the Celtics to an early 2-0 lead. Matching up against the superstar in Kevin Durant, Tatum has never shied away from the moment. The smothering Celtic's defense slowed down one of the NBA's prolific scorers in Durant, who has held to 38.6% shooting. In the first three games of the series, Durant had 17 turnovers and only 19 field goals. Game four was a different story, Durant, scored a game-high 39 points. In the end, Durant's effort wasn't enough to get the Nets a Win. The firepower of Tatum and Brown's dynamic scoring mix with Smart's defensive prowess is what yielded a 4-0 sweep. Ultimately, the Celtics trio was too much for Brooklyn’s duo.


One thing has been made clear: What is the future of the Brooklyn Nets?

The Nets entered the 2021-2022 season as the favoured to win the NBA title, despite the inactivity of Kyrie Irving, James Harden's mid-season departure, and the Ben Simmons' catastrophe. There are several variables to analyze when reflecting on the Nets’ pitfalls and shortcomings this season, but the main priority should be the 2022 NBA Off-season. It's easy not to forget what the Nets could have become at full strength, many have coined the phrase “The Greatest Team that never was”. In mid-December, the Nets held a 21-9 record with a convincing win over the Philadelphia 76ers, securing the first seed in the east. Amid Irving's return, Durant was sidelined with a knee injury and missed 20 games. The mid-season blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the 76ers in exchange for Simmons, Curry, and Drummond backfired on the Nets, Simmons played 0 games and was out indefinitely due to a lower back injury. In reality, what derailed the Brooklyn Nets’ season was the unavailability of their stars: Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and Ben Simmons. This summer, the Nets organization has an order of business to complete, which is Kyrie Irving's contract.

Nets Off-Season: Kyrie Irving Contract

Nathaniel S. Butler | National Basketball Association | Getty Images

Heading into the off-season, the biggest priority will be Kyrie Irving’s contract. Will Brooklyn sign Irving to a max deal, does he pick up his player option, or just he depart the Nets? Before the 2021-2022 season, The Brooklyn Nets declined to offer Irving a contract extension because of his vaccination status. As the season progressed, so did New York's mandate allowing Irving to return as a full-time player. entering the final year of his contract, Irving has a player option worth $37 million which he's speculated to decline. If so, Irving can opt out of his contract in June to sign a reported 5-year $248 million deal. Irving can also decline his player option and escape free agency by signing a four-year extension with the Nets for $191.3 million. In the rare case that Irving leaves Brooklyn, he could sign with another team for 4-years $183.6 million. Following the Game four loss, Irving spoke with the media reflecting on the Nets' turbulent season.

“In terms of my extension, I don't really plan on going anywhere. This is added motivation for our franchise to be at the top of the league for the next few years. I'm just looking forward to the summer and just building with our guys here.” - Kyrie Irving

Irving remained very optimistic in his demeanor when asked about his contract status and future with the Nets. When playing, Irving is a max-caliber player and an exceptional talent, but his inactivity will impose a big risk if the Nets wish to pursue a long-time max deal. In his three seasons with the Nets', Irving has played in a total of 116 games (48%). The unavailability of Irving has created some level of skepticism around the league. Although Irving is eligible for a five-year deal, the option that makes the most sense economically, is Irving signing a four-year $191.3 million extension that aligns up with Durant’s contract through the 2025-26 season. In a perfect world, Irving would be back on a max contract on a year-to-year basis.


Off-Season Preview: Can Brooklyn Nets Ownership Bounce Back?

Photo Courtesy of The New York Times Magazine

The fact of the matter is if the Nets will get their return on investment. The Nets Owner Joe Tsai along with General Manager Sean Marks made a lofty financial commitment to building a competitive roster around their duo Durant and Irving. The Nets had the second-highest payroll with $266 million, and as we approach the off-season, the Nets can see their payroll hit a potential $330 million threshold. A viable option for Brooklyn would be to leverage their tax mid-level exception and utilize one of their trade exceptions.

“We have an incredible ownership group with Joe Tsai -- talk about putting your chips in the middle,He's supported us and supported us and continues to support us. So from that standpoint, we know what our expectations are."- Sean Marks

If Tsai alongside ownership approves this, the Nets are looking at a potential $45 million tax bill. When analyzing notable resources to rebuild the Nets roster, one can look at the first round pick received from Philadelphia and the trade exceptions. The Brooklyn Nets should prioritize depth, If Drummond doesn’t resign, the intention would be to sign Nic Claxton but, for a deep run in the playoff they would need to add another rim protector. With both Harris and Simmons expected to be available for the 2022-23 season start, it will be quite the off-season for the Brooklyn Nets who wish to return back in the NBA title contention.

Written by: Hussein Abdullahi

Published by: TGQ Inc.

Nike and The Bryant Estate Has Reached An Agreement to Continue It's Partnership by Hussein Abdullahi

The Bryant Estate has reached an agreement to continue the partnership with Nike

After a brief split and multiple disputes in early 2021, the Bryant Estate has reached an agreement to continue its partnership with Nike. Last week, Vanessa Bryant announced via social media that Nike will donate 100 % of the net proceeds of Gigi's shoes to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation. In April of last year, Vanessa Bryant and the Bryant Estate elected not to renew the partnership with Nike. The Bryant Estate expressed their frustrations with Nike's lack of availability of Kobe products for fans post-retirement and following the horrific helicopter death. Kobe footwear products were also very limited in kid sizes. Vanessa Bryant intends for Kobe fans across the globe to have access to his products while honouring the legacies of her Husband and Daughter Gigi. The Bryant Estate will continue to push Nike in creating an inclusive space for the youth and global fans to represent the Kobe brand.

My hope will always be to allow Kobe’s fans to get and wear his products, I will continue to fight for that. Kobe’s products sell out in seconds. That says everything.
— Vanessa Bryant

Nike To Release The Kobe 6 Protro Mambacita Sweet 16

Photo Courtesy: NiKE

The Bryant Estate and Nike have mutually agreed on a partnership that will serve as a platform to honour the legacies of Gigi and Kobe while providing their global fans with access to Kobe footwear products. According to Nike, the first release from the renewed partnership could release on May 1st, which would have been Gigi's sixteenth birthday. The Kobe 6 Protro Mambacita Sweet 16’ was styled in black and white with gold accents, replicating the Mamba Ballers team uniforms. This time around, Nike will push to produce a higher volume of sneakers for re-releases while expanding Kobe sneakers in kid sizes. In addition, Nike is committed to building a basketball facility in Southern California. Kobe Bryant was invested in youth sports to build the next generation of leaders. The sneakers will be available to the general public across Nike retailers.

Kobe means so much to us, not just NBA fans but globally beyond the game, his impact on growing the sport, particularly encouraging women and young people to pick it up, endures as one of his deepest, lasting legacies.
— John Donahoe (Nike President)

How today's NBA players helped Kobe Bryant's sneakers return to Nike

Guard DeMar DeRozan rocking his player-exclusive colourway Kobe sneakers. (Photo Courtesy: ESPN)

Since his retirement, Kobe sneakers have gone up in high demand. Several NBA players spoke about the limited availability. The drought has completely shaken up the sneaker world. During the 202 NBA Bubble, nearly 70% of athletes wore Kobe sneakers, per Aaron Dodson. A handful of athletes such as DeMar DeRozan, P.J. Tucker, Isaiah Thomas, and Devin Booker are sporting Kobe sneakers. Player-exclusive colourways have circulated NBA locker rooms, leaving sneakerheads in a frenzy. In more recent years, the sneaker culture has monopolized popular Kobe-branded sneakers. This continued partnership between Nike-Bryant Estate, NBA athletes and global fans await to return of Kobe sneakers and the end of a drought.

Written by: Hussein Abdullahi

Published by: TGQ INC.