Brooklyn Nets: 3 takeaways from the 2018 NBA offseason
By Alec Liebsch
3. Kenny Atkinson has a voice
Ideally, the front office and coaching staff have a synergy that respects each other’s wants and needs with a delicate balance. Some organizations have attempted to give the coach more power with roster moves, while others have nearly left the coach out of it altogether.
Generally, a coach with too much power can compromise the future, because, well, the coach always wants to win. In Brooklyn, however, this balance is holding steady.
Atkinson isn’t in charge of everything like Stan Van Gundy was for the Detroit Pistons, but it’s clear that he has a say in these moves. The majority of players that the Nets have added this season not only fit positionally, but also stylistically. For the most part, their skill-sets are catered to Atkinson’s ideal mold of offense.
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Jared Dudley is the quintessential stretch-4, and exactly the type of player missing from last season’s rotation. Kenneth Faried is a supercharged energy big who can play next to another tower or hold down the fort himself. Ed Davis is a rim protector with above-average rebounding skills for a backup. These guys allow for Atkinson to mix and match depending on the opponent, as they all bring various attributes to the rotation.
The guards and wings are more versatile too. Shabazz Napier has evolved into a decent off-ball shooter with the ability to initiate. Dzanan Musa, while only a rookie, will provide a scoring spark to the second unit in due time. Rodions Kurucs, another 2018 draft pick, hopes to become a 3-and-D forward down the line.
The roster is balanced, fun and on the rise. The types of players the team acquired bring a ton of versatility to the table, which is exactly what Atkinson wants. He turned defensive specialist Rondae Hollis-Jefferson into a point-forward, and microwave scorer LeVert into a Swiss army knife. These guys all fit together because they fit almost anywhere, and it’s clear to see that Atkinson has visions for all of them.