2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Brooklyn Nets
Key Additions: James Johnson (1-yr, undisclosed); Patty Mills (2-yr, $12 million), Jevon Carter (trade); DeAndre’ Bembry (undisclosed)
Brought Back: Bruce Brown ($4.7 million qualifying offer), Blake Griffin (1-yr, undisclosed)
Key Departures: Jeff Green (Denver), Landry Shamet (trade to Phoenix), Spencer Dinwiddie (Washington)
The moment the Brooklyn Nets lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of last year’s NBA Playoffs, they were installed as the future title favorites. They took the eventual champions to overtime in Game 7 despite having just 1.5 stars available, with James Harden barely mobile and Kyrie Irving out for the last few games.
The Nets know they are not just a contender but the contender, and they are filling out their roster accordingly. Some teams, including the aforementioned defending champions, are trying to build a title-winner while also keeping costs down. The Nets haven’t been foolish, but they have also been willing to spend money when the situation warrants it.
The biggest signing has been former San Antonio Spurs guard, and Olympic phenom, Patty Mills. He replaces Landry Shamet as the movement, run-off-screens shooter in the backcourt to fill the role when Joe Harris sits. They also brought in James Johnson, ostensibly as their guy to defend Giannis Antetokounmpo if the two teams face each other in the playoffs.
Bruce Brown returns at his qualifying offer; as a player more valuable to his own team than anyone else’s it was always likely he would get squeezed by the market. The Nets get him on a value for next year and can decide whether to bring him back after that. Finally, Blake Griffin showed he had plenty in the tank and is an excellent part of their rotation now that he will return.
The team lost Spencer Dinwiddie, but they were never going to be able to afford to bring him back given their investment in two other point guards. They did agree to send him out via sign-and-trade, getting a second-round pick, a second-round pick swap and a trade exception worth a little over $11 million. Nothing splashy, but all around a really good offseason for a team not needing to make any waves.
Grade: B+