We’ve heard many times how teams that make a major in-season trade often need time to make the new chemistry work.
Sometimes, it doesn’t happen until the following season or even later.
The Mavericks are the exception to that rule, so far, since getting Spencer Dinwiddie for Kristaps Porzingis. They’ve played much better since the trade than they did before.
The Brooklyn Nets are hoping they can follow the Mavericks’ lead.
Steve Nash’s team made the biggest of trade-deadline deals when they acquired Ben Simmons for James Harden. They also got Andre Drummond and Seth Curry, along with other assets.
But it was Simmons that was the big fish in the haul. He has yet to play this season, including the month-plus since the trade deadline when he joined the Nets.
This has not dampened Brooklyn’s optimism for this season. When you have Kevin Durant, you can overcome a lot. Even with Kyrie Irving limited to only road games because of New York’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates, the Nets managed to win four games in a row going into Wednesday’s meeting with the Mavericks.
And while they wait for Simmons, who had an epidural in his back on Tuesday and will not play in the near future, they try to get ready for when the time comes that they have their full team.
“We expect him back at some point,” Nash said. “I don’t think they (doctors) are in the dark as far as what’s hurting, I think it’s a matter of finding the things he’ll respond best to.”
Rest assured, this is not a team angling for the future – unless you are talking about May and June, not 2023. The Nets, even though they probably are going to have to win their way into the playoffs via the play-in tournament, have championship aspirations this season, and nothing less.
“We still have to go through the process of incorporating him and finding that cohesion and understanding the rhythm and timing,” Nash said of getting the 6-11 Simmons into the fold. “But we feel confident that our team can be extremely competitive and match up with anybody in a playoff situation.
“At the same time, we’re not going to think too hard or long about: do we have to wait for next year. No, we’re just going to play what’s in front of us, try to improve every day, play who’s available and see growth and understanding and cohesion.”
Jason Kidd knows how hard a midseason trade can be. He was dealt in the middle of the 2007-08 season from the Nets to the Mavericks. It wasn’t until his third full season in Dallas that the Mavericks put everything together for a championship.
And he can empathize with what Nash is going through.
“Nash has done a great job juggling three different teams he’s coaching,” Nash said. “Kyrie plays on the road. Durant has played everywhere. They made the trade. Steve has done a great job of keeping this thing going in the right direction.”
Nash has been guarded about Simmons’ health. He’s been out all season, but he’s an immense talent – an oversized point guard who is as versatile as anybody his size.
“We feel excited with the direction we’re going,” Nash said. “We’d love to have a full availability to see what we actually have and how it all fits, but I think Ben is a great fit for our group. He brings so many things that we need with his size, length, athleticism, defense, rebounding, transition play, facilitating, passing the ball, he can screen, he can roll, he can cause a lot of problems with a variety of skills he brings at an elite level, so I think he’s a great fit for our group. But you can’t just plug pieces together and expect it to work overnight.”
The Nets have 12 games left to figure things out. That may not be enough time with Simmons still fighting back problems.
But everybody understands the challenge of getting a new player who has been a three-time all-star into the mix.
“Once Simmons gets into the fold, it’s going to make them that much better,” Kidd said of the Nets. “I’m happy for Steve. I’m happy for the owner. They’re doing a great job. I wish them the best of luck.
“Hopefully we can meet in the finals one time.”
Injury update: The Mavericks are hoping to get one of their big men back this weekend.
Marquese Chriss has been out since Feb. 10 with right knee soreness. Kidd said the hope is that Chriss is on the verge of returning.
“We’ll see how he feels today, we’ll practice tomorrow and then hopefully Friday or Saturday he can play,” Kidd said. “But we’re going to have him do one more practice to see how he feels. But he feels great.”
The Mavericks have two games left on this trip, Friday at Philadelphia and Saturday at Charlotte.
Meanwhile, Reggie Bullock was out again tending to a personal matter.
Brooklyn on Wednesday was without Seth Curry and LaMarcus Aldridge in addition to missing Simmons.
Gauging the three-guard lineup: With Bullock out, the Mavericks started three point guards for the second game in a row with Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie joining Luka Dončić.
It’s been mostly successful, although the Mavericks paid a handsome price in the rebounding department Wednesday against the Nets.
It’s a strategy Kidd likes, but he’s keeping his options open for the future.
“I can’t say that we’ll go with this once the playoffs start, but right now, we’ve got to get some games under our belt (with this lineup),” he said. “So far, so good. But it’s going to take a minute because you got three guys out there who do a lot of things and they need the ball, so someone’s going to have to find that rhythm of waiting, so we’ll see who it is.”
Twitter: @ESefko
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