NBA: 30 Storylines Driving The 2015-16 Season

May 1, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins talks with Brooklyn Nets small forward Joe Johnson (7) during the third quarter of game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center. The Hawks defeated the Nets 111-87 to win the series 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Brooklyn Nets – The Light at the End of the Tunnel

As much as it hurts to say this about my beloved Brooklyn Nets, they’re not going to be doing much winning this season. Brook Lopez is back, but then again I might be saying that a few more times in the coming months as he returns from a secession of foot injuries that seem inevitable with him.

Joe Johnson might win us a few games with his built for big moment mindset. Thomas Robinson was an interesting pickup in the offseason, it could be that he finally realizes his potential under Coach Lionel Hollins, who has had an affinity for hustling big men who rebound at a spectacular rate.

There is hope, though! Well not for this season necessarily, but for the near future. Johnson is a very attractive piece for a team looking to add offense to an already winning formula midseason (like the Cavs who briefly flirted with a trade for him in the offseason). But either way, his overwhelmingly large contract is theirs to pay no longer when he enters free agency at the end of the season.

The cap is expanding too at year’s end, and the result will be even more money to play with for teams like the Nets who have had no problem with paying top dollar for the players they want. If we can just get through this unbearable season without mistakingly overpaying to bring in a player, mid-season, to propel us to another 8th seed, we’ll be in an amazing spot by the time June rolls around.

Perhaps with lots of cap room for whomever our hearts desire (*cough* Kevin Durant *cough*).

Next: Nuggets: A New Start