Brooklyn Nets: Time To Retool Or Rebuild?

The Brooklyn Nets may be reaching a crossroads by the end of this season. It seems like an eternity since their outlook was rosy after building their version of a superteam that was built to dethrone the Miami Heat.

The Nets don’t have many options to improve with their league-high payroll and they’ll likely not make it past the second round with an improving Eastern Conference and the Cavaliers and Bulls assembling two of the best teams the East has seen in a long time.

The Nets have an aging, injury-prone roster and are expected to make a deep playoff run and they may be faced with a difficult decision.

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With an aging

likely in his last season, and

, a 33-year old shoooting guard with a

-esque massive contract, the Nets need to get more production from these two positions in order to contend.

Joe Johnson has been a great closer but his production overall hasn’t been great and the Nets’ 14th-ranked offense needs an infusion of youth. Neither player can be relied on to consistently produce at a high level over the course of the season.

Brook Lopez is one major piece that the Nets’ future hinges on. He’s shown that he’s capable of being a franchise-caliber player but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy the past couple seasons. He has a unique skill set and if he can stay on the court, he has the potential to carry a playoff team.

He was on pace to have one of the most versatile seasons ever seen from a frontcourt player last season. Lopez averaged 21 points, 6 rebounds while shooting 56 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free throw line and blocking 1.8 shots. This type of versatility for a center is very uncommon.

Lopez went to the free-throw line seven times a game and really helped the Nets down the stretch of close games. Although he isn’t a great rebounder, he was a dominant rim protector and helped anchor the Nets’ defense in the 17 games he played last season.

In the history of the league, only three players have averaged 20 points and shot 55 percent from the field, 80 percent from the line and blocked 1.5 shots a game.

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/26/2014.

Both Kevin McHale and Amare Stoudemire were major contributors to contending teams. It looks like the Nets dodged a bullet with his most recent injury and if Lopez can stay healthy, he has the ability to carry the Nets for years to come.

The Nets’ hopes lie with Deron Williams as well. Chronic ankle injuries have plagued Williams for the past couple seasons and he hasn’t been able to return to his all-star form the past couple seasons. He has three more years left on his current contract and it would be a tough pill to swallow for the Nets if he can’t stay healthy.

People often forget Deron Williams was in the conversation as being one of the best, if not the best point guards in the league. Only nine players have averaged 20 points and 10 assists in a season and Williams was the last one to do it.

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/26/2014.

Ultimately, the Nets need to realistically assess the feasibility of the Williams-Lopez pairing to see if they can contend for years to come. The rest of the aging roster – Garnett, Johnson and Kirilenko won’t be in Brooklyn for much longer and won’t be part of their long-term plan. If the upcoming season results in a second round-exit with their two building blocks playing well, it may be a good idea to simply retool their roster.

If Williams and Lopez continue to have injury-plagued seasons and are unable to produce at a high level, the Nets should start a rebuild sooner than later, similar to what the Celtics are doing. It may be difficult for a fanbase with high expectations to go through a rebuild, but something the Nets should strongly consider.

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