All things in life are cyclical. NBA teams are no exception. Just ask the Brooklyn Nets. Years ago, this team traded a tremendous amount of draft capital to form a super team. Unfortunately for them, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce proved to be past their primes.
So, the Nets rebuilt. Eventually, they’d trade a tremendous amount of draft capital to form a superteam – again. This time, Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving failed to coalesce.
What are the Nets left with now? A tremendous amount of draft capital. Don’t be surprised if they spend it on a star this summer. What stars should they be looking at?
Trae Young
This is likely the perfect fit for Brooklyn. After all, Trae Young is not the easiest player to build around. As talented as he is, Young is a player who needs the ball in his hands. He also needs strong defenders to compensate for his shortcomings on that end of the floor.
So, what does Young need? A platoon of versatile defenders? A rim-running big man to operate in the pick-and-roll? Check, check, and check. This Nets roster is tailor-made for Young.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks & Brooklyn Nets Updates
Meanwhile, it feels like the Hawks might be due for a reset. If they’re serious about shopping Young this summer, the Nets should get on the phone with them post-haste. Who else could they look at?
Jaylen Brown
By contrast, Jaylen Brown isn’t necessarily the cleanest fit here. The Nets already have Mikal Bridges. He’s a similar player positionally, and he’s breaking out as a star in his own right. Meanwhile, they may not want to break up the longstanding chemistry between him and pending restricted free agent Cameron Johnson.
Counterpoint: so what? Johnson can play the 4. Bridges and Brown can both play the 2 or 3. In today’s positionless NBA, these distinctions are increasingly arbitrary. Meanwhile, imagine the defense.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jaylen Brown, Atlanta Hawks & Boston Celtics Updates
The Nets would be light on playmaking if they acquired Brown, but they’d be able to overwhelm opponents with shot creation and defense. If Brown requests a trade, the Nets should see if they can use their draft capital to orchestrate a three-team deal. Unless they’re stuck on landing a playmaker, of course.
Luka Doncic
That’s right. We went there. Who knows if Luka Doncic will be available this summer? Realistically, the safe money says that he won’t be. On the other hand, rumors are beginning to surface.
Doncic may be growing uneasy in Dallas. If he requests a trade, the Nets should offer every pick they can legally trade to acquire him. After all, everything we said about Young applies to Doncic – only he’s an even more effective playmaker. Moreover, as a bigger body, Doncic can be more easily hidden on defense.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks & Brooklyn Nets Updates
The Nets just happen to have the personnel to hide him. With that said, the Nets would be happy to acquire any of these stars this summer. Doing so would bring their team full circle
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