Nets GM Sean Marks raised a few eyebrows earlier this month when he stated the team’s goal this upcoming season was to make the playoffs. He told season-ticket holders that he thinks there’s enough talent on the roster to make that happen.
“I don’t see any reason why we can’t make a push for the playoffs,” he said. “Isn’t that the objective here? We’re not sitting here trying to win 20 games, so let’s put our best foot forward and push each other and see where it goes.”
It’s no secret that next summer is even more important to the franchise. Brooklyn will have gobs of salary-cap space and can make a strong push for two or even three top-flight free agents.
According to Basketball Insiders, the Nets have less than $17MM in guaranteed salaries on their books next summer. Even if Allen Crabbe exercises his $18.5MM player option and the team exercises its options on Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen, it will still be able to chase a couple of big-name free agents. Failing that, it could absorb the contract of an All-Star caliber player or two in trades.
As for the upcoming season, the Nets don’t have anything resembling an All-Star on the roster but they should have plenty of competition for minutes. If D’Angelo Russell can remain healthy and start playing at the level expected of a No. 2 overall pick in the draft, Marks’ goal would seem more realistic.
Brooklyn also has some other notable options at point guard, including Spencer Dinwiddie and free agent addition Shabazz Napier. LeVert and Joe Harris will likely see the most action at shooting guard, while holdover starter DeMarre Carroll and Allen Crabbe are a solid 1-2 punch at small forward.
Along with Allen, the Nets’ power rotation will include returnee Rondae Hollis-Jefferson; Kenneth Faried, acquired from the Nuggets in a salary dump; a prolific rebounder Ed Davis, another free agent signee.
Perhaps the biggest reason for Marks’ optimism is the general weakness of the East beyond the Celtics, Sixers and Raptors (assuming Kawhi Leonard is healthy).
That leads to our question of the day: Do the Nets have enough pieces to make the playoffs?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to what you have to say.
Nets have a shot at making 7-8 seed. They have a very good young core to build around and play as a team. the record will definitely improve this year
Agree with you completely.
Agree with you Freddie, this is an improving team, I think is possible maybe not probable but all will depend on how well D’Lo plays, he is the key for Brooklyn. Also I think they made a mistake letting go Okafor, he is definitely better than Faried, their problem is that none of the bigs in the team is a natural scorer, Allen is ok but the others aren’t much good. With Okafor bringing a scoring threat from the bench they would look even better to try get in the playoffs.
I think the problem with Jah was his motor and style of play. Obviously, the Nets employ an offense that is guard-centric while the bigs fortify spacing with screens and being opportunistic with PnR a la modern motion offense. Jah has the tendency and is tobest played with an iso balling on the post. And I haven’t started yet with defense. Two motion offense from different playbooks have kept him from getting minutes. It’s cool to have him get an opportunity with other teams that emphasize his skill set rather force him in a team. Its not that the Nets did not like him. Its just that, Jah was expendable with their plans in 2019.
Nets could pull it off. They would have to be healthy which hasn’t been the case for them lately. If Lin didn’t go down and Russell didn’t go down you’d have no Spencer Dinwiddie phenomenon. They are more prepared then ever for injuries and I think their 6-12 will outplay other teams 6-12. Like Cesc said it’s up to Dlo and the starters to handle their biz. If the injury bug hits then there goes the bench advantage.
I think they fight for a spot but ultimately wind up 9th or 10th in conference. Improved record from 28-54 to 35-47-ish
Is weed legal in Brooklyn? Check that man for a prescription card.
Finally get your own pick back and you’re not going to tank? Been tanking for years giving it away.
Billy King gave them away. Marks had to turn Thaddeus Young into Levert, Bogdanovic into Allen, scrub of the year Justin Hamilton into Carroll,Musa and Kurucs. The Old regime (King) turned the pick that became Lillard (6th Overall) into Gerald Wallace. The picks that became Jaylen Brown, Markelle Fultz and Collin Sexton into well beyond prime KG and PP
I hope, as a Nets fan, they play decent 1st half of season then before trade deadline unload some players w value. Carroll,Harris,Dinwiddie,Davis and get more picks. That would allow the younger guys to play like Musa,Kurucs,Graham. They would tank by default and have multiple 1sts, 2nds and their own pick would fall 5-10 range.
Shouldn’t have traded Lin
DRussell has more trade value than SDinwiddie but less production. The FO should gather their balls on the table and make the call to trade DLo.
I don’t want to blow anyone’s mind but Dinwiddie has more useful talent than Russell (and I’m an Ohio St grad!). SD could fatigue over a full season though; his stats started to decline a bit. Still, Napier, Musa and LeVert are there too for the 1.
If Russell can draw the Orlando pick, take it. Or DET, MIN, NOP, SAS, NYK, IND, MIL, CHI, PHX… even LAL!
I agree SD has played better than Dlo so far. The main difference between them is star power. BK needs a star to draw other stars so either Dlo becomes more efficient and productive(possibly an all star nod?) or I agree ship him out in favor of SD who will come cheaper and may outperform Dlo anyway. Maybe to his BFF D-Book in PHO? JJ in return could be an option.
I’m also looking forward to seeing if they can compliment each other. They had no time to learn each other’s game last season. Dlo was working w Lin and then Lin got hurt. Then Dlo got hurt and when he came back it was SD’s team and they had to try and make it work on the fly. Not easy. Next season is make or break for almost the entire team. Safe from trader Sean is probably only Allen, Musa, Kurucs and maybe LeVert.
Gd point about Russell being more able to draw FAs. That’s going to matter in 10 months, whether it should or not.