The Brooklyn Nets have gone from being the NBA’s signature attraction on Christmas Day to a group recognized for countless hypothesis, controversy and dysfunction.
The newest plot twists are courtesy of Kevin Durant who desires to be traded except proprietor Joe Tsai tells GM Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash to hit the bricks. While this story has supplied sizzle to the NBA offseason, it’s unhealthy for enterprise.
No one likes uncertainty. And that’s what Durant, one of many NBA’s marquee sights, has served up. Now, even Durant, or Tsai, can not present steerage to the league’s nationwide TV companions (Turner Sports, ESPN) on when, or what number of instances, they need to schedule the Nets subsequent season.
Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network (TV residence of the Nets) fits can not inform advertisers if Durant, who signed a four-year, $198 million contract extension in 2021, will likely be in Brooklyn to begin the season. Without Durant, the worth of the Nets to YES, and what it may well cost advertisers to buy commercials, takes successful. Without Durant, the arrow additionally factors down in relation to promoting Nets season ticket subscriptions and company sponsorships.
It’s like slowly pulling a band-aid off a wound. Pain is coming. You simply don’t know when. If Durant had been traded shortly, which isn’t more likely to occur, the Nets may transfer on and have time to begin promoting a “new” group that also may function Kyrie Irving and possibly even Ben Simmons. Value, each in scores projections and promoting gross sales, would come into clearer focus.
Yet, if the state of affairs stays the identical, every little thing pertaining to Nets enterprise have to be prefaced: With or with out Kevin?
Like final week on ESPN’s “NBA Today” (it will need to have attracted extra August eyeballs than typical from these tuning in to comply with the Durant story) when the panel was going over projected NBA win totals, and so they obtained to the Nets, one panelist puzzled: “With or without Durant?”
While this recreation of rooster is unhealthy for Nets, and league, enterprise, it tickles the flowery of anybody subscribing to the notion the NBA product is extra entertaining off the court docket. For those that like a highlight on actuality, the present Nets/Durant drama is best than any fictionalized, scripted model of an NBA group.
If Durant remains to be with the Nets in coaching camp, and Nash/Marks are nonetheless employed by the group, think about the strain surrounding all concerned? On ESPN’s “NBA Today,” entrance workplace “insider” Bobby Marks mentioned Durant may relieve a few of the strain by addressing the group, telling them that so long as he’s in Brooklyn, he will likely be giving his all, enjoying to win.
That may quickly cool issues down, nevertheless it gained’t kill the story. It will likely be mentioned each day and be part of any Nets nationwide or native telecasts. The day-to-day nervousness will proceed; reaffirming the notion the NBA is a participant’s league. Will the Durant state of affairs, particularly if it drags on, turn out to be a tipping level?
The present NBA TV contract with ESPN and Turner Sports, price $24 billion, expires after the 2024-25 season. It has been speculated the NBA is on the lookout for $75 billion in its subsequent deal.
Can the homeowners count on that type of dough from their TV companions once they can’t even assure superstars, underneath contract, will likely be part of their group’s roster?
NOW WHAT, DEREK?
What is Derek Jeter going to do with the remainder of his life?
That’s the query both Michael Kay or Alex Rodriguez ought to ask Jeter, who’s scheduled to seem on ESPN’s different Sunday Night Baseball (Yankees-Red Sox) KayRod telecast.
Jeter has been capable of stay within the highlight since he retired from the sport. Whether or not it’s his 4 bumpy years as Marlins CEO, his Hall of Fame induction, ESPN documentary, or the nationwide commercials he has appeared in, Jeter maintained a excessive profile.
Now he could also be fading. Could his look on the KayRod soiree be a trial balloon, a TV display screen check, so to talk?
Jeter’s historical past suggests the position of baseball TV analyst just isn’t one thing he needs. Yet, his historical past additionally advised that agreeing to be the topic of a multi-layered documentary was by no means a part of his plan. When confronted with a clean canvas, Jeter may once more paint a stunning transfer.
DON’T SLEEP ON KEITH
While the Mets have formally entered gaga territory, Keith Hernandez remains to be discovering new methods to “entertain” these watching on SNY.
During Game No. 1 of final Saturday’s doubleheader with Atlanta, Hernandez knowledgeable the unwashed lots the heavy lifting (aka sitting down and analyzing a recreation) would require a between video games “nap.” While self-centered, we discovered his sleepy evaluation enlightening.
It additionally ready us for what was to return. Hernandez defined how his minions had scouted out the luxurious suites at Citi Field and located one ”with a sofa” to take his between video games nap. Incredible stuff. Especially when the Mets had been engaged in an important sequence with the Braves.
The nap? It will need to have labored out. Hernandez made it to Game 2.
And he was there final Sunday too, when SNY drew 555,000 viewers to observe Braves-Mets. It was the second most considered Mets recreation in SNY historical past. Of course, all of them tuned in for the analytical stylings of Hernandez. That Jacob deGrom was making his pitching return to CitiField for the primary time in 13 months was small potatoes, proper?
AROUND THE DIAL
The Christopher (Mad Dog) Russo backlash impact on ESPN’s “First Take” was alive and properly final week. After throwing the likes of JJ Redick off his recreation in earlier episodes, Doggie obtained Ryan Clark to blow his cool final Monday. Russo delivered the ridiculous notion Rams receiver Cooper Kupp has already performed sufficient in his profession to be a Hall of Famer (Russo would later admit he was incorrect on his SXM radio present). On “First Take,” Clark fired again. Russo — loudly — defended himself. Clark took offense saying: “Mad Dog, you’re going to stop screaming at me bro…lower your voice.” Did Clark actually suppose Doggie earned his fame by being a serial whisperer? … With David Diehl leaving the realm for a training gig on the University of Memphis, Kimberly Jones will take his spot on WFAN’s Sunday morning soccer present becoming a member of Marc Malusis. Jones, most just lately an NFL Network reporter, and Malusis, the Ch. 11 sports activities anchor, have labored collectively earlier than, which ought to make for a clean transition. … FAN’s Brandon Tierney has religion the Jets will be capable of put collectively an environment friendly O-Line regardless of the lack of Mekhi Becton. Tierney mentioned in contrast to different Jets followers, he’s not flustered. “I’m not like some candy wrapper floating around in the wind,” he mentioned. Interesting line. We suppose.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: LINDA COHN
For surviving and thriving at ESPN for 30 years. And Cohn did it with out counting on a gimmick, or a trademark catch-phrase, or any manufactured look-at-me stunts. Amazing!
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: MEKHI BECTON HATERS
The social media, and VOS, piling on when the Jets 2021 first-round decide suffered one other critical damage was past something sane or acceptable. It was so ridiculous, and heartless, that coach Robert Saleh felt compelled to face up for his younger sort out throughout a press convention.
DOUBLE TALK
What Aaron Boone mentioned: “We’ve got to get it going offensively.”
What Aaron Boone meant to say: “When we’re not hitting home runs, we stink offensively.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com