2019-20 Brooklyn Nets

2018-19: 42-40 (1st rd playoffs)
Draft picks: 27,31

Signed for next season ($38.3m-ish): Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, Caris LaVert, Taurean Waller-Prince, Jarrett Allen, Dzanan Musa, Shabazz Napier, Rodions Kurucs, Treveon Graham
The buzz is that they have their eyes on Kyrie Irving (or is it the other way around?) and if he arrives that'll be a huge change in the atmosphere in Brooklyn. The team is already heavy on ball-handling playmaking scorers (Dinwiddie, Harris, LaVert, Napier, even Kurucs and, of course, D'Angelo Russell), so he would displace a lot of their current roster in an effort to shape a supporting cast around him. This could work and if so the Nets will be a playoff team in the East again and a more dangerous one that they were this season. Or...this could tilt their whole roster, warp the whole team, throw off the vibe, nullify the coach, run up debt and generally just stink up Brooklyn like a big ol' fart....so, you know...either way.
But they did move the overly expensive and oft-injured Allen Crabbe in favor of a glue guy on a rookie deal--love that move! I love youth and Waller-Prince I think will give them a hard worker in the middle of their bench.


This summer's free agents: DeMarre Carroll, Jared Dudley, D'Angelo Russell, Ed Davis, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Carroll and Dudley are lovable vets but I'd let them both move on. Carroll is just further past his prime and Dudley is a locker room guy (which may or may not clash with Kyrie's demeanor). Either way I think they can get more production and/or future expectation out of these roster spots.
Personally, I would bring back Russell and encourage Kyrie to go to NYK instead, but even with Kyrie I'd bring back Russell because I think he's too important an asset to let him go even if he's no longer an ideal fit in your rotation. Been a while since sign-and-trade rumors have been so strong but that scenario makes a lot of sense for Russell.
Seemed like I was vet-bashing earlier but I'd bring back Ed Davis, I think that guy is still a really underappreciated down-low presence, defender and rebounder. (That said, I can see Enes Kanter here with Kyrie)
I never quite understood the relationship between the Nets and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: at times he was the next great wonder, then he'd disappear, then they'd love him again, but now they're probably not gonna re-sign him...what gives? He's had moments of being a reliable defensive presence in the rotation but I'm not sure he's reliable enough offensively to stick on an NBA roster.


Drafting at #27 could yield them someone like Eric Paschell (Villanova) or KZ Okpala (Stanford). And at #31 I kinda love Carsen Edwards (Purdue) but I'm not sure they need another scorer off the bench and since they've had luck with foreign picks, maybe Luka Samanic (Croatia) would be more interesting here.


Next year's lineup:
PG Kyrie (right?), SG Russell, SF Harris, PF ?, C Allen with LaVert, Dinwiddie, Napier, Musa and Graham off the bench.

They've got a ways to go, gotta figure out Kyrie and D'Angelo, then build around whoever they end up with. Long way to go but Kyrie definitely gives them a shot at being really good.