Irving added that he, Durant, Nets owner Joe Tsai, GM Sean Marks and the rest of the Nets’ decision-makers need be "intentional about what we’re building."
"When I say I’m here with Kev, I think that really entails us managing this franchise together alongside Joe and Sean and just our group of family members that we have in our locker room and our organization. It’s not just about me and Kev, I don’t want to make it just about that. We’re cornerstones here. We have Ben (Simmons), we have a few other guys that are under contract.
"We’ve just got to make some moves this offseason, really talk about it, really be intentional about what we’re building. And have some fun with it. Make it enjoyable. And hopefully we get to start from day one just as a squad, as a family, and really worry about us. Sometimes I feel like the noise (from) the external world, on the outside, can seep (in the locker room). I’m not the type to allow that to happen. As we build together as a squad, I think we need to be tougher mentally. And just more honest about what we want to accomplish and just stick to the goal, stick to the mission."
The Nets season was derailed by injuries, Irving’s infrequent availability, the James Harden trade and other factors. Irving didn’t come out and say it, but it’s hard not to think of the Harden trade when Irving references being "intentional" with who the Nets have in the locker room.
Per people in touch with players early in the 2020-21 season, Irving was lukewarm on the idea of trading for Harden.
Harden, as you know, forced a trade from the Nets to Philadelphia in February. The Harden situation was one of the many off-court issues that hurt the Nets this year.
Another was Irving’s status, which he acknowledged during his postgame news conference on Monday.
"I felt like I was letting the team down at a point where I wasn’t able to play. We were trying to exercise every option for me to play but I never wanted it to just be about me. And it became a distraction at times," he said. "We just had some drastic changes. We lost a franchise player (in Harden) and we got a franchise player back (in Simmons). But we didn’t get a chance to see him on the floor.
"There was no pressure for him, either, to step on the floor with us. Ben’s good, we have Ben, we have his back, he’s going to be good for next year. Now we just turn the page and look forward to what we’re building as a franchise and really get tougher.”
Irving has a player option for 2022-23. Durant signed a five-year extension prior to the season. It would be logical to assume that Irving declines his player option and signs a multi-year deal with Brooklyn. The length of the contract will be noteworthy.
At different points over the course of Irving’s three seasons in Brooklyn, members of the organization have wondered about the risk in committing long-term to him after this initial contract. Now, given his symbiosis with Durant, it would seem as if the Nets, Irving and Durant will be together for several years to come.
With regards to Steve Nash’s future, it seems as if he has the backing of Durant. Durant reiterated on Monday that he believes Nash is the right coach to lead the team forward.
"I mean, come on now. Yeah," Durant said. "Steve’s been dealt a crazy hand the last two years. He’s had to deal with so much stuff as a head coach, a first-time coach: trades, injuries, COVID. It’s just a lot of stuff he’s had to deal with and I’m proud of how he’s focused and his passion for us. We all continue to keep developing over the summer and see what happens."
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