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Brooklyn Nets: 2016-17 End Of Season Roundtable

By Christopher Lavinio

Feb 24, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) and Brooklyn Nets forward Andrew Nicholson (44) and center Brook Lopez (11) look on from the bench in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 129-109. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) and Brooklyn Nets forward Andrew Nicholson (44) and center Brook Lopez (11) look on from the bench in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 129-109. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

3. What is the Nets biggest weakness entering the offseason?

PW: It’s almost difficult to narrow it down to one, but in today’s game, everything starts on the perimeter, so point guard/wing shooting.

Jeremy Lin could be a bridge to the next point guard, but he’s not a long-term solution at the position and the Nets have a collection of average guys on the wing who have the advantage of being interchangeable and the disadvantage of not being more than replacement-level parts.

JS: Sadly, the Nets biggest weakness, while unavoidable, is their 20-62 record from this season.

LeBron James‘ free agency of 2010 was a turning point in NBA history, and what free agency since then has shown us is simple: the best free agents want to play for the best teams, so that they can win the most.

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    • Factors that mattered more to free agents in the 1990s and early 2000s, like market size, being the man or building a legacy, simply do not matter as much anymore. The Nets’ 11-13 finish is a positive, but when the dust settles, players will see 20-62 next to the record.

    That hurts the Nets in trying to add talent. If impact unrestricted free agents do not consider you and impact restricted free agents are matched by their teams, where do you go for talent?

    Couple that with the fact that Lopez and Lin are due for raises in 2018, unless a deal is made, and adding talent may become more difficult over time.

    BF: That talented young group also has a lack of experience. All were thrown to the fire last year, which they needed, but as you can see what happens when your starting PG isn’t there, it’s tough to finish without guys that have experience.

    Lin’s value is that he’s a viable starting point guard who can get his and make others better. He isn’t elite, but he’s good — but imagine if you had someone like Kemba Walker, for example?

    Then you’re looking at a team that’s as good as the Detroit Pistons or Charlotte Hornets right now, because he’s an All-Star caliber starting PG. That position is so important and Whitehead/Dinwiddie were thrown in a tough spot mid-season.

    There’s levels to this, word to Meek Mill.

    JO: The Nets need two starters to have a chance of sniffing the eighth seed: One to replace (Randy) Foye (who won’t be returning), and one to replace Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the power forward mish-mash.

    JG: The obvious answer — not having a lottery pick. Having two picks at 22 and 27 is better than nothing, but the likelihood of getting an impact player seems slim.

    Yes, Caris LeVert showed a lot of promise, but history says the odds aren’t in Brooklyn’s favor of hitting the jackpot that late in the first round.

    DB: Most would say our record, but honestly I’d say these “unknown” factors: Do free agents actually notice what we’re putting together on-and-off the court. Do they want to join a rebuild filled with uncertainty?

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