Brooklyn Offseason Review
Key Losses:
Brook Lopez
Losses:
Hamilton
KJ McDaniels
Nicholson
Goodwin
Foye
Draft:
#22 Jarret Allen
#27 traded
#57 Aleksandar Vezenkov
Trades:
Brook Lopez and #27 for Russell and Mozgov
Hamilton for Carroll, Tor ’18 1st (lotto protected) and worst of LAL/Orl ’18 2nd
Nicholson for Crabbe
Free Agency:
Otto Porter 4/107 matched by Washington
Jarret Allen rookie scale
Yakuba Ouattara two way contract
Current Depth Chart: (taken from bbinsiders)
PG: Jeremy Lin, Spencer Dinwiddie
SG: D’Angelo Russell, Allen Crabbe, Isaiah Whitehead, Sean Kilpatrick, Archie Goodwin
SF: DeMarre Carroll, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris
PF: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Trevor Booker, Quincy Acy
C: Timofey Mozgov, Jarrett Allen
HartfordWhalers wrote:HartfordWhalers Review
Key Losses:
They traded Brook Lopez and it was about time. No one was giving up a 1st and a 2nd last trade deadline, so combining him in as part of the value in a trade made sense. For the end of an era -- and it really was an era -- it feels like it just ended with a whimper of okay I guess he's gone. But those "Brook Lin" advertising campaigns aren't going to be running anymore.
Losses:
Getting off Nicholson's long term deal would have been good if you ignore what came back. The rest was meh, which was why I was upside with how they were using roster spots.
Draft:
Love the pick of Allen. High upside and a position of need. Should be interesting to see what he becomes, but it is the type of swing that I support.
Trades:
Before the Crabbe trade, the Nets offseason might have been my favorite offseason. So lets run it all down:
Russell for Lopez, #27, and taking on Movgov
Getting a guy you can put as much hope into as Russell seems a clear steal, and a highlight worthy bit of GM'ing. I'm low on Russell for a top 2 pick -- he seems more a good playmaking sg more than a big dynamic pg to me. And then his passing is used less than it can be, while his shooting gets compared with players who are 'just shooters', and his defense is being asked to keep up with guys as big as him but also more explosive. But there are two ways to look at Russell
1) as a top 2 pick with his age and minutes making his output on a Chris Paul trajectory (if you ignore efficiency) destined for short term All Stardom and
2) As a young top 10 pick with intriguing upside and the chance to be an above average starter with positional flexibility
Embracing Russell just as the second makes this trade still a very nice get.
The Carroll deal was a deal I think 5 teams (at least) should have taken without Hamilton gong back to Toronto. The cost was more than fair for a 1st rounder that could be 20th or 26th, especially when the 2nd was added in. And Carroll might have some real flipable value eithrr this season or next offseason. He isn't useless. I love this trade, and will hold it against teams liek Phx and Sac that they couldn't get in here, least of all Chicago.
Crabbe. Is Crabbe worth 12m a year? Mayeb for a competitor but despite being young, I don't see enough upside for the Nets to justify this. My hope here is he is going to get flipped later, and he is more flippable than Nicholson so it isn't a bad deal on value. It just looks to cut off flexibility, which could have been saved.
Free Agency:
I'm waiting for a one year Shabazz Muhammed contract or something else similar, but otherwise it was a predictable Porter deal that was matched and came almost as an afterthought.
Let me be clear that I don't think anything was lost not going for KCP, although for those that want to start comparing the cost of KCP in terms of say a 20m a year 4 year deal and Russell with Movgov's salary attached and a late 1st rounder outgoing, I can see the argument if KCP has plus potential both sides of the ball.
Even with Movgov tying up a roster spot, and Allen as the first rounder picked, a huge Noel offer would have made more sense to me than the Porter deal.
Current Depth Chart: (taken from bbinsiders)
This roster should be playing Russell and Crabbe as much as possible at their best positions. Which may be at odds with itself already.
Needs:
Flipping Lin, Booker, and anyone else they can.
More offseasons like this pst one, the team is slowly digging their way out still.
Talent
Additional Thoughts:
Lin to somewhere. If Jackson struggles again in Detroit, perhaps Jackson and Stanley Johnson for Lin and filler (Harris/Kilpatrick)?
Projected Win/Loss: 27-55 Lin being out really effected last year. But between the center swap for a guard, the team is in flux and it could be a high variance result this upcoming year. Will Russell look great outside of LA, or will the center rotation bury the Nets? When will more moves come?
Off-Season Grade: A I couldn't ding all the way to an A- off the Crabbe deal, but this was a straight A+ before then for me. I'm hoping Crabbe gets traded within a year for worse player + asset
Slava wrote:Slava's Brooklyn Nets Review
Key Losses:
Lost in the general horribleness of the Nets over the past few years is the fact that Lopez is still good. He ranked 15th amongst centers in the NBA in terms of RPM (+1.95) last season, higher than Horford, Steven Adams etc and just behind Whiteside.
His 20/5 at 58% TS and 21 PER is very high level production and he obviously added a new facet to his game by shooting 35% from 3 at a 33% attempt rate to keep himself relevant in the modern NBA. Having lead the team in winshares in each of the past 3 seasons and 5/9 seasons he played with the team this is a significant loss for Brooklyn’s on court product.
Losses:
While there is always someone in the league willing to take a shot at an athletic wing, I think KJ has come to the end of his road in the NBA and probably looks to China for his next paycheck. Players with his level of basketball IQ usually do not attract attention from Europe.
Draft:
Jarrett Allen could see a ton of minutes right away even if he is far from ready for it, considering how shallow the Nets’ front court rotation is and he can benefit from Mozgov’s tutelage as he projects to be a rim runner and pick and roll finisher in the NBA.
I’m however not a big fan of the pick. There was starter quality talent to be had in the 20s of the draft and its hard to project Allen to be one considering his underdeveloped BBIQ, lack of perimeter or rebounding skills and poor free throw shooting. He does have the physical tools to work with but its going to be a project for the coaching staff to bring him up to a productive NBA level big.
Trades:
Nets were very aggressive with utilizing their cap space to absorb assets and the biggest piece they got in return was Russell.
At first I thought Nets did extremely well in the Lopez trade but reading through the trade negotiation process (Zach Lowe/Ramona Shelburne articles), it looks like the Lakers offered an unprotected pick to take on either Mozgov or Deng and offered Russell for a lottery pick in a different trade to every team in the top 12 with a view to picking either Collins or Kennard and couldn't get a team to bite on either offer.
Marks presumably countered with Russell to take on Mozgov and returned a pick in the process with Lopez. So if you had a choice between a prospect whose current value is outside the top 12 of the lottery or a future unprotected pick, which one would use choose? Its not easy to answer and I’d think NBA GMs possibly have their own view on the Lakers’ confidence to snag two max level players next offseason which would effect their evaluation of the unprotected pick. So in hindsight there is a chance Marks talked himself out of a better deal unless he values Russell higher than others did.
Still getting a previous #2 overall pick for a talent starved roster is a step in the right direction and considering where the Nets are right now you’d feel it might have been better off for them to take the known commodity now than bank on a future lottery. Mozgov can still play too so its not like Omer Asik who needs to be cut after trade to save on catering expenses.
I’m a big fan of Russell, if you put enough shooting around him and let him run pick and rolls at his own pace, he is an effortless scorer who is ready to be a net positive player on the offensive end. Luke had little success in getting him to play at a higher tempo that he liked so it would be interesting to see how Atkinson handles it. Its also going to frustrate fans to no end to see him not even get in proper defensive stance on most possessions while its unknown how much his knee issues from last season are long term. I have a hunch he gets traded again before his rookie contract is up.
I thought Nets dodged a bullet with Blazers matching Crabbe’s offer sheet last year but Marks went and brought him back without an incentive and sending Nicholson back in the process who was stretched and waived by Portland to save on tax. Again unless you value a no-defense SG on a roster that is already perimeter heavy the trade makes little sense. Its even worse when you consider that the Nets could have had their pick of SGs next summer when the cap is scarce and the free agent quality is higher.
There’s a far better chance they could have rehabbed Nicholson into a back up center while Allen developed and sent Booker’s expiring contract elsewhere to get an asset than bringing back Crabbe. Atleast Marks did not go back to take on Tyler Johnson’s back loaded contract from Miami, so small victories.
The net value they got for taking on Carroll is in the same ballpark as the Mozgov dump so in the end, Nets went from being well under the cap to being capped out ahead of next summer barring a Lin opt out and all they have to show for is Russell.
Free Agency:
Not much to write about other than usual Marks RFA offer sheet which Washington took their time matching and tying up the Nets cap space in the mean time.
Current Depth Chart: (taken from bbinsiders)
Guard heavy, big scarce, a thoroughly unbalanced roster. An injury to Mozgov might mean dipping into the minimum market for a player like Thomas Robinson.
Needs:
Some trades to reduce the roster imbalance
Turn Lin’s contract with a player option into a pick
Development from Russell would make long suffering fans feel a lot better
Additional Thoughts:
In an alternative world, Marks could have conserved cap and made a play to get more quality in free agency next summer when there would have been no more than 7 teams with max level cap room and some teams might not even be willing to match offers to restricted free agents.
As of today, this is still a quality starved roster which will remain in the basement of the Atlantic division and only players with room for immediate internal growth could be Russell and Levert.
Projected Win/Loss: 28-54
Off-Season Grade: C
bondom34 wrote: Bondom34's Brooklyn Offseason Review
Key Losses:
Losses:
Draft:
Trades:
I really really love the Lopez trade. Yeah Mozzy's deal is tough but this is the best way to get a good young prospect for a team in this position, and Marks found a taker. The Crabbe deal is weird in that I don't really love it or hate it for either side, but if they think they can get something good out of Crabbe that's not my call. It's a ton of money but moving Nicholson for him feels like it's closer to a win than a loss, so I can't hate on it. The Carroll deal was another solid move to gain draft assets for a team starved of them. The trades all seem like wins to me.
Free Agency:
I like trying to get Porter even if he was matched. Other than that all quiet.
Current Depth Chart: (taken from bbinsiders)
Needs:
More higher end youth, or really any youth. I'd look to maybe cash in on Lin if possible.
Additional Thoughts:
Not much from me here, but I do like what Marks did this offseason, it feels like the Nets are trending up, even if there wasn't much further down to go.
Projected Win/Loss: 28-54
I don't think they're worst in the East, and maybe not even 2nd worst.
Off-Season Grade: [u] B+
Trader_Joe wrote:Trader Joe’s Review
[u]Key Losses:
Sigh.
At some point I have to change my avatar (I think), but for now, it will remain. Great teammate, great guy (who I met early on in his career at the NBA store in Manhattan along with Farmar who was kinda douchey), super skilled on offense, underappreciated on D and wanted to retire a Net. He went through 9 coaches in his time here and kept doing what was asked. He will be missed, but he also had to go. I wish him luck in LA and hope he joins a team I can watch easier and root for easier next summer. (Hmm…)
Losses:
Hamilton - in trade for D.Carroll
KJ McDaniels - waived
Nicholson - in trade for Crabbe
Randy Foye - technically I don’t think they have renounced him yet, perhaps in hopes of using him as trade fodder to match salary
Archie Goodwin - waived
Of these losses, none are significant. Hamilton was bought out and went to China IIRC. KJ is still jobless, Nicholson was waived and stretched by the Blazers, Foye actually started at SG last year for half the season (sadly) but I doubt he finds another job, and while some of us liked Goodwin, he really didn’t prove much other than he can get to the rim.
Draft:
I admittedly don’t follow college or the prospects until March Madness and really more so once the workouts and mock drafts start picking up. So, I’m not going to act like I really know much about J. Allen other than what I have read and the few clips I have watched. If we actually had lotto picks these past several years, that might be different. But his measurables are off the charts, he’s a geek like Brook, and he seems pretty smooth around the basket with his patience. Also seems like good value as he was a late lotto pick in many mocks leading up and this draft was deep. Not sure he quite has the drive and aggression needed to be an enforcer (like Brook).
Our Euro-stash says he is about 2 years away which is fine. He’s a shooter and Marks watched him some overseas leading up to the draft. Who knows what he will be, but at that point in the draft the same count be said about any pick.
Trades:
Brook Lopez and #27 for Russell and Mozgov
I will miss Brook, but I loved this trade (the morning after). I was driving home from work and hadn’t checked my phone for 45 minutes. I stopped at a restaurant/bar to order a beer while I waited for take-out and checked my phone. RealGM or Netsdaily are my first checks when I go on-line. I checked RealGM first and saw the headline… I went to Netsdaily immediately. It was out of nowhere (like pretty much all of Marks’ trades have been) and I was stunned. I texted my old roommate right away to get her take since I turned her into a Nets fan. She doesn’t quite get the NBA and was pissed. I told her it was a move they had to do and a good one. The Nets finally added a high-end young talent. He’s got some baggage, but that’s why he was available. That and the Lakers wanted to clear Mozgov’s salary. KA has said he intends on getting something out of Movgoz and he did work with him in NY. We shall see. There are even videos of Mozgov taking and draining 3 after 3 in work outs recently. Here we go again.
Hamilton for Carroll, Tor ’18 1st (lotto protected) and worst of LAL/Orl ’18 2nd
Another trade out of the blue, but given KA’s experience with DMC, Toronto’s desire to move salary, the Nets need for a SF and their cap space, it made sense. DMC says he feels healthier than he has in 2 years, is glad to be out of Toronto and is glad to be back with KA. But, it’s not so much about DMC as it is getting the 1st rounder and what should be a nice second rounder. Nets now have 3 picks in a draft (assuming Indy misses the PO) that they had none in a year or so ago. Getting rid of Hamilton was nice too and supposedly getting rid of J.Ham Marks held out for. He looked promising with the 3 ball early on, but proceeded to stink it up in every facet of the game a majority of the year.
Nicholson for Crabbe
My least favorite move, and I probably would not have done it or tried holding out for a couple seconds but I get why they did it. This is who Markinson has been targeting for a year. They get him while unloading a terrible player. Can he expand his game? Can he hit the three over 40% on high volume? If he can, this was worth it. If he cannot, that is some lost opportunity with the $12m in cap space difference.
Free Agency:
Ummm… a two-way contract to Yakuba Ouattara who is the only actual free agent on this team.
They tried and failed yet again with the RFA route by going after Porter. The good there? Porter chose us over other max offers (like from Sacramento) and the Nets found another “deterrent”…half his salary had to be paid by October 1. The bad, Washington found a loophole to delay the physical and tied the Nets cap space up for 6 days instead of just 2. But maybe the Nets have hamstrung their competition. Portland was forced to cut salary and the Nets got who they wanted. Miami is said to fear the final 2 years of T. Johnson’s contract. And despite the criticism the Nets are poisoning their relationship with other GM’s, the players and agents don’t seem to mind, and Portland ultimately dealt with the Nets.
Current Depth Chart: (taken from Trader_Joe’s research)
PG: Jeremy Lin, Spencer Dinwiddie
SG: D’Angelo Russell, Sean Kilpatrick, Isaiah Whithead
SF: Allen Crabbe, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris
PF: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, DeMarre Carroll, Quincy Acy
C: Timofey Mozgov, Trevor Booker, Jarrett Allen
I’m hearing Crabbe will be starting, so really the debate is at PF. RHJ did nicely (as did the team, especially on D) once he was inserted at PF, but DMC might get a go as may Booker. But, DMC’s shooting might be better off the bench and Booker might be best backing up the unreliable Mozgov, especially as Allen might spend time in the G. League.
As for Crabbe starting, he’s a low usage player who can shoot the 3. LeVert is much more of a facilitator who can lead the second unit. Doesn’t concern me much as to who starts. Once Lin is gone, I expect LeVert to slide back in. No Crabbe isn’t a SF, but KA isn’t hung up on positions. He sees playmakers, wings and bigs. If the defense is horrifically bad, a change will occur, but I think he’s betting on offense and a three-point heavy attack for now.
Needs:
Positionally speaking, the Nets need another big. Preferably with size. Only Mozgov and Allen are over 6’8”. I heard the Nets are looking for another big through trade (Kilpatrick and Harris the most expendable), so don’t expect much other than a scrub big man. If they go the FA route maybe Tyler Zeller or Jeff Withey get a call. They did scout Sullinger some, but I believe he is going to China.
They still have about $5m in cap (with Foye renounced) and the room exception. They also have a 2-way spot left. They might for a PG as well. Lin was injury prone last year and the team was horrible without him. Dinwiddie was a steady replacement, but he’s more 3rd string material. Isaiah Whitehead played some PG last year, but he’s more a scorer than facilitator and with his bulk, KA has said he might give him some go at SF.
They could also look for another minor dump using their remaining cap or the 150% rule in trade to get more assets. But, I wouldn’t expect much more in the long-term salary. If Lin opts out, they should have $30m in cap space next year and will again pursue the best players they can, and if not, the best salary dumps they can.
Additional Thoughts:
If Lin is traded, expect it closer to the deadline. I think they want him to rub off on the youngsters and keep some of his excitement around for a while. If they are toying with the PO’s he doesn’t go anywhere, but if they are not, I see him moved. I think they also want to up his value after an injury plagued season. He could be a nice 6th man for a team heading into the PO.
Additionally, Russell if the face of the franchise now. It’s still Lin’s team for the time being and he is the leader, but the Nets are banking heavily on Russell realizing his potential. They will do what they have to for him to succeed. That includes trading Lin or moving Russell to PG. For now, they will share backcourt duties. It may fail miserably, but they have to go that route.
I am a fan of Markinson (Marks and Atkinson). They have managed to stress culture even when getting salary dumps. DMC has ties to KA as does Mozgov and of course KA is what enticed Lin. KA was known as the PG whisperer but he also managed to turn Lopez into a more modern day center and RHJ into a PF (for now). He’s gotten more than was expected from Kilpatrick, Harris, Dinwiddie and Acy. Curious what is in store for Russell and Crabbe. Marks keeps a tight lip and other than the Porter offer sheet, there have not been any obvious moves. He was rather conservative last off-season but had culture on his mind which is what every signing and traded for player has mentioned. Perhaps he should have swung for the fences more, but he has such a narrow margin for error that every move has to be calculated.
Projected Win/Loss: 28-54
As weak as the East is, the Nets are still lacking the talent to beat teams without putting up major effort and having some things go their way. I also would not be surprised if Lin is traded during the season. He could opt out next summer, and they cannot afford to lose him for nothing. As nice as it would be to be the PO race and lessen the quality of the pick going to Boston, their priority has to be player development and setting themselves up for the future. Of course being a respectable team helps when appealing to free agents, but they aren’t really attracting the high end free agents that are that consumed with winning any time soon. Overall, I don’t see them being as bad as last year, but at the same time I can’t see them being in the PO race like Lin and some players and fans have talked about.
Off-Season Grade: B
I had them closer to an B+/A- before the Crabbe deal, and while I don’t want to penalize them too much, I have to some. I also am not sure if restricted free agency is just a giant waste of time or if they are actually proving a point or causing waves among other teams. Jury is still out. Overall, it’s easily the best off-season the team has had in ages, giving hope to the fans. At this point, that’s about all we can ask for until 2019.
cl2117 wrote:cl2117's Review
Key Losses:
Brook Lopez is certainly a big loss. I've had some heated discussions already this off-season as to how much of a loss he really is, but in my opinion it's huge. I understand the complaints about his defense, but I think his offensive prowess and impact more than made up for it. He was regularly the only reason they looked like an NBA team and often times when other guys on the Nets had bright stretches it was with Lopez on the court attracting attention. It'll be interesting to see just how much of a net positive he was when Mozgov steps in to replace him.
Losses:
Nothing of consequence outside of Lopez.
Draft:
Really like how they handled the draft. I'll get into the trade in the section below, but their ability to hold onto 22 and only send back 27 was outstanding. Then picking Allen at 22, who I thought was going to be gone in the teens, is really good value and fit in the wake of Lopez's departure.
Trades:
I give them a big fat A for the Lopez & 27 for Russell and eating Mozgov's deal. The major thing holding back this team's rebuild was their inability to get high level talent via the draft thanks to the Billy King trade. It not only limited their rebuild, but also really made it an unappealing destination for larger name free agents since you knew they couldn't make trades or even draft marquee talent.
Turning Lopez's expiring deal and the 27th pick into a former #2 pick is the perfect way to solve that problem. High level talent at bargain prices. Now eating Mozgov's deal is a tough pill to swallow, but given the timeline the Nets are working towards it's not that bad. They've got the hole at C he can fill minutes for and he's expiring in 2 years. It's all a relatively small price to pay given D'Angelo's upside.
Marks then goes back to the well for the Carroll deal. Another A from me. Carroll will actually be relatively productive for the Nets (at least compared to the scrubs they have been running out lately) and has an even shorter deal than Mozzy. I could see him trying to turn that 20s pick into another DLO now that they've basically committed to having an albatross (Mozzy) on their roster for 3 years. Might as well eat a ton of money and get paid well in assets to do it.
The above is in part why I'm very torn on the Crabbe deal. I thought they dodged a bullet last year when their offer got matched. They've gone right back and picked him up again, which I don't really mind given what I just said about eating money while Mozgov is on the books, but then again they're not getting anything to take on Crabbe's money. Sure he's a solid SG, but I think overpaid and I also think he doesn't fit well with BKN's other assets (would've prefer to see them spend the money on the frontcourt).
If they think that Crabbe could be flipped down the line then I think it makes a ton more sense (same for the Carroll deal), but I question what kind of return they'd realistically get (at least compared to the salary they'll be paying him in the meantime).
Still though I think they definitely came out ahead after all the trades. Great job by the front office to creatively add talent and assets.
Free Agency:
Nothing to see here. Love the aggressiveness of going after Otto Porter. They'll eventually get a guy who doesn't get matched.
Current Depth Chart: (taken from bbinsiders)
I would start Crabbe and play Russell as 2nd unit PG and let him swing to SG when paired with Lin later in the game.
Needs:
More Talent
The 2019 draft
Health/Redemption
They've done well to start digging themselves out of the talent hole they inherited, however it is only a start. They need to continue to find creative ways to add assets despite not having much to work with.
In that vein they need to actually make their own selection in the 2019 draft. It's just been an impossible situation with them having no picks to work with to get talent for now or the future. Getting past the Billy King debacle will be a huge fresh start for them.
On the way to that draft they need to continue to sell of the vets they have (Lin, Crabbe, Carroll) and be creative in adding assets. They're still well behind the 8 ball compared to other rebuilding squads and now that they've got space tied up in Mozgov, I think they need to lean into that and try to acquire as many assets with cap space and vets as possible so they build up their chest again. To do that they'll need health in the case of Lin and a return to contract year form for the other two.
Additional Thoughts:
Love the off-season for the Nets. I want to root for them, but can't until 2019. I think this off-season helps me do both. I don't think they've improved drastically having lost Lopez and replaced him with nothing of note. The improvements they'll get from the backcourt/wing additions won't outweigh what they lost. That being said they'll be in a good spot after next summer, so I look forward to finally getting to root for them.
Projected Win/Loss: 26-56
I think they mirror last year's Lakers. I expect an uptick, in large part because they just can't be that bad again, but also because of the decreased competition in the East and the vets they've added. Plus if you assume a bit better health all around. That being said I think they're still a bottom 3-5 team.
Off-Season Grade: A-
It's like the reverse of the Celtics. They had very little to work with going into the off-season asset wise, but they maximized it as much as they could have hoped for. I think it's a great step in the right direction. Hopefully a taste of things to come.
