Brooklyn Nets: 3 big questions heading into 2019-20

2. How does Caris LeVert fit in?

For the most part, everyone in the Nets lineup will fill a specific role this season.

Joe Harris will run around and hit threes at an elite clip, Jarrett Allen will dive to the rim and protect it on the other end and Taurean Prince will hit threes and defend big wings. Caris LeVert’s role, however, is a bit in flux.

For the first 13 games of the 2018-19 season, LeVert was on a tear, averaging 19.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists on a .479/.328/.721 slash line. He was the alpha and omega of the offense, taking the primary scoring load throughout his 30.7 minutes on the floor per game.

In-game No. 14 he collapsed with a gruesome ankle injury, sidelining him as D’Angelo Russell took the reigns. Russell did well in his absence, earning a bid to the 2019 All-Star Game and helping the Nets earn their first playoff berth since 2015.

Re-integrating LeVert into a DLo-centric offense was difficult, but LeVert made the best of it, especially in their playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. In 28.9 minutes per game in the Philly series, LeVert led the team in scoring with the second-highest effective field goal percentage. Russell was contained, but LeVert was not.

This speaks to the promise LeVert has as a featured scoring option. How he gets those touches is an interesting question, as Kyrie Irving will command the ball in a more justified manner than DLo did. LeVert must adjust his game to fit the mold, meaning he has to become an effective 3-point shooter — career 32.9 percent from three — and defender to justify minutes next to Irving.

Considering how well Spencer Dinwiddie has done in a sixth-man role, especially now that he’s locked up through 2021 — with a player option for 2021-22 — it doesn’t make much sense to push LeVert into a ball-sharing role with him. Either LeVert makes it work in the starting lineup by acting as Irving’s secondary ball-handler or he loses a significant chunk of minutes.

If a bet had to be made, he’s likely to thrive in the former role. Irving, though talented, should not be the only ball-handler on the floor. If Caris can take steps as a 3-and-D-and-playmaking guard, the fit will be acceptable.