This is the first edition of “Building a Blueprint.” Throughout this series we’ll analyze struggling teams and map out a path to success. Lots of teams in the NBA aren’t competing for a title this year, but we’ll only be looking at teams that need a substantial restructuring to get into a position to win. For example, while the Pacers won’t win the NBA title this year (sorry, Vic), they’re relatively financially flexible and have a young core. The team we’re here to build a blueprint for today: the Brooklyn Nets.
Where They’ve Been
This squad is most notorious for the super-trade with Boston that cost them their future. After their hastily assembled “superteam” crumbled, the Nets’ roster couldn’t bounce back. The Nets have been laughable the last few years, and their picks have gone straight to the Boston Celtics. The Stepien Rule was created due to what’s happened to them. Brooklyn has truly been in basketball purgatory the last few years. Any NBA fan would concur.
Where They Are
Of course, this is the year the Nets have decided to be 6-7. The first year that Brooklyn gets to keep their pick, they’ve progressed from “basement-dweller” to “playoff hopeful.” That isn’t the record that the Nets would probably prefer, but Caris Levert, Spencer Dinwiddie, D’Angelo Russell, Jarrett Allen, and Joe Harris (52.8% from deep!) have propped up the team so far. Levert just went down with a brutal ankle injury, and the Nets’ record will likely reflect the loss soon. There’s a long season on the horizon for Brooklyn.
Where They Should Go
The Nets need to tank! Shout it from the mountaintops! Give Jared Dudley and Dzanan Musa minutes! Even Rodions Kurucs and Theo Pinson! D’Angelo Russell needs to go. He’ll command too large of a contract during Free Agency. He could be shopped to contenders and rebuilders alike. If Hollis-Jefferson is willing to come back for cheap, keep him. If not, it’s time to part ways with him as well. Joe Harris could be offered to teams that need shooters (*cough, cough* 76ers). If Russell, Hollis-Jefferson, and Harris are compounded with second rounders, the Nets can hope for two late firsts in 2019 or 2020. If they can wrangle two first-round picks, they’ll have five over the next two years.
Spencer Dinwiddie can stay if he accepts a single-digit cap hit (he’s currently asking for $12M per year). The Nets should go after a star from the draft, not get a late lottery pick. This is why the roster needs reshuffling. In the draft, wings should be the Nets’ primary goal with their early picks. Later picks can go to big man and guard depth.
Then the free agent class of 2019 arrives. Brooklyn shouldn’t really target any free agents in that class. It doesn’t make sense to overspend just yet. Get another top pick in 2020, and trade away expiring contracts. Yes, that means Joe Harris should go unless he signs some kind of bargain-bin deal. Caris Levert is young enough to keep around and has shown promise. His injury has thrown things into question, though. Levert’s contract is incredibly hard to predict thanks to his injury.
Two Years From Now
Assuming Dinwiddie re-signs for about $8 million per year, and Levert stays for $10 million, the Nets have $25 million in total allotted and a roster that consists of Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris Levert, Dzanan Musa, Rodions Kurucs, and Jarrett Allen. Add in all the rookies taken with the Nets’ picks and the picks that they’ll get from the aforementioned trades, and the Nets will likely have close to $45 million committed to the total roster.
Nothing is guaranteed, but within two years the Brooklyn Nets could feasibly have Dinwiddie, Levert, Musa, Kurucs, Allen, two high-lottery rookies, and three late-first round picks. They’ll also possess $73 Million in cap space to offer to Free Agents. Two marquee free agents of the 2020 class may decide to team up in Brooklyn. The Nets can harbor a competitive playoff team two ways with this blueprint: either find top free agents or draft young stars. Both, and Brooklyn is incredibly well-off. No matter what, the Nets will have a promising core and loads of cap space to spend wisely.
The Nets can use this to build a contender within the next three or four years. They’ve gotten into much better position than they were a few years ago, but a major shakeup is still mandatory if Brooklyn is to truly morph into a contender.
Agree? Disagree? Feel free to hit me @PerSourcesSam and discuss! I hope you enjoyed the first installment of Building A Blueprint!