The Brooklyn Nets concluded the 2015-2016 season with a 21-61 record, finishing second-to-last in the Eastern Conference. The organization, however, turned a page when they rid themselves of GM Billy King and head coach Lionel Hollins. King, of-course, is infamously known for pulling the trigger on the 2013 trade that brought in Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry. The Nets mortgaged their future in that deal by sending away three first-round picks, as well as useful role players like Kris Humphries and Gerald Wallace. As we know, the exchange was a massive flop on Brooklyn's behalf, and they will continue to pay for it in the coming years.
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| Sean Marks (left) and Kenny Atkinson (right) will look to bring life back to Brooklyn |
In February, Brooklyn hired Sean Marks to be their new general manager. The former power forward had been just five years removed from playing in the NBA but spent a significant portion of time in the San Antonio Spurs front office. The organization then turned it's attention to the vacant head coach position. They brought in Kenny Atkinson, previously the assistant coach for the Knicks and Hawks, to help develop a new, young group of Nets in order to return to NBA relevance. Time will tell to see if that was the right move.
In this article, we will take a preview at the 2016-2017 Brooklyn Nets team, offering predictions both individually and as a team.
Guards
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| Lin signed a three year contract with the Nets |
Jeremy Lin was brought in this off-season to run the Nets offense. The 28 year old played an important role for a surprising Charlotte Hornets team last year, as he racked up 11.7 PPG in 78 games. Due to Kemba Walker's presence, he was often seen splitting time with Jeremy Lamb at the shooting guard position. For the Nets, he will become an integral part of their team and short-term plans, and should maintain the starting point guard position throughout the entire season.
Lin's backup has not yet been determined, but the Nets do have a few options. Veteran guard Greivis Vasquez has served as a nice substitute for a variety of teams in his career, and would seem like a viable option. The other choice is to go with Isaiah Whitehead, the 21 year old rookie out of Seton Hall University. Being a second-round pick, Whitehead may find himself low on the pecking order, but the upside for greatness is there. In his final year of college, he averaged 18.2 PPG, 5.1 AST, and 1.2 STL while leading Seton Hall to a Big East Conference Championship.
As for the shooting guards, the Nets have a surplus of feasible options to choose from. Bojan Bogdanovic, the 27 year old out of Bosnia, looked excellent last year. Although he profiles to be more of a small forward, he may be considered to play at the two-guard this upcoming season. Last year, Bogdanovic racked up 11.2 PPG along with a 39% from three-point range and made 83% of his free throws.
Another person up for consideration is Randy Foye, the ten-year veteran on a one-year deal. Although he hasn't had a full-time starting gig in a few years, the 33 year old could provide a veteran presence to the lineup. The last time he had a starting role was in 2013-2014 with Denver, and he produced 13.2 PPG and 38% from downtown.
The other name to regard is Joe Harris, who shot an outstanding 62% from three point range in the preseason. Harris, selected 33rd overall by the Cavaliers in the 2015 draft, did not receive much playing time over the last two years. He was buried in the depth chart by the likes of J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, and Mo Williams. Harris signed a one year deal with the Nets in July and may see himself getting key minutes for a team that certainly needs an outside perimeter threat.
Finally, Sean Kilpatrick made a nice impact for Brooklyn last year, and he should not go unnoticed. In 23 games off the bench, he put up a solid 13.8 PPG and shot almost 90% from the charity stripe. The 26 year old does not figure to start, but may carve a niche in the rotation.
Forwards
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| Hollis-Jefferson is one to keep an eye on |
The Nets aren't exactly loaded at the small forward position, but they do hope that Rondae Hollis-Jefferson continues to show promise. As the 23rd pick the 2015, he was brought in with high expectations. Last season, he had looked auspicious, but fell to a major ankle injury only a few months in. Hollis-Jefferson prides himself on defense, and recently ESPN took it to the next level saying that he would lead the NBA in steals this upcoming year. The 21 year old is still a work-in progress with his offensive game, but the raw tools are there for him to break out at some point.
Finding a proper backup for Hollis-Jefferson will be difficult. Chris McCullough, a 21 year old out of Syracuse, looked decent at times last year but has limited NBA experience. The other option was just drafted this year, and coming off major foot surgery. That would be Caris LeVert, who was dealt to Brooklyn in June for PF Thaddeus Young.
Trevor Booker signed a two-year deal with the Nets in the summer and figures to take over the vacant power forward void left by Young. Booker spent the last two seasons with the Utah Jazz, putting up 5.9 PPG and 5.7 REB in his final year. He is ideally as better fit as a backup, but the Nets will bank on him to put up numbers similar to 2011, when he had 8.4 PPG and 6.5 REB as a member of the Wizards.
Backing up Booker will likely be veteran Luis Scola, who enters his tenth season in the NBA. Scola has been a productive player in his career, and played a key part to the Toronto Raptors rotation in 2015-2016. In that year, he started 76 games, putting up 8.7 PPG and shooting a remarkable 40% from three-point range. There's a great deal to like about Scola's game, even as he enters his age-36 season. One thing is for sure, Scola has an excellent track record with his durability, and may find himself starting sooner than later.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that Anthony Bennett, the former first overall pick, will look to get his career on track with the Nets. The 23 year old has already seen time with Cleveland, Minnesota, and Toronto, and does not figure to be a big part of the picture as the season opens. However, given the opportunity, his upside is there.
Centers
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| Lopez will look to repeat his solid 2015 season |
Brook Lopez has been an anchor the Nets for several seasons now, and will continue to be the face of the franchise. Last year, he put up 20.6 PPG with 7.8 REB, and managed to avoid any major health issues. If the Nets find themselves at the bottom of the divisional race, Lopez could be sent away in a trade, but for now, Brooklyn will be relying on the 28 year old big man to lead their offense.
The Nets do not have a true backup center, and that is a major issue. Last year, Willie Reed had served the role, but he is now a member of the Miami Heat. The team's only other center is Justin Hamilton, a 26 year old that has been out of the league for two seasons. This concern may need to be addressed in the early parts of the season, especially if Lopez goes down with injury.
Final Predictions
2016-2017 W-L Record: 27-55
Team MVP: Brook Lopez
Breakout Player: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Honorable Mention: Joe Harris)
Biggest Disappointment: Trevor Booker
Traded by Mid-season: Brook Lopez, Jeremy Lin, Luis Scola
- The Brooklyn Nets will open up their 2016-2017 season on Wednesday, October 26 against the Boston Celtics.
- To check out our Nets Free Agency grades, click here
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