New York’s ‘other NBA team’ has turned a 180 with its roster — and they look legit.
No one has had it as rough over the past five seasons as the Brooklyn Nets.
In 2013, the team traded its whole farm system for a bunch of aging veterans. Specifically, the Nets traded five players, including three unprotected first-round picks, to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry.
The blockbuster transaction was supposed to put Brooklyn in prime position to compete for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. But that outcome never materialized. The trio of Deron Williams, Garnett, and Pierce only achieved one playoff series win over two seasons.
To make matters worse, the Nets lost out on a lot of draft equity over those years. As a result, it has been a team of mediocre players with no sense of direction.
The good news is that it has all changed for the better. That’s because Sean Marks has done nothing short of a phenomenal job handling the Nets roster since he arrived in 2016. He has been able to acquire late first-round draft picks as well as proven veterans.
This year has kept the string going–with emphasis on facilitating the ball. Luckily, the Nets not only have one of those players but two. The team took a gamble on point guards Spencer Dinwiddie and D’Angelo Russell and the gamble paid off. The two have made a name for themselves. Their facilitation ability goes a long way toward controlling the pace of the offense. This season will also be the first time that both have been healthy at the same time. So expect to see at least one of the two throughout the course of the game.
The big asset that Brooklyn has is its backcourt.
Acquiring guard Caris Levert in the 2016 NBA Draft in exchange for veteran Thaddeus Young paid off tremendously. So far, Levert has proven to an absolute steal of a selection. His shot-creating ability compliments his quick release, and that makes him a person to run the offense through.
Through the team’s first four games, Levert has proven to be that man. He’s averaging 24 points and 4 assists while shooting 40 percent from three. With production like that, Levert should be the team’s leader in points night after night.
Of course, every great guard player needs someone down low who can set screens and be an interior defender. Well, may I introduce you to Jarrett Allen? Allen became a Net as a part of a trade that sent vets Bogdan Bogdanovic and Chris Mcholough to the Washington Wizards. And so far, Allen has proven to be an excellent frontcourt addition on both sides of the ball. From driving dunks to a few post moves, Allen’s offensive is respectable enough to have him playing at the starting five.
Allen and Levert have complemented each other over the past two seasons as they’ve developed chemistry.
Don’t forget, too, that there are key vets on this roster, including Allen Crabbe and Ed Davis. Crabbe has been a reliable catch-and-shoot shooter, and his three-point ability spreads the floor open when non-shooters are in the lineup. Davis is a proven double-double threat off the bench. His rebounding efficiency is key in the free-flowing style that head coach Kenny Atchinson loves to run.
And there’s even more! Let’s not forget the young talent on this roster. The team’s two draft picks (both of whom are from abroad) look to be contributors in their rookie years. Rodionus Kurcus has already been tested and looks poised as a Three-and-D big man. It may take a few months for the team to fully unleash Dzanan Musa. I’ve covered him in a previous article and spoke about his sheer versatility on offense. He’s only 19 years old and has the flexibility to score on all three levels while playing all wing positions.
The Nets also have a first-round pick this season–something it hasn’t had in five years. That just adds to the possibility of this team creating its own destiny.
I’m not saying that Brooklyn will make the playoffs this season. But maybe in the next two or three years they will–if the youngsters continue developing their game.
It’s time to start believing in these Brooklyn Nets.
