What the heck is going on with the Brooklyn Nets?

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 5: Head Coach Kenny Atkinson, Jarrett Allen #31 and D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Barclays Center on December 5, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /

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Depth

This leads into the next problem. The roster is centered around developing its young players, which, quite frankly, it should be at this stage. No one should be surprised that the team can’t compete when its two best scoring options falter in key moments.

The Nets didn’t go out and sign a crunch-time scorer because they wanted to develop one. The fact that Dinwiddie and Russell haven’t stepped up to the plate is the risk general manager Sean Marks took when building this roster.

If people want to freak out, they should freak out that a former No. 2 pick, who was touted as a potential scoring star with the “it” factor to close out games, is doing none of that. Russell is not a bad player, but the team can’t survive when a player like him is the first option.

Sure, it would help to have another guy like that, but the Nets don’t have one readily available. Their closest bet is probably rookie Dzanan Musa, but he’s nowhere near ready for major NBA minutes.

Joe Harris? DeMarre Carroll? Jarrett Allen? None of these guys are creating offense on their own. The team is limited in this regard for a reason; if someone like Lou Williams were taking all those shots at the end of games, how would we know what the team has behind him? That would be a mere band-aid, and it would hamper the Nets’ ability to evaluate anyone’s development.

So yes, it has been really bad, and the roster is not as strong as previously thought. But this is the best way to find out if Dinwiddie or Russell is worthy of another contract from Brooklyn.

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