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Brooklyn Nets: 2017-18 NBA season preview

By Josh Cornelissen

GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally altered) Jarrett Allen of the Brooklyn Nets poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally altered) Jarrett Allen of the Brooklyn Nets poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images /

Storyline 2: Who will step up in this frontcourt?

The Brooklyn Nets are a team short on high-end talent, but they have a reasonable amount of depth at point guard and on the wing. D’Angelo Russell and Jeremy Lin may start together in the backcourt, and in a rotation with them are Allen Crabbe, Caris LeVert and Sean Kilpatrick.

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The wing is also stocked with reasonable options, from newly acquired DeMarre Carroll to recent first round pick Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. In Carroll, Crabbe, Lin and Russell, the Nets have players that are not only worthy of starting in Brooklyn, but who started for NBA teams elsewhere recently.

The problem for Brooklyn is in the frontcourt, where their rotation of big men leaves much to be desired. Prior to signing former Boston big Tyler Zeller in September, the center rotation was perilously thin. First round pick Jarrett Allen is incredibly raw and not fit for starter’s minutes, while Timofey Mozgov plays on leaden legs and is a poor fit for the Nets’ offensive system.

Power forward is hardly better, as presumed starter Trevor Booker has gamely worked to expand his offensive repertoire but is ideally a 20-minute per game backup. Veteran Quincy Acy could be called upon to soak up minutes, but what he has left in the tank is unknown. Smaller lineups with Carroll or Hollis-Jefferson could be needed as well.

Brooklyn needs to determine which players are worth pouring resources into and keeping around, and which players are just filling roles for the present. Can Zeller be a low-cost veteran big to provide hustle and defense? Can Allen step up and show flashes of being a future starter?

For a team years away from contending these are the questions worth asking. With no incentive to lose, they will try to win games, but have to balance that push with developing and evaluating their younger talent. While the problem in the backcourt will be finding minutes for everyone, in the frontcourt it will be finding someone to fill minutes.

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