Brooklyn Nets: Season review at the 2018 NBA All-Star break
By Alec Liebsch
The 2017-18 NBA season has been relatively quiet for the Brooklyn Nets, as their most crucial moves were made long before the season’s opening. So as the All-Star break nears, it’s important to see how those moves are panning out with the big picture in mind.
As mentioned, the Brooklyn Nets‘ biggest imprints on the NBA came in the offseason. Holding more salary cap space than most teams would know what to do with, general manager Sean Marks did exactly what his name would imply.
He made his mark immediately in the 2016 offseason, drafting two guys and buying low on some more. Since their progress has already been discussed here, it’s more prevalent to discuss the most recent acquisitions.
In a flurry of moves contrary to the weather, Marks made his mark on the NBA without hesitation. By taking on the collective salaries of DeMarre Carroll and Timofey Mozgov, the Nets acquired 2015’s No. 2 overall pick, D’Angelo Russell, and the Toronto Raptors‘ 2018 first round pick. Additionally, Brooklyn picked Jarrett Allen 22nd overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, which was compensation for trading Bojan Bogdanovic the previous winter.
To say Marks and the gang made an impact would be an understatement.
Additionally, the team finally poached Allen Crabbe. This came a year removed from the day they offered him ludicrous amounts of money just to clog the Portland Trail Blazers‘ cap space. They did not receive asset compensation for taking on his deal, but it was clear Brooklyn wanted him all along.
Like many of the players acquired in Marks’s tenure, this was clearly for good reason.
Then and now
So far, the 2017-18 season has been more than interesting for the Nets. They currently reside in the cesspool of lottery teams itching for a high lottery pick at 19-40. Being one game back of the No. 1 slot in the lottery stings a lot more without their own first-rounder, but the collective young talent Marks has acquired since then alleviates some of the pain.
Midway through the season, the Nets went out and acquired even more upside-laden talent. Trevor Booker became valuable enough for the Philadelphia 76ers to trade Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas and a 2019 second round pick for him. That trade has had mixed results, but that was to be expected. Young assets like those came cheap for a reason.
Fitting that theme of “mixed results” is the D’Angelo Russell trade. Russell missed significant time with knee surgery early on, but that did not derail his progress. His ability to score off the dribble and off the catch simultaneously could become lethal as he masters his craft.
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Stephen Curry did not become a superstar until his fifth season. James Harden took several years to reach his elite level. I’m not saying that Russell will become either of them; I’m simply asking for patience.
Russell flashes intriguing potential as the offense’s conductor, as one-third of his outings so far have resulted in at least 20 points. His efficiency needs work though, as evidenced by his 27.6 percent clip from downtown. Yet, that can only get better as his ball-handling and shot creation improve in tandem.
His partnership with Spencer Dinwiddie, another rags-to-riches hero, is vital as well. That two-headed beast lacks a tangible ceiling.
Despite Toronto treating DeMarre Carroll like a salary dump, his value has elevated in Brooklyn. Operating as one of the few consistent shooters, he has operated around league-average from beyond the arc at 35.8 percent. Considering the support cast, that’s no small feat.
A presence like that dramatically opens the floor for guys like Allen Crabbe to operate. Crabbe was a castaway to Portland, marginalized (and grossly overpaid) thanks to the emergence of C.J. McCollum.
Here, he is a volume sniper with the creative license to initiate pick-and-rolls as well. Hitting 36.3 percent of his 6.9 attempts per game (16th among all qualified players) is significant when considering that the team as a whole only rips twine on 34.6 percent of them.
When guys like Crabbe and Russell are hot, the system is scorching. When complements like Carroll catch on, Jarrett Allen’s Slam Dunk Contest audition gains even more traction.
It’s a domino effect with more destructive potential than a tsunami.
Now and later
Now that the framework is in place for a high-powered attack, the pieces just need to fit right. Crabbe’s marksmanship is nothing to scoff at; after all, he ranked second among all players in 3-point efficiency just last season.
The Los Angeles Lakers picked Russell second overall for a reason. His superstar potential is more real than it shows.
Next: 2017-18 Week 18 NBA Power Rankings
Jarrett Allen’s fit as a 3-and-D center is tantalizing, considering that the NBA is just catching on to the value of that skill-set among wings. The space he can create in a 5-out lineup is a death sentence to opponents; just look at the Boston Celtics with Al Horford at the helm.