There’s plenty of excitement in Brooklyn these days after the Nets signed two top free agents, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant (though technically Durant came in a sign-and-trade with the Warriors).
The only thing putting a damper on that excitement is Durant’s Achilles injury. While Durant is making good progress rehabbing the ruptured tendon, it’s unlikely he’ll play in the upcoming season.
The Nets essentially swapped out point guards with the more accomplished Irving replacing D’Angelo Russell, who wound up with Golden State. The team added another veteran free agent, DeAndre Jordan, though the Nets already had a promising young center in Jarrett Allen.
That could lead to some playing time issues for coach Kenny Atkinson. Several other players have blossomed under Atkinson’s tutelage in recent seasons, including Caris LeVert, Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie. Forward Taurean Prince was acquired in a trade with the Hawks, who were a willing partner in a salary dump involving Allen Crabbe in order to acquire other assets. Forward Rodions Kurucs could make a major step forward in his second season if he improves his long-range stroke.
By all accounts, the oft-moody Irving is embracing a leadership role with his new team.
How all those pieces will fit while the franchise waits for the 2020/21 season, when Durant should be back to full strength, remains to be seen. Brooklyn reached the playoffs last season but got knocked out by the more talented Sixers, 4-1, in the opening round. Good chemistry played a role in its regular-season success but this is a different mix.
That leads us to our question of the day: Will the Nets make the playoffs again this upcoming season? If so, how deep of a postseason run can they make?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
They’ll be the third best team in the East and will lose to the Bucks in the semis in 6 games.
Thanks for reading the future Nostradamus, but what the heck does that have to do with the article.
I believe Jacob was answering this question in the article: “Will the Nets make the playoffs again this upcoming season? If so, how deep of a postseason run can they make?”
He read the entire article, and quite efficiently I might add. His response was to what the author deemed “The Question of the day”.
My Nostradamus like ability is telling me Eastern Conference champs. 3rd seed BKN beating 6th seed ORL. 3rd seed BKN beating 2nd seed MIL. 3rd seed BKN beating 1st seed PHI. Loses to LAC in finals.
Durant returns March 24th and gets about 9 or 10 regular season games in.
My question of the day: BKN not BRK?
You have all been donged
The Nets are a one and done team in the top-heavy eastern conference, assuming they even make the playoffs. Kyrie did nothing but disappoint fans in Boston, why should things be any different in Brooklyn? Even when KD joins the team in 2020, he will be coming off a major injury at age 32 (which he will be on 9-29-20) and only the most biased of Nets fans will expect him to still be the player he was with the Warriors and the Thunder.
So in truth, the Nets’ outlook is not so great.
In the playoffs, I think the Nets is unfavored against Bucks, Sixers, and Pacer, about even with Heat and Celtics, and favored against the rest.
I do not understand why they signed DeAndre Jordan. I bet they could have improved their team by putting that open dollars/resources elsewhere.
they signed DeAndre because his buddies with KD and Kyrie. Plus hes a great rim protector and rebounder, both those are huge assets come playoff time
Allen can’t handle Embiid. It was like Toronto trading for Gasol.
Him KD, and KI are all buddies and wanted to play together, so the price of KD was KI/DJ. It makes evaluating the KD signing way different since DJ for 4/40M is part of it as well.
As a leader, Irving will be surrounded by allies not rivals this time. He chose the Nets. He was not drafted or traded there, but recruited primarily by his now-backup, so no Scary Terry situation.
D’lo on the other hand, while younger and almost as good, melted vs. Philly when the series heated up after the Nets won the first game.
The successful Nets culture is now tested with celebrity newbies and heavy turnover. However of the departures, only RondaeHJ had been with the team more than two years and he had lost some spark. (Others: Crabbe, Carroll, Davis, Dudley, Faried, Graham, Napier, Russell.)
Remaining is: Harris, LeVert & Dinwiddie, 3 years; Allen, 2 years; Kurocs, Pinson & Musa, 1.
This is not a solid base of continuation and I think it may have been better to have held on a few more for a quicker start. Dumped: Carroll, Davis, Dudley, Faried. (Basically Russell, Napier, Graham, Crabbe & 2 firsts all went for Durant & Prince. NAWalker, a terrific prospect, was the first first.)
People are calling it D’lo vs Irving, but actually D’lo was traded for Durant, and I think that was more iffy. This year’s team won’t be that much better than last year’s with all the shakeup and money in street clothes.
Iffy but still a good choice for a 2-6 year horizon.
This season Brooklyn is a team that’ll be in the 3-5 range. Don’t see them getting past the second round yet
If Brooklyn missed the playoffs, I wouldn’t be surprised – even if they’re healthy all season.
Philly, Milwaukee, and Boston are locks. Toronto is almost a lock. That leaves five teams – Miami, Indiana, Brooklyn, Orlando, and Detroit – competing for for playoff spots.
Brooklyn is going to be great offensively, but their defense is going to be awful. Irving didn’t impress anyone last year with his leadership. Expectations are going to be sky high.
I’m not saying Brooklyn won’t make the playoffs, but I’d say they’re 50-50 to miss them.
I’m thinking a 4/5 in a toss up 1st round series but they would be a long shot to advance past the second round