Brooklyn Nets: Complete 2017 offseason grades

Overall

With Jeremy Lin hopefully healthy, DeMarre Carroll entering the fold and D’Angelo Russell joining the backcourt, not to mention the drafting of Jarrett Allen and internal growth from Caris LeVert and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the Nets are suddenly a much more interesting team.

The Nets owe the Boston Celtics their 2018 first round draft pick, so they have no incentive to tank next season.

Yes, they have some deadweight contracts on the books between Crabbe, Mozgov and Carroll, but this is the best — and only — way for a team like the Nets to start creating a winning environment for the future. Brooklyn won’t be competitive again for years, by which point these contracts will dissolve into cap space.

With so many more positionally versatile players, a potential franchise point guard, a promising young rookie in the middle, an actual 2018 first round pick and a couple of veteran floor-spacers in Carroll and Crabbe, the Nets aren’t adrift at sea anymore. It might just be a doggy-paddle, and they’ll still be a very bad team next year, but at least they’re starting to move.

Next: 10 young NBA players in need of a breakout season in 2017-18

Grade: A-