The Brooklyn Nets are within the midst of a rebuild however have positively made some questionable strikes up to now.
First within the draft, they chose three guards: Egor Demin, Nolan Traroe, and Ben Saraf. All three are sturdy passers, however none of them can shoot or create constant scoring alternatives. It felt like normal supervisor Sean Marks threw a bunch of darts on the board and is hoping one sticks.
Moreover, Brooklyn was in a stalemate with their prime free agent, Cam Thomas, for many of the summer season. Thomas is returning on a one-year qualifying supply, and now with three different guards within the fold that must develop, his long-term match comes into query.
Probably the most questionable transfer the Nets made this offseason got here through the commerce market and will influence their rebuild.
Brooklyn made an enormous mistake buying and selling for Michael Porter Jr.
First off, the Nets waited far too lengthy to commerce away Cam Johnson. They have been reportedly getting presents of a number of first-round picks for the ahead during the last yr, together with in the course of the commerce deadline final season. Due to that, they have been compelled to accept the Nuggets’ supply of Porter and a 2032 first-round decide.
That 2032 first-rounder might maintain some worth, particularly if Nikola Jokic is retired by then. Nonetheless, Brooklyn might have gotten much more, and now they’re caught with Porter.
Porter Jr. flashed indicators of potential earlier in his profession, however he has been a combined bag the final couple of seasons. His stats on the floor look good: 18 factors per recreation, 51 p.c taking pictures, and virtually 40 p.c from three. Nonetheless, he has benefitted drastically from enjoying alongside Jokic, and Porter has probably not grown his recreation through the years.
He’s largely a standstill ahead who can shoot very properly however presents little off-ball motion. He’s not a great slasher, and his deal with has not progressed since he entered the league. His protection is mind-bogglingly underwhelming for a man that measurement and with the athletic profile he has.
All of these deficiencies, and the cherry on prime is making $78 million over the following two seasons. So the Nets can say goodbye to being actual gamers in free company subsequent summer season, with a stacked class on the horizon.
The Nets have nobody else in charge however for the Johnson mishap
Brooklyn does have numerous draft capital over the following few seasons, but when they handled the Johnson state of affairs accurately, they may have gotten much more. It might have been a situation the place the wealthy get richer, as they may have had cap flexibility for subsequent summer season and extra draft picks.
Now, the Nets are caught with Porter for the following two seasons. Until he someway rebuilds his commerce worth, that $78 million is just not going anyplace for the foreseeable future. Brooklyn is for positive punting on successful subsequent season, however in some other future strikes they make, they need to attempt to acquire flexibility as an alternative of pigeonholing themselves.
