20. Kyrie Irving, PG, Brooklyn Nets – Finishing inside
The correct answer to the question of what weakness Irving needs to improve is his availability, but that’s clearly not something he worked on this offseason. In terms of when the talented yet mercurial guard is on the court, the answer is rebounding.
Irving has a decent size at 6’2″ and can be an engaged defender at times. An area where he can improve is as a rebounder. The Brooklyn Nets were a bellow-average rebounding team last season, with no real rotation players who offer elite rebounding at their position. Players such as Nicolas Claxton, aged Blake Griffin and Paul Millsap obviously can rebound, but they are not cleaning the glass at an elite level. Kevin Durant will play most of his minutes at the 4, and rebounding has always been one of his few weak spots.
This is an area Irving can help in, working to secure the rebound and then push the ball in transition. He has been strong in this area before, so there is optimism that if he bought in and worked in this area he could help balance the smaller Nets lineups.
That is, of course, if he plays at all this season.