Sir Charles in Charge
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NBA: A blueprint moving forward for the 6 worst teams in the league

By Evan Dyal

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on from the bench while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 10, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 111-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on from the bench while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 10, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 111-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Brooklyn Nets watches as his team plays the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on November 7, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Brooklyn Nets watches as his team plays the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on November 7, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn is slightly better than in years past. They have NBA caliber players now. It was a real shame Jeremy Lin was lost for the season; the Nets would have been super pesky with him.

Even though the Nets likely won’t make the playoffs this season and they don’t own their first-round pick in this year’s draft, they have done enough to secure some assets. Brooklyn owns Toronto’s first-rounder this season, and has two second-rounders coming over from Orlando and Indiana, respectively.

Plus, they have a legitimate building block in D’Angelo Russell. He is the point guard of the future. At center they have an intriguing prospect in Jarett Allen, he is only 19, but he has loads of potential. Besides that, Brooklyn has several role players, and the Nets have to choose, which ones they want to stay around.

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Spencer Didwiddle, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Caris Levert have all shown they are quality rotation players. Plus they are all young and cheap. Brooklyn should hold on to these kids. They play hard, work hard and are all getting better.

Now on to the vets.

First, let’s start with Mozgov. The Nets agreed to eat his contract to get D’Angelo Russell. He is terrible at this point in his career and has three years left on his $64 million contract. Like the Hawks with Plumlee, the Nets will have to eat this one most likely. The good news is they are pretty good on the cap beside him and the Crabbe contract.

Tyler Zeller, Quincy Acy and Trevor Booker are all on expiring contracts, so their futures are up in the air.

One idea could be moving Trevor Booker to Portland for Myles Leonard and a 2019 second-round pick. It allows Brooklyn to get an extra pick, and a still young stretch five. Portland would get much-needed depth at the four.

Other veterans like DeMarre Carroll and Allen Crabbe will be there a while due to salary. Both have played well; Crabbe especially is a good rotation wing.

Then there is the young group of Joe Harris, Sean Kilpatrick, and Isiah Whitehead. All project to be bench players for their careers. All are young and cheap, but Harris and Kilkpatrick are free agents this summer. I would keep Harris and let Kilkpatrick walk, Harris shooting alone makes him more valuable. Whitehead is intriguing there are skills there, and I think he is worth keeping around to develop.

Player development will be crucial in Brooklyn. They must maximize guys like Harris, Whitehead, Didwiddle, Hollis-Jefferson, and Levert. All can be rotation players on a winning team. Around Russell, they can thrive. At the deadline, I would look only to move Booker, and the rest be patient. Develop your players, hit in the draft, and this summer spend money wisely in free agency. Don’t overpay for a marginal starter, stay the course.

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