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Brooklyn Nets: Assessing the core following the Kyrie Irving injury

By Corey Rausch

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 18: Kevin Durant #7 and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets look on during their game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center on January 18, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 18: Kevin Durant #7 and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets look on during their game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center on January 18, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images /

Young stars in the making

While the Brooklyn Nets were one of the lower-tier teams for many years, they did not have the benefit of having their own picks too often. Given that, the fact that they have three intriguing younger guys is a bonus for team building.

Spencer Dinwiddie has been the highlight of the group so far. He is having a true breakout season this year with increased opportunity. Dinwiddie is averaging a career-high in points and rebounds while tying his career-high in assists. He has taken more of a leadership role in the absence of Irving and has earned the respect of the league.

His young backcourt partner has had a little murkier career. When Caris LeVert is on he exudes star potential. Look no further than his playoff performance last season. After being in and out of the lineup last season (a regularity for the former Michigan Wolverine) he only started two of the five playoff games for the Brooklyn Nets. He showed out in those opportunities.

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Posting averages of 21 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and 3 assists per game in 28.8 minutes a game is impressive in and of itself. His efficiency also jumps out of the box score at you with shooting splits of .493/.462/.724.

Before his injury last season, he looked to be the up-and-coming All-Star for the team. D’Angelo Russell ended up taking the spot but the potential is still there.  Looking at how both of the guards under contract pair with Kyrie Irving is where things get murkier.  When Kyrie Irving and Dinwiddie share the floor they post a net rating of +7.0.  When Dinwiddie and LeVert play together that drops to +5.6.

Unfortunately, the LeVert/Irving pairing craters to -10.7. There is no five-man unit for the team that has played more than 50 minutes together featuring that pairing that posts a positive net rating and only one each for the other two pairs.

Figuring out the direction this franchise takes starts here. If they find that both players cannot be part of a championship core alongside Durant and Irving, a trade this summer could be in the works. LeVert is locked in for the under $19 million for the next three seasons. Dinwiddie is under contract next season and has a player option for the following year which will likely be declined at $12.3 million.

Both of these contracts are tradeable and would draw interest from young teams looking to add backcourt to their developing roster. The chances that one of these two is not on the roster next season feels high, especially with Joe Harris possibly being re-signed this summer.

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