Brooklyn Nets: 5 takeaways from 2017-18 NBA season

4. The Allen Crabbe trade was a win

This might turn some heads, but it’s true: Allen Crabbe is a keeper. His salary is egregious, but the Nets had cap space to spend, not to mention the fact that the Nets wanted Crabbe all along.

The trade, which sent out Andrew Nicholson‘ salary in exchange for Crabbe, came exactly one year after the Nets inked him to said deal in restricted free agency, only to see the Portland Trail Blazers erroneously match it. The Nets probably should have demanded an asset for absorbing his contract, but that was unlikely given that the 2017 NBA Draft had already happened.

It was clearly not just a salary dump for the Nets either. After finishing second in the league in 3-point percentage in 2016-17 (44.4 percent), Crabbe was a valued commodity to the Nets.

Although he saw a drop in 3-point efficiency in his first season as a Net (37.8 percent, still above league-average), he also upped his attempts from downtown by three whole shots per game — almost double his previous average. Decreases in efficiency are expected at that point.

With more consistent spacing around Crabbe, he has proven he can knock down those shots at an elite clip. As the team ascends, expect his 3-point efficiency to do the same.