Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant or no, Nets can be good in 2019-20

The Brooklyn Nets just completed the biggest offseason in their young history. Though one of the two big fish will likely sit out the season, there’s a ton to like on this roster.

Make no mistake, the Brooklyn Nets incurred some risk this summer. A lot of it is natural with any big free agent addition, but some is unique to the players the Nets got.

Kyrie Irving and Boston had a weird clash that he only recently opened up about. Stuff like that happens. Kevin Durant had his own issues in Golden State and suffered one of the worst injuries a player can sustain.

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Though these factors deter some, their decision to choose the same franchise must be talked about in the same breath. It undoubtedly matters that they chose Brooklyn.

What that amounts to in 2019-20 mostly falls on Irving, as Durant is set to miss the entire season. Around Irving, a distinct upgrade from D’Angelo Russell, is a cast of role players that did quite well last season.

Caris LeVert was on pace to be a key contributor last season before a gruesome injury. He was outstanding in the playoff series against Philly, averaging 21.0 points on 61.3 percent True Shooting. Brooklyn clearly believes in him, as they inked him to a three-year, $52.5 million extension a few weeks after adding the superstar duo.

Spencer Dinwiddie, a Sixth Man of the Year candidate last season, often closed games over Russell. His ferocity attacking the basket and getting his shot will continue to be important to the Nets, especially when Irving sits. Their familiarity with each other makes it much easier for them to play off each other as well.

Joe Harris is already an elite shooter. Now he will play off an even better trio of playmakers than last season. His life will be considerably easier in 2019-20; he just has to hit open shots and not suck on defense.

Taurean Prince has the skills to be the ideal 4 in Kenny Atkinson’s offense. He’s an above-average 3-point shooter (38.7 percent over the last two seasons), better defender than last year suggests (plus-1.5 defensive box plus-minus his rookie season, the one year Atlanta was good) and has a playmaking dimension as well (career 11.7 percent assist rate).

Jarrett Allen should play more than DeAndre Jordan, but either way the Nets will have a quality rim runner on the floor at all times. They can’t go 5-out as often anymore because Jared Dudley is gone, but the perimeter firepower should make that unnecessary this season.

Jordan’s strengths are Allen’s weaknesses, so the latter can definitely become a better finisher and rebounder by learning from the former.

In a vacuum, going from Russell to Irving is a demonstrative upgrade. The way that coach Kenny Atkinson used DLo in a heavy pick-and-roll scheme plays to Irving’s strengths as well and he should eat as a result.

LeVert’s ascent comes down to how often he can coexist with another ball handler, which depends on his 3-ball being better than his career figure of 32.9 percent. His array of other skills makes one think development as a shooter won’t be too difficult.

Irving, LeVert, two shooters and a rim-running center sounds like a lot of fun. The East is much weaker than last year, as there are really only two teams in contention for the conference crown. Barring stagnation or a personality clash between Irving and the role players, the Nets are on pace to compete for 50 wins.

As long as the locker room stays intact, 2019-20 is going to be a good season in Brooklyn.