Brooklyn Nets: Pay attention to Caris LeVert during NBA restart

The Brooklyn Nets will be without several rotational players when the NBA restarts this month, but one player they will have is Caris LeVert.

Not including the injured Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets will be without four notable players in the NBA’s restart. With DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Dinwiddie, Wilson Chandler, Nicolas Claxton and Taurean Prince missing the resumption of play, the team will be working with next to nothing in their hunt for the postseason. However, one man that will be playing is Caris LeVert, and this stretch could be very telling for his future with the franchise.

Fresh off of signing a three-year, $52 million contract extension before the season, LeVert had a career year for the Brooklyn Nets. In 39 games this season, the 25-year-old split time between starting and coming off the bench, but still put up some stellar numbers in his fourth season. The guard averaged 17.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, proving to be a bright spot in this up and down season for the Nets despite.

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Brooklyn has not shied away from their desire to land a third star this offseason to pair alongside Irving and Durant, even though LeVert seemingly fits the mold. Regardless, Irving made it clear earlier this year that the team’s need for more talent was a “glaring” issue that needed resolution to contend legitimately, even if he did not direct it at LeVert.

LeVert is not in the same tier as that of Bradley Beal or Jrue Holiday, whom the team has inquired about, but he still showcased that he can be a dynamic player at 25-years-old.

This upcoming restart will not only be telling for LeVert but the Nets as a whole. With so many pieces absent, LeVert slides up as the No. 1 option and depending on how he plays, his future with Brooklyn could take several different routes.

If LeVert can keep the Nets afloat despite all of the adversity, perhaps the team could look to hang onto him and give him the opportunity as that third option. That LeVert-Irving-Durant trio could potentially make some noise for years to come, but it seems that Brooklyn is high on landing a solidified star right now. Perhaps if the guard shows significant signs of potential, they could see him in a different light as that viable piece.

Another option the Nets could take if LeVert can perform at a high-level could also lead to the team trading him because of his boosted value rather than keeping him. The guard would be a hot commodity on the trade market because of his age and ascending production in each year of his career tied in with his decent contract.

If he comes out of the gates firing and leads the Nets into the postseason, teams could look at LeVert as a much more reputable piece in a potential trade for Beal, Holiday, or whomever else the team might look at this offseason.

The expectations for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA’s restart are very low, as many questioned whether they should withdraw entirely due to so many missing pieces. The restart will serve as an evaluation of talent for pieces going forward, none being more monitored than LeVert.

This upcoming stretch could potentially decide Caris LeVert’s future with the Brooklyn Nets, as a long term piece to complement their championship aspirations or a valuable trade asset.

The Nets currently sit in the Eastern Conference’s seven-seed with a 30-34 record and a grueling road ahead. The team is clearly already focused on recuperating and coming out at full strength next season with Kyrie and Durant. Still, the remainder of this season could also be very intriguing, with LeVert leading the charge.