Top Reasons To Watch The Brooklyn Nets This Season
By Justin Rowan
2. What will the Nets do with Brook Lopez
One of the biggest reasons for optimism for the Nets should be the presence of Sean Marks. The Nets general manager has come over from the San Antonio Spurs in the hopes of turning the franchise around.
During the summer the Nets signed restricted free agents Tyler Johnson and Allen Crabbe to offer sheets. However, those deals were eventually matched by the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers respectively. Making plays at restricted free agents was a smart play, given the aforementioned absence of draft picks. While those moved didn’t pan out, it leaves Brook Lopez as the team’s most attractive trade chip.
Lopez is one of the most talented post players in the NBA. While durability issues have plagued him in the past, he has played over 72 games for the last two seasons. When he is on the court, his ability to score with his back to the basket, as well as his face-up game, is impressive to behold. While the supporting cast is lackluster, Lopez is a steadying force in the middle for the Nets.
How Lopez plays and what the Nets choose to do with him will be one of the biggest storylines for this team. While the team could use his presence on the court, he also could net a return that would greatly help the team’s future. Few things are more intriguing in the NBA than the possibility for change. That’s why the trade deadline is often approached as a holiday by some NBA fans. Whether it be his presence on the court, or the return he nets, Lopez is a reason to watch Brooklyn this season.