Brooklyn Nets: 3 reasons to not re-sign D’Angelo Russell
1. Costs them a chance at two stars
The Brooklyn Nets currently have $47 million in cap space, but if they renounce the rights to Russell they will clear an additional $21.1 million. This move, along with denying the options on Shabazz Napier and Treveon Graham, will give the Nets two max contract slots.
The Nets’ pursuit of Kyrie Irving has been well documented all offseason, but recently, the Kevin Durant-to-Brooklyn rumors are heating up.
Brian Lewis of the NY Post has reported that the Nets are now frontrunners for the two time Finals MVP.
#Nets seen as 'front-runner' in Kevin Durant chase #nba https://t.co/eKaYwg8NYK via @nypostsports
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) June 22, 2019
KD may be coming off a devastating Achilles injury, but is still one of the best three basketball players on the planet and a team should never pass up on the opportunity to add a talent of his caliber.
If the Nets chose to bring back Russell, they financially cannot afford to pair Irving with Durant. As Brooklyn continues to chase star power, it becomes a more desirable location for other free agents.
The New York Times‘ Marc Stein detailed how DeAndre Jordan may want to play at the Barclay’s Center in 2019-20 to form a Big 3 with Kyrie and KD.
The Nets are exploring the feasibility of signing Kevin Durant's close friend DeAndre Jordan in free agency, league sources say, in hopes that would make the prospect of teaming up in Brooklyn with Kyrie Irving even more enticing to Durant
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 24, 2019
If they Nets choose to re-up with Russell this offseason, it will prevent them from chasing the likes of Kevin Durant and other stars to pair with Irving in one of the strongest free agent classes ever.
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Therefore, the Brooklyn Nets should not re-sign D’Angelo Russell and instead pursue other stars this summer.