NBA: Power Ranking Every Team’s Bench Unit Entering 2016-17
By Mason McFee
29. Brooklyn Nets
Starters – Jeremy Lin, Sean Kilpatrick, Bojan Bogdanovic, Trevor Booker, Brook Lopez
Bench – Greivis Vasquez, Randy Foye, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Luis Scola, Chris McCullough
If you’ve read a few NBA Power Rankings articles this summer, it’s very likely that you’ve seen the Nets near the bottom of the rankings, and here is no different.
The Nets are literally the definition of ‘in-between a rock and a hard place’. They have no draft picks for the next century and are going to be moving at a Gary the Snail-like pace for the next few seasons.
The good news is that they made some savvy moves in the offseason, signing proven veterans who are content to come off the bench and mentor the younger players or start if need be… but it’s hard to tell who will fulfill what role. For now, I’m going to role with what I have above.
After Milwaukee traded a first round pick and what turned out to be Norman Powell for Vasquez; Vasquez only averaged 5.7 PPG and 4.0 AST. Linsanity, on the other hand, had a career year for the Hornets and is the established starting PG.
Foye vs. Kilpatrick is a toss up. Kilpatrick was a great UDFA find and was a bright spot in a dismal season for the Nets, but Foye is a proven veteran who Kenny Atkinson may find will be a bit more consistent.
Bogdanovic has been playing well in the Olympics, which complicates giving minutes to RHJ who was the brightest spot in the Nets season before going down to injury. If RHJ starts at the 2 (which he can) then you have to figure out what to do with Foye and Kilpatrick. See the conundrum?
Scola is an aging, declining veteran who will play 15 minutes of goofy basketball and spell the underrated Trevor Booker when needed. McCullough is like Thomas Robinson (who played for the Nets last season), but younger. Lopez should not be brought off the bench, as defensively challenged as he is.
While the Nets made noted improvements all around, they will be playing from behind most games, so the bench unit’s stats should be taken with a grain of salt as they’ll be playing against 2nd or 3rd string units of opposing teams.
Next: No. 28