The Brooklyn Nets have endured several tough years in recent time, and the 2016-17 season was no different, as the team finished dead-last in the Eastern Conference with a 20-62 record. After dealing shooting guard Bojan Bogdanovic to the Washington Wizards, the Nets surprisingly chose to hold onto star center Brook Lopez. Despite the poor record, lack of future draft picks, and ownership's willingness to sell a major stake in the team, Brooklyn has directed toward a team on the rise through the addition of prospective and youthful players.
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| The Nets failed to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive year |
In this article, we will take a closer look at the 2016-17 campaign and examine what went right and wrong for the Brooklyn Nets.
The Good
Health and Performance by Brook Lopez
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| Lopez (pictured) remains the Nets best player |
From 2012-2014, Brook Lopez played in just 96 games for the Nets after suffering various foot-related injuries. However, since that time, he has managed to stay on the court for at least 72 games per year, and 2016-17 marked his highest game-total since 2010-11. In 75 games, the All-Star put up 20.5 PPG, 5.4 REB and surprisingly shot 34% from three-point range. While his future with the Nets is still unclear, it is apparent that Lopez has re-established himself as a formidable scoring threat in the NBA.
Improvement of Sean Kilpatrick
Sean Kilpatrick served as a nice bench-option for interim coach Tony Brown during the second-half of the 2015-16 year, and further improved his game under coach Kenny Atkinson this past year. In 70 games (24 starts), he totaled 13.1 PPG while shooting 34% from downtown and 84% from the free-throw line. Still 27, Kilpatrick carries plenty of youth and could continue to evolve his game next season.
The Bad
The Jeremy Lin Experiment
As a rebuilding franchise, the Nets were questioned upon after bringing in point guard Jeremy Lin on a hefty three-year, $36 million contract last summer. Lin had been effective with the Hornets, Lakers, and Rockets, but was put up on a pedestal after being immediately named the starting point guard. In 2016-17, the Harvard-product suffered various hamstring injuries and was limited to just 36 games. While his overall numbers looked good (14.5 PPG, 5.1 AST, 37 3P%), Lin was a disappointment for the Nets and represents a pricey floor general for the two remaining seasons under contract.
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| Lin (pictured) still has two years, $24 million remaining on his contract |
Despite being a fan-favorite and now all-time scoring leader in Nets history, Brook Lopez's days in Brooklyn have been long overdue. This past February, many teams showed interest in the 29-year old, including the Thunder, Pacers and Pelicans, but the Nets refused to budge. Perhaps GM Sean Marks views Lopez as the sole marketable entity on his roster, and the loss of such an individual would be catastrophic for game-day attendance and overall attention to the team. Regardless, with 2017-18 being Lopez's final season in Brooklyn, the team must make a move before their star player departs via free agency.
The Ugly
Future Draft Picks (or lack thereof)
Everyone knows the story. When the Nets moved to Brooklyn in 2012, they brought in several star players to get their team on the map. By doing so, the franchise sacrificed their future by dealing away many top draft picks, mostly to the Celtics, Hawks and Jazz. Despite having two first-round picks this year, the Nets will not be able to pick in the lottery due to the Celtics' right to swap picks.
Overall, the team will be giving up a 2017 second-rounder (to Atlanta), 2018 first-rounder (to Boston), 2018 second-round (to Philadelphia or Charlotte), 2019 second-rounder (to Memphis), and a 2020 second-rounder (to Philadelphia). In return, they still have a 2017 first-rounder (from Washington), 2017 second-rounder (from Boston), and a 2018 second-rounder (from Indiana). In simplistic terms, Brooklyn will have a difficult time in their quest to rebuild due to a lack of first and second round draft selections.
Overall, the team will be giving up a 2017 second-rounder (to Atlanta), 2018 first-rounder (to Boston), 2018 second-round (to Philadelphia or Charlotte), 2019 second-rounder (to Memphis), and a 2020 second-rounder (to Philadelphia). In return, they still have a 2017 first-rounder (from Washington), 2017 second-rounder (from Boston), and a 2018 second-rounder (from Indiana). In simplistic terms, Brooklyn will have a difficult time in their quest to rebuild due to a lack of first and second round draft selections.
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| GM Sean Marks (pictured) has some major work to do with the Nets |
Conclusion
With players such as Isaiah Whitehead, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris Levert, the Nets possess healthy a dose of youth heading into the foreseeable future. Additionally, with two first-round draft picks in 2017, the team will look for a big late-round splash that could immediately help contribute to the rebuilding process. While Nets fans remain disappointed in the state of their team, it is clear that the organization is on the rise, but it may take several years for franchise to re-emerge as a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference. With a few smart draft selections and the trading of Brook Lopez, Brooklyn could quickly transform into a fun and exciting team to watch develop.
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