Brooklyn Nets: 5 goals for Dzanan Musa’s rookie season

1. Crack the rotation early

All the above skills are what’s stopping Musa from becoming a legitimate NBA starter as a rookie. This is merely the summation of all of them.

Why would it be important for Dzanan Musa to compete in the rotation as a rookie? Because time is running out for the development-centric era of the rebuild.

Not to say Brooklyn is on the fast track to 50 wins, but the intent of trying to win ASAP is quite clear. Between all the marginal win-now moves this summer and boatloads of cap space next summer, the Nets brass is genuinely trying to appeal to high-level free agents.

With more short-term success comes fewer minutes for the inexperienced. Long-leash opportunities will continue to shrink as the team gets more competitive, so Musa needs to earn them rather quickly.

After all, the team is trying to contend right now too, though it might be short-lived. If Musa can break through while the rotation is laden with competitive veterans, then more power to him.

Regardless, Musa will probably get more minutes as the season dies down. The chances of the Brooklyn Nets competing for the playoffs are tangible but unlikely, so his end-of-season reps should be copious, but the sooner he earns them, the better.