Having returned to the Nets‘ starting lineup last week when Kyrie Irving was sidelined, Caris LeVert is thriving. He has averaged 29.7 PPG and 6.3 APG with a .517/.688/1.000 shooting line in those three games (30.6 MPG). As Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes, it may be hard for the team to send him back to the bench when Irving is ready to return.
“[LeVert’s] one of the best players in the league,” teammate Spencer Dinwiddie said. “He’s our third star, one of the best iso players in the league.”
Of course, it could also be Dinwiddie, not LeVert, who loses his starting job when Irving returns, despite averages of 21.0 PPG and 6.5 APG this season. Starting Irving, Dinwiddie, and LeVert is a possibility for the Nets, but that might not be the most optimal way to stagger the club’s rotation, given how good all three players are with the ball in their hands.
Brooklyn may have to make that lineup decision soon. Although Irving has been ruled out for Monday’s game, head coach Kenny Atkinson said there’s still a chance the star point guard could return before the All-Star break on Wednesday, when the Nets host Toronto.
“There’s a chance he could play. Knowing him, he’ll want to play if he’s cleared. We just don’t know yet,” Atkinson said, per Lewis. “We’ve got to wait until we get back (to Brooklyn) and see how it’s going.”
Here’s more on the Nets:
- After starting the season on a two-way contract and then signing a pair of 10-day deals with the Nets, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot got a rest-of-season guarantee following the trade deadline and is thankful for the opportunity he has received in Brooklyn. “It’s just amazing,” Luwawu-Cabarrot told Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “When people trust you and give you that confidence, it’s amazing. That’s when you are the best version of yourself, and when you are confident. It’s great to call Brooklyn home, for sure.”
- Luwawu-Cabarrot’s new deal isn’t guaranteed at all for 2020/21 for now, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The former first-round pick will get a $150K partial guarantee if he remains under contract through early August, and that guarantee would increase to $250K on opening night.
- In a separate New York Post story, Lewis takes a look at how Rodions Kurucs has regained his confidence on the court and become one of the NBA’s most accurate three-point shooters this season.
- In case you missed it, three Nets players – Irving, Kevin Durant, and Joe Harris – were among the 44 finalists announced by USA Basketball for this summer’s Olympic roster.
When will Nets realize they’re a better team WITHOUT Krybaby Kyrie? It happened in Cleveland and Boston. It’s not supernatural. And Team USA? He’ll be injured. Again.
I wish my Nets got rid of the scumbag but they can’t.
Maybe they get lucky and he decides to opt out in 2022?
Please provide evidence of the Cavs being better without Kyrie. Oh wait you can’t and this is about the 46th time you have said that.
Nets should trade Irving for a stretch 4 (Kevin Love?) this offseason .
They’re already better without him.
He’s making 30 million a year hard in his mid 30s hard pass On love
Would absolutely never happen but trade him..
Start Dinwiddie and LeVert cause they play well together…
To who and for what?
Yeah was looking at what’s possibly available and it’s a hard to make a good deal but maybe ..
I hate to suggest it being a Sixers fan but maybe Ben Simmons and a first for Irving..
Sixers give up of Embiid and Simmons and get a natural PG plus would be a power move to win with Irving and Horford against he Celtics.
And the Nets would have the good shooters in LeVert Harris and Durant to floor space for Simmons. Plus a young roster with Simmons LeVert Prince Allen and so on
Lastly a sign and trade with the Pelicans. Brandon Ingram Josh Hart and a first for Kyrie Irving. Pelicans get to pair Irving Holiday and Williamson with the bunch of young guys they have. That looks good for winning now and still a bright future with Ball Hayes and NAW. Just unsure on Ingram and Williamson together and all those other young guys. Whereas Nets would have Durant and Ingram which would be really exciting and hard to stop. Plus Josh Hart would get more of an opportunity.
I would much rather have Simmons than Irving who is always hurt.
As a Sixers fan, I’d rather keep Simmons and trade Embiid but the idea of Irving Harris Horford and Embiid does would pretty good. Plus beating the Celtics would be even more better.
As for the Nets think it wouldn’t happen because of KD and stuff but they would be good. Simmons creating for LeVert Harris Durant … all those guys can knock down threes. Especially if they could also trade for Myles Turner he’s a big that can stretch and be a force on D. Use T. Prince and J. Allen for M. Turner and D. McDermott
1. Simmons. Dinwiddie. Pinson
2. LeVert. Temple. Musa
3. Harris. McDermott. Kurucs
4. Durant. Chandler. Claxton
5. Turner. Jordan
That’s a top 10 team easy
Simmons & Embiid do nothing together that I have seen. Irving would at least find a way to connect, even if it’s to use him.
Had high hopes for LeVert, but he gets hurt every year since SO year of college. 25 isn’t old, but it’s time to find a role behind KI before KD bumps everyone into a lesser role next year. He has to start; not sure why, but he’ll get lost otherwise. I prefer Dinwiddie off the bench.
Kyrie also has been injury prone over the last couple of years.
I don’t know how KD will feel, but the nets should trade Kyrie for another stretch big man. Ala John Collins. And no I am not suggesting that they trade Kyrie for John Collins specifically.