Brooklyn Nets: 5 free-agent targets to add depth to the roster
By Corey Ghee
Brooklyn Nets’ free-agent target: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
The first reunion that would make a ton of sense would be bringing back Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. He spent the first four years of his career with the Nets, and he started emerging after the arrival of D’Angelo Russell. After a solid season with the Toronto Raptors, he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves but unexpectedly cut before the start of the season.
He could return to Brooklyn and address a need. This team has enough scoring, but there’s room to grow defensively. RHJ could come in and be their top perimeter defender immediately. Defensive stoppers will matter in the playoffs, and he’s versatile enough to guard all five positions in today’s NBA.
That shouldn’t be overlooked, as he had the highest defensive versatility rating in the league at 94.2 last season. That is the result of him spending an almost equal amount of time guarding point guards (18.3 percent), shooting guards (23.6 percent), small forwards (19.3 percent), power forwards (21.0 percent), and centers (17.7 percent).
If he could shoot he’d be one of the 3-and-D players in the league, and he may need to improve as a shooter to emerge as a key piece for Steve Nash, but this would be an ideal fit for Brooklyn. Reunions with veterans Wilson Chandler or DeMarre Carroll, who spent two seasons in Brooklyn and played with assistant coach Mike D’Antoni in Houston last season wouldn’t be a bad idea either. RHJ presents a higher upside though and better fits the defensive need.