DeMarre Carroll: ‘The city deserves a superstar’

In an interview with Michael Scotto this weekend, DeMarre Carroll was asked what he thought of all the Kyrie Irving/Kevin Durant “talk.”

“I think the city deserves it,” Carroll responded. “The city deserves a superstar. Not only one, probably two superstars. I’m a guy who’s always been a realist and I understand the business of basketball and the NBA and the political side and all that. I think the city deserves it.

“They waited a long time for this, and they’re finally hoping they can get some superstars in here to kind of make the Brooklyn Nets take that next step.”

As for D’Angelo Russell, Carroll suggested he may have played his last game in Brooklyn but he certainly deserves to be paid big bucks.

“Hopefully for DLo – if it’s not here if it’s somewhere else – I think he earned himself a max deal. He earned himself a max deal to take care of his family for the rest of their life. He’s just got to enjoy the moment and enjoy whether it’s here or somewhere else.”

As for his own future, Carroll said he hopes to “enjoy” free agency in part because, at 32, it’s likely to be one of his last big payday, if not his last.

“I think the biggest thing for me is to try and enjoy it. This might be one of my last big free agency deals that I get, so I’ve got to try and enjoy and let my wife enjoy it because she didn’t get to enjoy the last one. I think she’ll probably get to pick this one, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens. We’re just excited to go into free agency.”

In his two years with the Nets, coming over in a trade with Toronto, Carroll averaged better than 12 points and six rebounds, shooting better than 35 percent from three. He earned $15.4 million last season. But the Nets trade for Taurean Prince, a similarly skilled forward, made it seem like Brooklyn is moving on from Carroll.

Scotto asked Carroll if he does leave, what will he take from the experience in Brooklyn.

“I think I just helped a lot of young guys and helped try to establish this franchise to become a winner. I think that’s my track record of going to Toronto and going to Atlanta. That’s all I try to do. I try to help guys with a winning culture not only on the court but off the court. I try to bring my leadership and try to be that guy everyone can talk to. That’s what I pride myself on.”

Carroll wouldn’t offer any predictions on where he will wind up.

“No prediction, but we’ll see. My agent, Mark Bartelstein, he’ll make sure he gets me in the right position and the right place. If it’s in Brooklyn or if it’s not, he’s going to make sure that I’m taken care of and I’m successful.”

• DeMarre Carroll Q&A: ‘I’m a guy who’s always been a realist’ - Michael Scotto - The Athletic