The Nets may be encouraged by how they performed after trading Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, but they’ll need to add rebounders and shot creators to get past the first round of the playoffs, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Brooklyn couldn’t muster a single win in its series against the Sixers, even with Joel Embiid sidelined today with a sprained right knee. Playing without its starting center, Philadelphia had a decisive 54-38 advantage on the glass.
“We’ve got to get bigger over the summer. We’ve got to get nasty over the summer,” coach Jacque Vaughn said. “We’ve got to get guys who really love hitting, and take it personal when the other team gets a rebound. That’s what we’ll be looking for.”
Rebounding was only part of the problem. The Nets shot 9-of-37 from three-point range today and just 5-of-29 after the first quarter. Mikal Bridges appeared exhausted by the end of the series, Lewis observes, and would benefit from having at least one more teammate who can run the offense and attack the basket.
“For our group going forward, the ability for multiple people to get downhill and get to the paint and create opportunities, that’s a need for us, yes,” Vaughn said.
There’s more from Brooklyn:
- The Nets will almost certainly have to go over the luxury tax line to keep restricted free agent Cameron Johnson, according to Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype. He notes that Johnson would be a good fit for virtually all the teams with cap space this summer, such as the Rockets, Magic, Jazz, Thunder and Spurs. Gozlan projects a four-year offer sheet for Johnson somewhere around $80-90MM.
- Seth Curry could be headed elsewhere in free agency, Gozlan adds. The 32-year-old guard doesn’t appear to fit the Nets’ long-term plans and may find a better opportunity with another team. Re-signing Yuta Watanabe may be a higher priority, but Gozlan notes that Brooklyn only has non-Bird rights and would have to use part of its mid-level exception to give him a salary that’s very much above the minimum.
- The Nets have offseason decisions to make on Royce O’Neale, who only has a $2.5MM guarantee for next season on his $9.5MM salary, and Edmond Sumner, whose $2.2MM contract for 2023/24 is non-guaranteed, per Bobby Marks of ESPN (Insider link). Marks also points out that Spencer Dinwiddie will become eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $128MM in August.
Seth to golden state
Makes sense to me. Playing with his brother and in that offense? Perfect fit. And I’m a Lakers fan, so I don’t want that to happen.
Doubt they can keep Cam J. Why would any owner take a luxury tax for a 1st rd sweep team?
Claxton is also a RFA after next season. I am sure they want to keep him.
They will take the best S/T offer.
Hoping Pistons can get him for a S/T with Bagley
Nets need good young players , plus he was part of the KD trade. they will bring him back.
Since they don’t have their pick next year they might as well go for the playoffs.
Trade cam Thomas, Royce O’Neal, Joe Harris, their 2 first this year and the 2025 suns for DeRozan.
Biggest issue is clear Ben Simmons.
Start off with Ben Simmons for Gordan Hayward.
Aside from that I’d go back to Dallas as say, what about DFS, ONeale and Mills for THJ and McGee.
They could do with more 3 and D versatile guys and a back up point guard in Mills. McGee was in the rotation for large parts of last year and THJ looks very likely to get traded for a retool.
Nets then look something like
Dinwiddie THJ Bridges Johnson Claxton
… Thomas Hayward … McGee
Fill out the rotation with a vet and then a bunch of high upside young guys.
For the vet spot I’d lean towards John Wall for running the second unit. Wouldn’t be asked to score to much with Thomas and Hayward there. Has McGee for setting screens and catching lobs. Just a solid vet leader.
Then as I said high upside young guys.
Nets would be a decent side, big tall point guard in Dinwiddie at 6’5. THJ a secondary ball handler and sniper at SG. Bridges at the 3 is the face of the franchise. Gives you 25-30 a night with elite defence and no days off. Johnson at the 4, decent defender and again another sniper. Then Claxton at the 5, just a hard working young defensive centre.
Some nights these guys would get hot and beat any team in the league
Ben Simmons might be untradeable 2 years at 37 and 40 a year. Pistons spurs jazz seem like the only teams that can take on Simmons and not hamper rebuild. And if spurs or pistons get victor they won’t trade
Jarred Allen was in Brooklyn and they trade him to Cleveland and now want a big player to take rebounds. What a serious of bad trades made in the last couple of years the nets.
It was just the fact that they basically traded him for nothing. And the fact that the rockets didnt want him is even more stupid!!
Brooklyn is in a solid position. Bridges is a guy they will look to build with. Dinwoodie is solid at the point. They have the assets to add a major player to those two. Ben Simmons and Joe Harris have contracts that could be added to draft picks to entice a team like the Bulls into a rebuild. Zach LaVine or DeMar DeRozan (1 year left on contract).
Curry to Boston makes way too much sense.
You think he is gonna get minutes over White, Smart and Brogdan?
Biggest offseason need is coach, b/c this team has been almost infuriating to watch waste as much versatile talent that they have had. All the playmaking, versatility, defense, and shooting on this roster is way better than they were used, and I cant understand how that was a somehow even worse issue after the trades than it was the last 3 years…
Their rotation decisions were a clown show
Bring back most of the same roster/all of it, and add a backup big, preferably someone that can space the floor, and/or someone that can help get easier baskets in half court situations