NBA Offseason Wrap Up, Part 2: A Wild LeBron-less Eastern Conference
10. Brooklyn Nets
Key additions: Ed Davis (FA), Shabazz Napier (FA), Kenneth Faried (trade), Jared Dudley (trade)
Key losses: Jeremy Lin (trade)
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WHILE, there is hope that the Brooklyn Nets won’t be terrible. GM Sean Marks had a brilliant offseason. Let’s get right into his moves.
Ed Davis was the biggest signing of the offseason, landing in Brooklyn on a one-year, $4.4 million bargain. Only Clint Capela matched his per 36 minute points and rebounding totals, TS%, and DBPM last year. Davis is more of an energy big to play in spurts off the bench but will have the opportunity to see minutes on a team with a starting front-court of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Jarrett Allen.
The Napier signing should also help Brooklyn. At the moment he serves as Kenny Atkinson’s fifth guard, but like Davis, will have the opportunity to prove himself. Once a favourite of LeBron’s out of college, Shabazz offers a reliable secondary source of shooting, playmaking, and toughness. On any given night he could emerge as the Nets best guard. On a two-year, $3.8 million contract, this was another nice sigining by Marks.
Marks also brought in Kenneth Faried and Jared Dudley in back-to-back highway-robbery deals. As part of the Jeremy Lin giveaway, he was able to get two picks, including a protected ’19 first rounder, along with Faried and Darrell Arthur. Arthur was then flipped for Dudley and a ’21 second rounder.
To recap, Marks flipped Lin and Isaiah Whitehead for an explosive rebounder in the middle of his prime, a quality leader for the locker room, and three draft picks, while shedding Lin’s $12.7 million salary for ’19. Marks continues to make amends for the disaster left behind by former GM Billy King. In a matter of seventeen months he has totally changed the culture and dynamic in Brooklyn. In the process of turning the franchise around, he’s cleared the way for them to have around $60 million in cap room heading into a historic free agency class next summer.
The offseason additions add to an interesting mix of talents Atkinson has to work with. Atkinson likes to play a watered down version of Moreyball – the ’18 Nets were second in threes made and attempted while playing at the league’s sixth fastest pace. Coming back from a knee injury, D’Angelo Russell will take the reigns of the offense. Standing at 6’5, the 2015 2nd overall pick will be Brooklyn’s primary ball handler and for the first time in his career will get the chance to showcase his elite playmaking skills. Only 22, Russell’s unique skill set fits the system well and sort of reminds me of a young James Harden.
The Nets will be one of the league’s hardest playing teams and should be in most games this season. Their main focus should be developing their youth and showing free agents they are a viable destination next summer. Whatever the turnout, give major credit to Sean Marks for inhabiting a roster from hell with no draft picks and making the best out of it. With so much inept management league-wide, I am surprised teams don’t invest more money into their front offices.
Nets projected record: 35-47
Nets chances of making the playoffs: 25%
Nets chances of winning the East: <1%