Who Will Makeup the 2021/22, 15 Man Roster?

[Whiskey Slick]

As of September 4, 2021

Assuming we're done and barring injuries,
who do you project as the Nets 15 Man Roster?

PG: James Harden, Patty Mills, Cameron Thomas
SG: Kyrie Irving, Bruce Brown, Cameron Thomas
SF: Joe Harris, Bruce Brown, Sekou Doumbouya
PF: Kevin Durant, Paul Millsap, Blake Griffin
C: Blake Griffin, Nicolas Claxton, LaMarcus Aldridge

Bench: James Johnson, DeAndre Bembry, Jevon Carter, Day'Ron Sharpe (3 of these 4)

I know some players can play multiple positions and get more minutes,
but does that 15 seem about right and how do you feel about it?

IOW's will Vegas (and/or YOU) install us as NBA Champion favorites?
Barring long-term injuries and if we are healthy for the post season?

[ecuhus1981]

I can already tell that this will be the raging debate in this board, at least until the regular season begins.

Joe is a top-75 player in this league, he deserves all the respect he gets and more. For this roster's needs and current construction, I believe he needs to go to the bench.

Firstly, Durant is best served as a SF. He's probably 95% as effective at PF, but you always want to start with playing your best player at their best position.

Millsap, Griffin, Johnson and Aldridge offer more defensively than Harris, and Lord knows we have enough firepower in the starting lineup. In the 2nd unit, we could really use some added floor spacing and scoring punch now that Caris and Spencer have departed.

He'll still close games for us, and due to his durability he'll probably be top 3 in total minutes played. He's just not the ideal starter. So, my depth chart looks like this:

Irving (32) - Mills (18) || Carter
Harden (36) - Harris (26) || Thomas
Durant (34) - Brown (16) || Doumbouya
Millsap (22) - Griffin (22) || Johnson
Aldridge (20) - Claxton (14) || Sharpe

Bembry is legit, but we don't have room for him unless we flip Sekou. I assume we're cutting Jahlil, we've already cut Alizé. One of Marcus or Raiquan gets the other 2-way deal. The other might be dealt for a future 2nd or agree to play overseas and be a stash. I would have loved to add Cordinier, but again there no room. It's a very good problem for Brooklyn.

[MrDollarBills]

Harden/Mills/Carter
Irving/Brown/Thomas
Durant/Harris/Bembry
Griffin/Millsap/Johnson
LMA/Claxton/Sharpe

I'm not giving up an already proven player in Bembry to fit in a project like Doumboya. Dudes numbers are so bad and Detroit fans have said he's not showing much. We are a championship contender, not preschool.

I'm on the fence about the center position. I don't like what I saw when LMA and Blake played together, but I absolutely loved Blake and Claxton together. So I hope Nash can figure it out

Joe Harris needs to move to the bench, that gives Harden two knock down shooters to work with while KD and Kyrie rest.

[Claud]

If I were the coach this is my rotation:

Harden/Carter/Cam
Kyrie/Patty/
Harris/Brown/
KD/Blake/Johnson
LMA/Clax/Milsap

Milsap and Johnson will need to outplay some of our returning players to get pt. Not opposed to trying Joe off the bench either.

Harden running the 2nd unit with Patty + Harris on the perimeter will be SCARY.

Sharpe more than likely will play a lot of g-league. LMA/BLAKE/CLAX/Milsap and even KD can play some small ball 5. Will be tough.

Cam has a decent chance to get more pt since Harden/Kyrie need rest.

Funny how last season our problem was lack of quality bigs and now we might have too much depth at the 5.

[Packers+NetsWIN]

Let me preface this by saying that the the following rotation is not the one I was used if I was in Nash's shoes. I tried creating one assuming two key things, what Nash would do and that everyone is healthy and rested as there are going to be the inevitable games off due to rest and/or injury for many of guys on this roster.

Irving (32) - Mills (22)
Harden (34) - Carter (8) || Thomas
Harris (30) - Brown (16) || Bembry
Durant (34) - Millsap (18) || Johnson
Aldridge (20) - Griffin (24) || Claxton || Sharpe

I know the first thing that jumps off the page about the rotation is the zero minutes for Claxton. Again, as I already stated, I'm trying to think like Nash for this rotation. This is not personally something I would do. But the Nets are stacked at the 4/5 spots with very good players such as Durant, Aldridge, Griffin, Millsap, Johnson (who also isn't get minutes), and even Brown can play capable minutes at the 4 spot. And with Nash's preference for shooters, that also works against Claxton as well. Even in the Bucks playoffs series last year with tons of injuries and guys exhausted, Claxton still couldn't get minutes in Nash's rotation. I know it was the playoffs, but that is an alarming sign for Claxton now that there are so many capable players at the 4/5 spots. But as I stated in the introductory paragraph, that will be a lot of veterans frontcourt players on this team that miss games due to rest and injury. So anytime Aldridge, Millsap, or Griffin sit, Claxton will immediately enter the rotation and play between 10-20 minutes a game. I just honestly don't believe that Griffin, Aldridge, and Millsap would all sign here for the minimum if they knew they wouldn't play minutes given their storied careers and name recognition.

The other point I'm sure everyone will want to discuss is Joe Harris retaining his spot in the starting lineup. The guy spaces the floor for the big 3 tremendously and he is always money in the regular, which I would expect to continue to be the same this year as well. Nash stuck with Harris throughout the playoffs even though he was shooting horrible against the Bucks and Nash had the option to give Shamet some burn. I believe Nash values Harris's basketball IQ and shooting ability not only to get his game going, but to space the floor for the big 3.

I think Carter will play a small amount of minutes as well since he is a capable 3 point shooter as well as high energy guy with incredibly pesky defense. Something that was sorely missed in the backcourt last year. And with 2 first round picks already on the roster handpicked by Marks along with 2 young guys in the two-ways roles (Edwards and Gray/Z./Duke), keeping Bembry for spot minutes on a championship team seemed better than keeping the young forward picked up in the Pistons trade.

Overall I'm very excited by the roster and barring health or the end of the world by an asteroid haha, I don't see how the Nets don't win the championship this year! Thoughts/feedback about all this?

[therealbig3]

LOL, we just went from having the worst big man depth in the league to probably the best. LMA/Griffin/Millsap/Claxton.

Only issue is that the only defender in that group that you can really say is solidly above average is Claxton. The other 3 are all pretty old and slow at this point.

[Prokorov]

Harden/Mills/Carter
Irving/Brown/Thomas
Durant/Harris/Bembry
Griffin/Millsap/Johnson
LMA/Claxton/Sharpe

I'm not giving up an already proven player in Bembry to fit in a project like Doumboya. Dudes numbers are so bad and Detroit fans have said he's not showing much. We are a championship contender, not preschool.

I'm on the fence about the center position. I don't like what I saw when LMA and Blake played together, but I absolutely loved Blake and Claxton together. So I hope Nash can figure it out

Joe Harris needs to move to the bench, that gives Harden two knock down shooters to work with while KD and Kyrie rest.

Cant start LMA and Blake and move KD to SF. it would be beyond awful defensively. KD is worse at SF on D. Blake is worse (unplayable?) on D at PF. LMA is at best below avg on D.

We gain nothing by going big either.

[OneZilion]

I would go like this and expect:

Harden, Mills, Carter
Irving, Bembry, Thomas
Harris, Brown, Doumbouya
Durant, Milsap, Johnson
Griffin, LMA, Claxton

[MrDollarBills]

Harden/Mills/Carter
Irving/Brown/Thomas
Durant/Harris/Bembry
Griffin/Millsap/Johnson
LMA/Claxton/Sharpe

I'm not giving up an already proven player in Bembry to fit in a project like Doumboya. Dudes numbers are so bad and Detroit fans have said he's not showing much. We are a championship contender, not preschool.

I'm on the fence about the center position. I don't like what I saw when LMA and Blake played together, but I absolutely loved Blake and Claxton together. So I hope Nash can figure it out

Joe Harris needs to move to the bench, that gives Harden two knock down shooters to work with while KD and Kyrie rest.

Cant start LMA and Blake and move KD to SF. it would be beyond awful defensively. KD is worse at SF on D. Blake is worse (unplayable?) on D at PF. LMA is at best below avg on D.

We gain nothing by going big either.

I've seen no evidence of KD being bad defensively at SF.

Blake was fine playing next to Claxton last season as well. It really doesn't matter tbh since we switch on nearly everything.

Agreed on LMA's defense though.

[OneZilion]

KD is not bad in any part of basketball

[OneZilion]

This team is unreal on paper, never ever will stop pain of way we lost to bucks… All time performance of KD, lost lead, stupid lost game 3 and foot on the 3 point line… sick but life goes on

This team if healthy, just dont see way to loose in seven game series against anybody

we have best player on planet in KD, we have top 10 player in Harden maybe top 5 when is on his best and I see that he is working hard in offseason, we have one of the most skilled guards of all time in KY… And really great depth

we have shooters in Joe and Mills, have toughness and defence in Johnson, Bruce, Bembry and Carter that was lacking last year, great developing young big in Claxton and great connection with Harden, very very very experienced froncourt with former all stars LMA, Blake and Millsap… first two of them seems very good now also, Blake was great for me in playoffs, Mills is killer from the bench, when KD and KY rest I see log of open 3s generate Harden for him and Joe, unreal depth…

[Prokorov]

Harden/Mills/Carter
Irving/Brown/Thomas
Durant/Harris/Bembry
Griffin/Millsap/Johnson
LMA/Claxton/Sharpe

I'm not giving up an already proven player in Bembry to fit in a project like Doumboya. Dudes numbers are so bad and Detroit fans have said he's not showing much. We are a championship contender, not preschool.

I'm on the fence about the center position. I don't like what I saw when LMA and Blake played together, but I absolutely loved Blake and Claxton together. So I hope Nash can figure it out

Joe Harris needs to move to the bench, that gives Harden two knock down shooters to work with while KD and Kyrie rest.

Cant start LMA and Blake and move KD to SF. it would be beyond awful defensively. KD is worse at SF on D. Blake is worse (unplayable?) on D at PF. LMA is at best below avg on D.

We gain nothing by going big either.

I've seen no evidence of KD being bad defensively at SF.

Blake was fine playing next to Claxton last season as well. It really doesn't matter tbh since we switch on nearly everything.

Agreed on LMA's defense though.

he isnt bad defensively at SF, he is just worse.

KD goes from very good to just good moving to SF
Blake goes from solid to below avg moving to PF
LMA is worse then blake defensively at C

so we would get worse defensively at all 3 spots, with a back court that already isnt strong defensively and you remove the option for harden to defend a F and he now has to guard a small.

And we dont really get better offensively either. We have less floor spacing with harris sitting and blake at the 4 instead of 5 and kd at the 3 instead of 4. we now have 2 traditional bigs that we will either post to clog things or sit in the corner, where they dont shoot as well as if harris was on the floor. our switchability gets worse

We gain post offense and rebounding. 2 of the least important things in modern basketball.


im all for sitting harris, but the tradeoff needs to be putting in bembry or brown or carter and adding speed/defense. not getting slower and weaker defensively.

its not like we are going to impose our size either. if LMA/Blake and trying to overmatch with size in the post thats touches that arent going to harden/kd/kyrie whose shots are much more efficient. id rather efficient shots off of the big three (corner threes for harris, lob finishes for claxton or blake at the 5)

[zimpy27]

You should do a 60mpg rotation for each position because players miss days. I do positions based on defense.

Irving (20) | Mills (24) | Carter (16)
Harden (34) | Irving (12) | Thomas (8) | Brown (6)
Harris (30) | Brown (14) | Bembry (16)
Durant (32) | Millsap (20) | Sekou (8)
Griffin (20) | Aldridge (20) | Claxton (20)

I don't think JJ or Sharpe get much run, in fact, I expect JJ to be waived to get to the final 15.

[MrDollarBills]

You should do a 60mpg rotation for each position because players miss days. I do positions based on defense.

Irving (20) | Mills (24) | Carter (16)
Harden (34) | Irving (12) | Thomas (8) | Brown (6)
Harris (30) | Brown (14) | Bembry (16)
Durant (32) | Millsap (20) | Sekou (8)
Griffin (20) | Aldridge (20) | Claxton (20)

I don't think JJ or Sharpe get much run, in fact, I expect JJ to be waived to get to the final 15.

I don't see Johnson being waived. We needed defenders on this roster. Sharpe I agree with you on, he most likely spends the season in Long Island.

[zimpy27]

You should do a 60mpg rotation for each position because players miss days. I do positions based on defense.

Irving (20) | Mills (24) | Carter (16)
Harden (34) | Irving (12) | Thomas (8) | Brown (6)
Harris (30) | Brown (14) | Bembry (16)
Durant (32) | Millsap (20) | Sekou (8)
Griffin (20) | Aldridge (20) | Claxton (20)

I don't think JJ or Sharpe get much run, in fact, I expect JJ to be waived to get to the final 15.

I don't see Johnson being waived. We needed defenders on this roster. Sharpe I agree with you on, he most likely spends the season in Long Island.

Well who do you think does get waived? Sekou?

[Prokorov]

You should do a 60mpg rotation for each position because players miss days. I do positions based on defense.

Irving (20) | Mills (24) | Carter (16)
Harden (34) | Irving (12) | Thomas (8) | Brown (6)
Harris (30) | Brown (14) | Bembry (16)
Durant (32) | Millsap (20) | Sekou (8)
Griffin (20) | Aldridge (20) | Claxton (20)

I don't think JJ or Sharpe get much run, in fact, I expect JJ to be waived to get to the final 15.

Id be really surprised if JJ was cut. he was one of our most important additons of the offseason. without him we have no defense/toughness at F/C other then what blake gives us.

JJ is a must for this roster.

[Prokorov]

You should do a 60mpg rotation for each position because players miss days. I do positions based on defense.

Irving (20) | Mills (24) | Carter (16)
Harden (34) | Irving (12) | Thomas (8) | Brown (6)
Harris (30) | Brown (14) | Bembry (16)
Durant (32) | Millsap (20) | Sekou (8)
Griffin (20) | Aldridge (20) | Claxton (20)

I don't think JJ or Sharpe get much run, in fact, I expect JJ to be waived to get to the final 15.

I don't see Johnson being waived. We needed defenders on this roster. Sharpe I agree with you on, he most likely spends the season in Long Island.

Look what PJ tucker did to durant. he didnt stop him. but he made him work for every inch. we need a guy who can do that to others. make them feel the physicality.

we also need an enforcer who isnt going to watch tucker harass durant or giannis injure Kyrie

[Prokorov]

Locks:
Kyrie, Harden, Durant, Harris, Blake
Mills, Carter, Claxton, Brown

Safe:
Thomas, LMA, Milsap, Johnson

Hot Seat:
Bembry (partially guaranteed), Sekou (project/not a win now guy), Sharpe(not a win now guy),

Gone for sure:
Okafor (not carrying 5-6 centers.)

My gut is that Marks is probably leaning more towards a consolidation trade then he is to just cut 2 guys. Okafor has no value to our team or others and will be cut if. From there i can see packaging sharpe/Sekou for a 1st in a year we are missing one or a player 25 and under who can contribute more this season.

I can also see Sekou/Claxton traded in a similar fashion. With LMA here there are no minutes for claxton and we have enough depth if LMA got hurt to fix it moving forward. Could turn that into the wing version of claxton (young promising player still on rookie deal).

If its a cut, its probably Bemby, but i think that would be a big mistake given we lack small defenders. and that hurt us last year.

I dont want to move Claxton. If we could deal sharpe or sekou for a future pick that makes the most sense to me. I dont really see how sharpe helps now (he is like 5th at our current C depth chart) or future (Claxon is ahead for future C).

I know everyone is all about LMA but i really feel like that one is going to do more harm then good (Nash will play too many offense only players, maybe put blake at 4, bury claxton or lead to him being traded. playing too many old slow guys while burying athletes who defend and play above the rim.

Milsap i thought was great insurance for time KD will miss. but I hate the LMA signing

[TheNetsFan]

Locks:
Kyrie, Harden, Durant, Harris, Blake
Mills, Carter, Claxton, Brown

Safe:
Thomas, LMA, Milsap, Johnson

Hot Seat:
Bembry (partially guaranteed), Sekou (project/not a win now guy), Sharpe(not a win now guy),

Gone for sure:
Okafor (not carrying 5-6 centers.)

My gut is that Marks is probably leaning more towards a consolidation trade then he is to just cut 2 guys. Okafor has no value to our team or others and will be cut if. From there i can see packaging sharpe/Sekou for a 1st in a year we are missing one or a player 25 and under who can contribute more this season.

I can also see Sekou/Claxton traded in a similar fashion. With LMA here there are no minutes for claxton and we have enough depth if LMA got hurt to fix it moving forward. Could turn that into the wing version of claxton (young promising player still on rookie deal).

If its a cut, its probably Bemby, but i think that would be a big mistake given we lack small defenders. and that hurt us last year.

I dont want to move Claxton. If we could deal sharpe or sekou for a future pick that makes the most sense to me. I dont really see how sharpe helps now (he is like 5th at our current C depth chart) or future (Claxon is ahead for future C).

I know everyone is all about LMA but i really feel like that one is going to do more harm then good (Nash will play too many offense only players, maybe put blake at 4, bury claxton or lead to him being traded. playing too many old slow guys while burying athletes who defend and play above the rim.

Milsap i thought was great insurance for time KD will miss. but I hate the LMA signing

I could see Claxton getting traded. Out of the mid to late bench guys, he'd have the most value & he's a restricted free agent next season. While he'd be valuable for us this season, if Marks thinks he'll be impossible to retain (financially), Marks could move him.

[Whiskey Slick]

I edited my 15 and added three players to the bench with a 12 man rotation, perhaps 11 if Sekou isn't ready.

But I can see him coming off the bench in blowouts for some development time. As for Johnson, I can see him getting some time at SF and PF for defense, particularly if the opponent wants to play rough.