The playoffs are here and we should all be soaking up every minute of that. However, there are 14 unlucky franchises that are missing out on the fun and already looking forward to next year. With them (and their fans) in mind, this series will take a look ahead and help lay out the priorities for this offseason.
Today, we’re looking at a team that’s buried in such a deep rebuild that the trapped Chilean miners feel bad for them.
BROOKLYN NETS
Over the last 50 years, there have been several legends and icons keeping the Boston Celtics as a marquee franchise. Red Auerbach. Bill Russell. Larry Bird. Billy King.
They should be unveiling King’s bronze statue sooner or later, thanks to the fleecing he took in the Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett trade. The trade actually didn’t look that bad at the time, but in hindsight, it was one of the worst in NBA history. Apparently, only Danny Ainge and Boston knew how close Garnett and Paul Pierce were to hitting the wall, shattering the Nets’ misguided title window before it ever began.
What that means is: the Nets will be racking up losses, and getting nothing out of it. There’s a good chance they wind out up with the #1 pick this year — and ship it right over to Ainge and the Celtics.
Meanwhile, they’re stuck in the muck and the mire, without nothing to look forward to in the lottery aside from seeing how much they can help the Celtics. It’s going to be a long, long, long road back for them, but here are some steps to take along the way.
(1) Don’t trust in a “process,” trust in people
The closest comparison to the current Nets situation is Sam Hinkie’s long rebuild in Philadelphia, “The Process.” In fact, the Brooklyn Nets’ rebuild may take even LONGER, given the fact that they don’t have their own high draft picks right now.
History will look kindly on Hinkie’s vision because, at the end of the day, it makes logical sense. You can tank year after year after year after year, and eventually, you’ll have enough talent to field a true playoff contender (if not a title contender.) If your ownership and fanbase has the patience for it, then, by all means, go right ahead and follow Hinkie’s footsteps.
But while the “process” makes sense, we can’t give Hinkie too much credit for his execution. He never established himself as a true standout in terms of talent evaluation or roster construction. The current Sixers brain trust looks even rockier, judging by the return they got for Nerlens Noel.
I have more faith in the Nets’ current leadership in that regard, in young GM Sean Marks and coach Kenny Atkinson. Atkinson, in particular, appears to be perfectly in tune with the modern NBA. He’s pushing the pace and launching from long range; he’s even encouraging Brook Lopez to jack up threes. The current Nets’ roster doesn’t have the personnel to pull off that style, but it’s a clear identity and a promising start to his tenure.
The Nets fans, as depressed as they may be, some are optimistic about their leadership. Hopefully, they’ll be afforded enough time to follow through with their plan.
(2) Allow Brook Lopez to control his own fate
Brook Lopez has earned the right to decide his own fate.
Along with Carmelo Anthony, Brook Lopez may be the most maligned 20-point scorer in the NBA. Even though he’s added threes to his offensive arsenal, he’s not a great fit in today’s game. He’s not a fleet-footed defender, and his rebounding leaves a lot to be desired. In fact, he averaged fewer rebounds this game (5.4) than the 6’1″ Patrick Beverly (5.9) and barely half as many as Russell Westbrook (10.7).
But here’s one criticism you never hear about Brook Lopez: he’s a malcontent. In fact, he’s the opposite; he’s been a team player and good soldier, throughout his entire career.
Back in the 2008 draft, Brook Lopez surprisingly fell all the way to #10 to New Jersey, a franchise not expected to land him. He’s been with the Nets ever since — 9 years now — but those clouds of doubt and instability have followed him. He’s been floated around in various rumors and trade talks almost every year and continues to be now. Meanwhile, Lopez keeps his head down and keeps plugging away.
Lopez ought to be awarded for that. In fact, I’d give Lopez his choice. Does he want to stay with this franchise, where he’ll eventually be one of the most accomplished (statistically) players in their history? Or does he want to go somewhere else and contend in the playoffs?
The Nets should let Lopez decide because there’s really not much in it for them either way. Lopez has one year left on his contract — $22 million — and will have marginal trade value. The Nets’ future won’t depend on whether he stays or goes, so they can afford to extend him the courtesy of the decision.
(3) Press the “sim” button on 2017/18. AND 2018/19
As depressing as the Nets’ outlook is right now, it’s actually about to get worse.
Everyone knows by now that the Boston Celtics can swap picks with the Nets this year, but not as much has been made about the fact that the Celtics will also own the Nets’ pick NEXT year. That’s right. There’s a non-zero chance the Nets will be handing the Celtics the #1 pick in 2017 AND 2018. Yikes.
Given that, Nets fans ought to be scouring high school gyms all over the country and trying to figure out who may be their franchise player come 2019.
In the meantime, the Nets can continue their best impression of the Sixers, losing and losing and losing, and trying to find a few diamonds in the rough along the way.
Hopefully, Kenny Atkinson doesn’t get burnt out by that endeavor. Like Brett Brown in Philly, he can talk all he wants about changing the culture and coaxing out some player development, but the truth of the matter is: almost all of the players on his roster now won’t be a part of the team come 2019 and 2020 and beyond. He’s coaching kids who will pass through, probably on their way to Europe.
The Nets will have to pluck up a few gems here and there where they can. “Gems” may be an overstatement, but they need to look for players who can actually contribute in the long term. (The Sixers’ Robert Covington is a good example of that.) Right now, the Nets have a couple of prospective rotation players on their roster right now in Caris LeVert and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
They may be able to score a few more with the draft picks that they do have, #22 and #27. Given their extended timeline, the Nets can afford to take players with a long developmental curve, either by circumstance or by injury. The Sixers took advantage of that with Euro Dario Saric and injured players (at the time) like Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid.
Among the American prospects who may be under-drafted due to injury are Duke big man Harry Giles and Indiana SF O.G. Anunoby. Some European prospects who could be of interest are: Latvian SF Rodions Kurucs and C Anzejs Pasecniks, Bulgarian F Aleksandar Vezenkov, and French PF Mathias Lessort. Are those Euros any good? Don’t ask me: that’s the first time I’ve ever typed out their names (thanks nbadraft.net for the assist.)
But the bottom line and takeaway from this entire exercise is: patience, patience, patience.
