[Sport] Will the Nets be able to make their luxurious pieces work?

[EvKirito]

Having a fancy threesome is great.

That is, if the three stars want to play together.

Such is the challenge Brooklyn faces now, after agreeing to the trade with which they acquired three-time scoring champion James Harden: getting Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, all individually incredible, want to be great together.

Durant found a way to fit in at Golden State alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, en route to a pair of NBA titles. Its success was due to Curry and Thompson willingly putting their egos aside.

 

 

Harden never reached an NBA final series with Houston, despite having Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. And this season he didn't even try it with John Wall. He wanted a change and stars who want to leave usually get their wish from him.

Irving won a title in Cleveland with LeBron James, but the relationship was strained. At this point, no one knows what Irving is thinking after a week away from the Nets for personal reasons.

But you have to give the Nets credit. They risked a lot in this trade. They got rid of rising star Caris LeVert and gambled on most of their future - at least three first-round picks - hoping that Harden would be the last piece they need to win a championship.

He will be reunited not only with Durant, another former teammate in Oklahoma City when he began his career and with whom he reached the 2012 Finals, but also with his former Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni, who is now Steve Nash's assistant with the Nets. .

Although turning an outstanding trio into title contenders is not something that is automatic.

James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh formed a trio that led Miami to beat the Thunder in the 2012 Finals, winning a ring in their second year together (and another the following year).

The only way Brooklyn could take a title or two with this group will be if Durant, Harden and Irving accept their new roles.

On paper, the fusion of talent could be quite good.

There are three players in NBA history with three or more scoring titles — two of them now play for the Nets, with all four from Durant and three from Harden.

"You can't double-defend everyone," admitted Orlando coach Steve Clifford.

Now they will have to wait to know if Irving wants to be part of this.