There is a chance that the Brooklyn Nets could see their season come to end on Wednesday as they face off against the Miami Heat in a crucial Game 5. The Nets are currently down 3-1 in the second round playoff series and head on the road to try and keep things alive. With the idea of a championship slipping away, some NBA analysts are already thinking about what the offseason holds for Brooklyn, including their two biggest veterans.
This was supposed to be the season Brooklyn contended for a championship and while a late-season surge propelled them into the second round of playoffs, things have not gone well against the defending champs and the Nets might be facing reality that their season could be coming to a disappointing finish. So what happens in the offseason, especially to Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
Both players were acquired last offseason in a marquee trade that also involved Jason Terry who has since been sent away. While Pierce and Garnett have had their moments of pure vintage domination this season, they have both showed their age in more games than one. However, according to Tim Bontemps of the New York Post, no matter what happens in the series against the Miami Heat, both players are expected to return next season, noting this was not a one-season experiment.
Both Garnett and Pierce want to win another championship and their ages are making that relatively hard. Time is simply running out. Garnett has one year remaining on his contract while Pierce is set to become a free agent, but the Post reports that all signs point towards both players returning. If that happens, the Nets could still remain contenders for another season. Brook Lopez will be healthy again, putting the season's original starters back on the court once again. It was that talent that had Pierce excited in the first place and could entice him to stay on.
"Obviously the talent is there," Pierce said, via ESPN.com. "I think you've got all the ingredients for a championship team. It's just how well we put the seasoning salt in and the pepper and all the little spices together, and how well it's going to come all out."
It is very possibility that Pierce could head to the Clippers next season and rejoin with Doc Rivers. Garnett could retire this summer, something that he has been hinting at over the past two seasons. This year has certainly been a struggle for the veteran. He is playing the fewest amount of minutes ever in his career before and was even held scoreless at one point.
The Nets are still hopeful that they can top the Heat and keep the series alive. It is important to remember that Brooklyn did sweep Miami in the regular season and even though they have shown very little signs of life against them in the playoffs, the talent is there to beat the champs on home court.