What the heck is going on with the Brooklyn Nets?

Going forward

So it’s accepted that the roster is limited, and its head honchos are being thrust into roles they can’t handle. Fine. Now what?

The easy answer is to tank, something I touched on toward the end of last season, because the Nets finally have their own draft pick this season. The allure of a high pick is always nice, and Zion Williamson would look mighty fine in black and white. But what difference does that really make?

The Nets are already pretty bad. They’re 8-18, and six of those wins came with a healthy LeVert carrying the team. If the team doesn’t improve organically, there’s little reason to believe it’ll scrape out much more than 30 wins.

Additionally, the new NBA Draft Lottery system disincentivizes bottoming out. The difference between the worst and third-worst records means nothing with the new odds. Also, the top five picks are now drawn as opposed to three. There is a lot more room for a middling seventh-worst team to sneak into a high pick slot.

Not to mention, it feels like the Nets community is forgetting how crucial next summer is. The aforementioned lead guards, Dinwiddie and Russell, are ticketed for free agency. Ditto for Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. The team has over $60 million in cap space to play with.

New York City will be attractive to any free agent, but not if the Nets outwardly try to lose games. Sean Marks and co. would be squandering an opportunity to recruit high-level players if they simply bottom out for uncertain lottery status.

Treading water between outward tanking and going in for wins is a unique way to progress, but the Nets are a unique team going through a unique rebuild. It only makes sense to stay the course, because the Nets could end up getting the best of either world anyway.