Brooklyn Nets: Caris LeVert will be the X-factor

With Kevin Durant sidelined for at least the majority of the season, much of the Brooklyn Nets’ success in the 2019-20 season will rely on Caris LeVert stepping up.

The Brooklyn Nets had about as good of an offseason as any team could have. The rumored favorites to land Kyrie Irving found themselves in a double jackpot scenario as they locked in both Irving and Kevin Durant to place alongside a young, but proven core.

Other solid additions, like Garrett Temple, Taurean Prince and DeAndre Jordan, could have this team ready to compete for the East as early as this season.

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The only problem: there is still an overwhelming chance that Kevin Durant doesn’t take the court at any point this season. Even if KD sits until the start of the 2020-21 season, they are still in a position to improve. They will have essentially swapped out D’Angelo Russell in favor of Kyrie and made rotational improvements up and down the roster.

However, without Durant, their ability to be a serious title contender coming out of the gate will be heavily contingent on fourth-year swingman Caris LeVert.

LeVert began last season looking like a potential candidate to make his first All-Star appearance, putting up 18.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals in just under 30 minutes per game, as well as tallying multiple clutch shots. Unfortunately, this hot start was derailed by a horrific injury early into the season — one that kept him out until February.

Upon returning, it took a little time for him to get back in the groove, but by the first round of the playoffs, LeVert was mirroring his stellar play early on.

The potential for 25-year-old is certainly there, and Brooklyn knows it. In late August, none other than Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN broke the news that Brooklyn extended LeVert to the tune of three years and $52.5 million. With the trust of the franchise and a golden opportunity, the Nets will need him to be a reliable second star alongside Kyrie.

It’s not wild to think that he could fill that role. LeVert’s numbers last season per 36 minutes offer plenty of promise, tallying 18.5 points, 5.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals, even including his slow return following the injury he sustained.

With an entire offseason to get his body feeling right, there is reason to believe that he could improve upon these numbers and be ready to take on sidekick duties.

Something working heavily in the favor of both the Nets and LeVert is their ability to put lineups on the floor that maximize the young wing. LeVert is special talent when it comes to driving to the rim and is very capable of creating his own shot in the midrange. However, the career 32.9 percent 3-point shooter isn’t incredibly lethal from deep.

Thankfully, Brooklyn has multiple options when it comes to surrounding him with plenty of shooting. It wouldn’t be surprising to see lineups that feature him alongside players like Joe Harris, Taurean Prince, Wilson Chandler, and Kyrie — all of whom sunk at least 37 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc last season.

Not only will this prevent the Nets from relying on LeVert to shoot from range but would open up the floor and allow him to do what he does best.

While other young players like Jarrett Allen and Rodions Kurucs will be expected to improve their game, LeVert’s contributions are poised to make a unique impact. If he can rise to the occasion, the Brooklyn Nets could be ready to contend in the East even without Kevin Durant.