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Brooklyn Nets: Grading The Offseason

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 1, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) high fives small forward Thaddeus Young (30) after hitting the go-ahead shot against the New York Knicks with two second left during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. The Nets defeated the Knicks 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) high fives small forward Thaddeus Young (30) after hitting the go-ahead shot against the New York Knicks with two second left during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. The Nets defeated the Knicks 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brooklyn Nets
Apr 15, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) shoots a free throw during the third quarter against the Orlando Magic at Barclays Center. Brooklyn Nets won 101-88. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

No Brooklyn Without Brook

After years of trading draft picks and investing in over-the-hill household names, the Nets had limited options entering free agency. Their cap space was kaput and at that point, their best option became retaining the few useful players remaining on the roster.

Enter Brook Lopez, whose market value was higher in Brooklyn than anywhere else because of his injury problems over the last few seasons. With a three-year, $60 million extension that includes a third-year player option, the Nets arguably locked in their best player, who averaged 17.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game in 74 appearances last season.

If Lopez can stay healthy, he’s a valuable offensive weapon who can score in the low post and out of pick-and-rolls. He’s not a defensive stalwart, but he uses his size to protect the rim and with the right complementary pieces around him, could be the rim protector of a competent defense.

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    • However, there’s also inherent risk involved here. Before last year, Lopez had played in a grand total of 96 games over the three preceding seasons. One foot injury could easily mitigate the value of such a massive extension, especially since Lopez is 27 years old now. There’s also his odd relationship with head coach Lionel Hollins, who brought Lopez off the bench for 28 games last year.

    Because of the way this team was assembled over the last few years, re-signing Brook Lopez was about as good as it was ever going to get for Brooklyn this summer. His deal is a tad inflated considering how injury-prone he’s been in the past, but Lopez provides a ton of on-court value for a team that has zero incentive to tank this season.

    The good news is a three-year deal will allow the team to reevaluate his health down the road, while also ensuring they keep him and his talents around — talents that don’t rely on athleticism and should age well. With the salary cap skyrocketing the way it is, Brooklyn will still be well-poised to make a play for big-name free agents in the future too.

    Grade: B

    Next: Keeping Brooklyn Young

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