Joe Tsai says the Nets’ fans already understand what this reset is supposed to look like.
In David M. Rubenstein’s book Inside The Owner’s Box, the Brooklyn owner described the fanbase as one that doesn’t just watch closely - it thinks through the direction of the franchise with real conviction.
“[The] Nets have a sophisticated fan base. They have very strong opinions, saying, unanimously, we should be going through a multi-year rebuilding process, we need to be patient, we need to build through draft,” Tsai said about the fanbase in David M.
Rubenstein's book "Inside The Owner's Box," per NetsDaily. Tsai is one of several owners that Rubenstein interviewed for the book.
That perspective lands at a moment when Brooklyn is deep into its first rebuild since Tsai took over the team in September of 2019. The Nets spent the earlier part of his ownership chasing a faster track back to contention, landing Kevin Durant in a sign-and-trade and signing Kyrie Irving in free-agency.
Brooklyn pushed even harder during the 2020-21 season, trading for James Harden to strengthen its title hopes while the trio was still in its prime. The high point of that run ended in the second round of the 2021 NBA playoffs, when the Nets lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games. They haven’t gotten back to that level since.
That stretch left some fans asking for change in the way the team is run, with calls for new leadership at the ownership or front-office level. Tsai has already said the rebuild has to be handled patiently, with the focus on making as many good decisions as possible. At the same time, he knows the people following the team closely are sharp enough to keep everyone accountable.
In Other News...
Nets History's Biggest What-Ifs Are Suddenly Back In Focus
A recent podcast appearance by Peter Vecsey reopened a familiar Nets conversation: how a franchise with plenty of turning points has also spent years revisiting the ones that slipped away. Vecsey walked through several of the organizations defining crossroads, from why the Nets passed on Kobe Bryant in 1996 to the circumstances that helped push Julius Erving out the door, offering a reminder that the teams history is as much about decisions made as opportunities missed.
He also revisited Drazen Petrovics contract frustration and the possibility he could have gone overseas before his death, another sharp reminder of how fragile those eras could be. Vecsey widened the lens to more modern Nets business, too, weighing in on the James Harden trade and Sean Marks run as an executive, which keeps the franchises past and present tied together in the same uncomfortable question: which moves really defined the organization, and which ones still haunt it? [Read more 🡒]
Nets Added Two Forwards With A Bigger Goal Than The Roster
The Nets have filled out their roster with the signings of forwards Ben Humrichous and Dain Dainja, bringing the group to 21 players as camp approaches. Both are expected to be in training camp and could wind up spending most of their time with the Long Island Nets in the G League, which has become the standard holding pattern for players on the edge of the NBA roster.
Humrichous arrives on an Exhibit 10 deal after going undrafted, while Dainja comes in after a previous stop with the Miami Heat. For Brooklyn, the point is bigger than simply rounding out the depth chart, since these types of signings often serve as an early look at developmental pieces the organization wants to keep close and evaluate through camp. What happens next will depend on how they look once the pace picks up. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Face A Julius Randle Decision That Could Define Their Direction
Julius Randles arrival in Brooklyn has already given the Nets another big decision to weigh as they continue sorting through the early stages of their rebuild. Even with the front office still evaluating how to balance present value against long-term flexibility, Randle brings something that is not easy to replace: a proven veteran presence and a skill set that can help steady a young roster while the organization tries to define its next direction.
The possibility of moving him again is tied to the same forces that usually shape a team in Brooklyns position, from salary cap concerns to the appeal of creating a cleaner path for future moves. But Randles fit is not as simple as a spreadsheet readout, because his experience and the chemistry he has started to build with the Nets younger players give him value beyond his box score impact, which is exactly why this decision has become one to watch. [Read more 🡒]