Brooklyn Nets: 5 Offseason Fixes To Turn Them Into NBA Title Contenders
Deron Williams and the Brooklyn Nets need to make some changes in order to become NBA champions. (Photo by Shinya Suzuki/Flickr.com)
The Brooklyn Nets (43-32) have a great deal of upside. Even if they don’t finish as NBA champions, they’ll still finish as contenders for next season. Though they are presently the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, the fact of the matter is that the Nets need to win a championship. But the persistent question that needs to be addressed this post season is: What do the Nets need to fix to emerge as NBA title contenders?
First, the Nets don’t need to improve in four of the five starting positions. In his breakout year, Brook Lopez is the leading scorer for the team and at center with 19.2 points per game. The backcourt duo of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson are proving that they have their skills and living up to their contracts. Williams averages 7.7 assists per game and 18.5 points per game, shooting 43.4 percent from the field in addition to Johnson, who scores 16.3 points a game while shooting 42.3 percent.
Even Gerald Wallace is living up to his hefty contract. While Wallace isn’t a scorer, but as a defender he performs tough moves almost every game and averages 1.4 steals per game. Williams leads the team in steals with 2.8 steals a game. The Nets may rank 16th out of 30 in total defense but their aggressive playing style makes up for it, as they are eighth in total offense.
The Nets aren’t there as a title competitors, yet. Here are five offseason fixes to turn the Nets into title contenders.
Despite returning to Brooklyn, Kris Humphries has been a disappointment for the Nets this season. (Photo by Braxton/Flickr.com)
1. Find a power forward
The one position Brooklyn needs to secure is a power forward. In the starting lineup, Kris Humphries and Reggie Evans have underperformed as starting power forwards. Conjointly they have contributed to denting the hopes of a title. Currently, Humphries is coming off the bench with 5.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and Evans fares slightly better at defense. Offensively, Evans is harmless scoring 4.3 points a game.
Among the notable free agents for power forward are Elton Brandand Paul Millsap. Brand is the oldest of the pair, but as a veteran can still weigh in as a competitor. Millsap is in his prime. The Nets might try to acquire Millsap if he is willing to take less money.
Brand scores 7.4 a game for the Dallas Mavericks. Millsap scores 14.9 per game while grabbing 7.3 boards and a block per game for the Utah Jazz. If Millsap is out of the Nets’ reach, Brand could be their guy.
Andray Blatche wants to remain a Net. The Nets should agree and re-sign the backup center. (Photo by hgottshark78/Flickr.com)
2. Re-sign Andray Blatche
The Nets need to re-sign 26-year-old center Andray Blatche, who they acquired in September, and he has lived up to his potential. Blatche is the fourth top scorer on the Nets, averaging 10.2 points per game. Blatche also averages five rebounds per game.
Blatche wants to remain as a Net (according to ESPNNewYork.com). As reported in the NY Daily News, money is not an issue with Blatche. His goal is to compete and win as a Brooklyn Net. The Nets should reciprocate and re-sign him.
In fact, it wouldn’t cost the Nets a great deal since Blatche is still getting paid by the Washington Wizards through the 2014-15 season, thanks to the amnesty clause. According to the CBA rules, most of the money he’ll earn will go to the Wizards. The Wizards felt he didn’t perform to his potential. Blatche felt he was abandoned by them but doesn’t hold a grudge against them.
No matter what, Blatche desires to continue being a Net and his contributions off the bench as backup center are suitable. So, why not re-sign him?
3. The age factor
The Nets aren’t that old when compared to the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, but quite frankly they need to sign younger players.
Free agents Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Bogans, who are up there in age, will have the opportunity to negotiate with the Nets and other teams. In all honesty, the Nets should let Stackhouse and Bogans walk if they are truly serious about seeking a title.
At 38 years young, Stackhouse’s best days are behind him and he has said he plans to retire at the end of the season, per CBSSports.com. Every one of his totals is well below his career average, as he scores 4.7 points and grabs 0.8 rebounds in 32 games. Next on the chopping block is Bogans, the 32-year-old swingman who has underperformed coming off the bench, averaging only 4.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 70 games. The writing is on the wall. The Nets can afford to lose both players.
The NBA Draft might be the answer for some of their nagging problems by providing them a chance to acquire a young power forward and or reserve players for their bench.
The Nets need a better bench behind Brook Lopez and their starting five. (Photo by Shinya Suzuki/Flickr.com)
4. Bolster the bench
Speaking of their bench, the Nets could use a better supporting cast.
Don’t get me wrong; the Nets’ bench is average at best. According to HoopsStats.com, their bench is first in defense and sixth in rebounds. They fall out of the top 10 in every single category.
Shooting guard C.J. Watson has a player option and might want to test the free-agent waters. Despite playing behind Johnson, Watson shoots 41.5 percent from the 3-point line. He’s a good backup guard, but he might want a starting position, which won’t happen as long as Johnson’s around. Dropping Watson might result in them losing another weapon at the 3-point line.
Though the Nets have a solid bench, they need significant guards to back up Williams and Johnson. They need players that are more than just backups. They need players that can step up if either guard goes down to injuries. The same goes for Lopez, which is why it’s important to re-sign Blatche.
5. Retain P.J. Carlesimo as coach
With every great team, there needs to be a great leader. Interim coach P.J. Carlesimo got the Nets to play to their potential, which is the reason why a contract extension is a must in Carlesimo’s future.
After a rocky start that led to Avery Johnson’s firing, Carlesimo took over. Under Carlesimo, the Nets became contenders in the East. He’s 29-18 after Johnson’s 14-14 start and as a result, the Nets are making their first playoff appearance since 2007.
The Nets did look for others to fill the coaching vacancy, notably Phil Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. But frankly, who knows if they want those guys for next season? Carlesimo’s contract ends this season and considering the inner turmoil the Nets overcame, he deserves to be head coach next season. My advice to the Nets is sign him.