The Nets are not rebuilding like the Sixers, but they are re-tooling. People always say what the hell does that mean?* Well, they’re not decimating their roster, but they’ve made significant changes.
I don’t think they are going to trade Deron Williams or Brook Lopez. Brooklyn fans are excited about having a team, despite whatever holes they may have. They always think they are this player or that player away from being a contender. And they don’t necessarily believe that player has to be a star, because as New Yawkers, they think the town itself provides the wattage.
So with some tweaks and twists, the Nets believe they can advance pretty far in an Eastern conference that’s in total flux-because of Lebron’s return to Cleveland, of course.
The re-tooling comes from the fact that they will start playing a slightly different type of basketball, now that Paul Pierce is gone and Kevin Garnett is clearly a backup. Andray Blatche doesn’t look he will return to Brooklyn, as well.
Kirilenko stays, as does Mirza Teletovic, whom Nets fans refer to as MT3. Fans I’ve spoken with expect Teletovic to start at the stretch four position. They went out and ramped up their Eastern European flavor and commitment to the new school style of ball by adding Sergei Karasev from Cleveland.
Now, they’ve brought over 6’7 2011 draft pick Bojan Bogdanovic, presumably to assume the small forward spot—perhaps not initially, but sooner than later. He comes out of the Turkish league, which has long been considered the most physical league in Europe. He averaged 15/gm in 30min/gm. Assists and rebounds were negligible. So we’re not looking at a world-beater, here. Still, with my newfound burgeoning interest in European basketball, I’ll be using Bogdanovic as something of a barometer, as I find a subscription somewhere to watch lots of Dario Saric and Vasilije Micic. (Suggestions welcome)
They went into this year’s draft with no picks. But some still showed up at the Barclay Center hoping to trade into the deepest draft in years. And they were not disappointed. Draft night trades netted the Markell Brown and Corey Jefferson, each of whom acquitted themselves well in Orlando. Markell Brown looks a bit more athletic than Alan Anderson and may challenge for the two guard spot eventually. Corey Jefferson was pretty impressive as an inside defensive presence.
If Brook Lopez goes down again, Jefferson would never be able to replace half of Lopez’s offense, but he may be the superior defender, even at only 6’9"—at least the Nets are probably hoping so. If it doesn’t work out with Jefferson, Nets fans like what they have in Mason Plumlee, as well. Sort of how we feel about Henry Sims, I guess.
A lot hinges on injuries. Deron Williams is out of his ankle boot. Lopez will give it a go, once again. There’s also a declining Joe Johnson and Jarrett Jack. Even if Bogdanovic and Teletovic prove to be capable starters, the Nets will only go as far as Williams and Lopez take them.
*name the philly song reference and win absolutely nothing….