The Brooklyn Nyets remain a cautionary tale.
They, too, struck a deal with Danny Ainge.
The Nyets, in exchange for the earthly remains of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry and DJ White, sent Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks, Kris Joseph, Keith Bogans and first-round picks in 2014, 2016, and 2018, plus the right to swap 2017 first-rounders. Among those #1 picks geniuses on the internet are so keen for the Knicks to proffer to Danny Ainge, were picks that turned into foundational pieces for a Celtics Dynasty: Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum [you remember him, the bust Kiid insisted the Celtics should have passed on in favor of Fultz or Ball] Clearly in Ainge's mind, this is what he saw when the Wolves came a knocking, and sees himself strong arming Neon Leon out of.
Strike ONE
Durant & Kyrie, The Ascension Of The Shiny Objects
Strike TWO
Fire Coach Kenny Atkinson to accomodate The Shiny Objects
Hit by a pitch.
And to complete the process, and accomodate the Gold Dust Twins, aka, the SHINY OBJECTS, the Nyets ponied up a King's Ransom for James Harden in a complicated four team circle jerk.
Rockets: Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, 3 BKN first-rounders (22, 24, 26), 1 MIL first (22, unprotected), 4 BKN 1st round swaps (21, 23, 25, 27)
Nets: James Harden
Pacers: Caris LeVert, 2nd-rounder
Cavs: Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince
Allen is an all-star for the ascendant Cavs. LaVert was putting up all star numbers for the Pacers when he got hurt. And believe you me, those #1 picks and #1 swaps are going to haunt the Brooklyn franchise moving forward.
Strike THREE [& FOUR]
Finally, when Harden grew frustrated with the Nyets, having played only a handful of games with Durant and COVID Martyr Irving, he pushed for a trade.
Sixers got James Harden and Paul Milsap, the Nyets got Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two a #1 picks.
STRIKE FIVE
Nyets wanted a shiny object?
Now Irving is going to walk in the summer of 2023.
And NOW Durant is telling the Nyets, ME NO HAPPY.
Kevin played ZERO GAMES in 2019-20.
Kevin played 35 games in 2020-21, putting up 26.9-7.1-5.6
Kevin played 55 games in 2021-22, putting up 29.9-7.4-6.4
All universe numbers based on less than one regular season's games in three years.
Rewarded KD with four years of guaranteed money: $44,119,845$47,649,433 $51,179,020 $54,708,608 through 2026.
And Kevin is so grateful, he has DEMANDED A TRADE, or the firing of Steve Nash and Sean Marks, thus annointing himself as Don Durant, Capo De General Manager.
Knicks were ALL IN for Durant & Irving, apros pos trading Porzingis.
We struck out, THANK GOD. And now we want to revisit Danny Ainge 2.1, 3.2 by gutting our roaster with 4.3
Hmmmm?
SHINY OBJECTS Motherfuckers.
Shiny Objects.