The Brooklyn Nets come into the 2019-20 season with something they haven’t had since the days of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett – expectations. GM Sean Marks was very aggressive in the offseason, acquiring marquee free agents Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan. Marks also built the depth of the Nets team by acquiring forward Taurean Prince and the veteran Garrett Temple. The 2018-19 Nets were a very young team that had incredible team chemistry, and the 2019-20 team will be much different. This team has much more experience, especially in the playoffs, and will look to top last year’s 42-40 record.

Starters :

Kyrie Irving – Kyrie Irving was arguably Sean Marks’ most important off season signing for this upcoming season. Kyrie will take over the helms at point guard after D’Angelo Russell’s departure to Golden State. Kyrie provides the Nets with more leadership and experience at the point guard position, which Sean Marks felt was essential for this team. Many people questioned Kyrie’s leadership in Boston last season, but Kyrie was dealing with a multitude of non-basketball related issues like the death of his grandfather which caused him to isolate himself from his teammates. I think Kyrie is in a much better mindset this season, and he will remind people of how dominant he truly is. I think Kyrie can put up similar number to his career year in 2016-17 in which he averaged 25.2 ppg and 5.8 apg while playing in a career high 72 games. Injuries have been a bit of an issue for Kyrie, so hopefully he can avoid knee injuries that have plagued him in the past. The Nets will go as far as Kyrie can take them this season.

Caris LeVert – Caris LeVert will be an all star this season. LeVert is the Nets’ best young player who was on his way to a breakout season before a gruesome leg injury in Minnesota interrupted his terrific season. LeVert still managed to average 13.7 ppg and 3.9 apg in the 40 games he played in, and those numbers should have an asterisk next to them because he was eased back into action. LeVert began to return to form at the end of the season and then was the Nets best player in the playoffs, averaging 21 ppg in the series against the Sixers. I think this will be Caris’ true breakout year, gaining him national media attention and respect as one of the better guards in the NBA.

Joe Harris – Joe Harris is among the NBA’s elite three point shooters. Joe led the NBA in three point percentage last season, shooting an insane 47% from deep. Along with his superb shooting, Joe is a very good finisher at the rim. Joe is able to beat defenders off the dribble and finish contested layups at the rim. I expect Joe to have a similar season to the one he had last season, which would have average around 13 ppg while shooting 50% from the field like he did last year. Joe is an integral part of this Nets team, and they struggle when he doesn’t shoot well. The reigning three point champ will be eager to defend his title both during the regular season and during All Star weekend this season.

Taurean Prince – Taurean Prince is a younger and better version of DeMarre Carroll. Prince was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks this offseason for Allen Crabbe and a first round pick, which opened up two max slots that allowed the Nets to sign Kyrie and KD. Prince averaged 13.5 ppg and 3.6 rpg for the Hawks last season while shooting 39% from deep. Prince is the perfect Kenny Atkinson three and d player that Carroll was the previous two season. Taurean showcased his three point talents in the Nets first preseason game during which he hit 6 threes. Sean Marks likes Prince so much that he even went as far as to sign Prince to a 2 year $29 million dollar contract just yesterday because he believes in him so much. Prince is a very underrated player, and he will showcase his true talents this season.

Jarrett Allen – Jarrett Allen enters his third year in the NBA with a lot of expectations. Allen showed a lot of progression last season as he went from 8.2 ppg to 10.9 ppg , 5.4 rpg to 8.4 rpg, and 1.2 bpg to 1.5 bpg. Jarrett again got stronger over the offseason, as he looks to stand his ground with the strong elite NBA centers. The acquisition of DeAndre Jordan will be crucial for the development of Allen, as DeAndre will mentor him on how to become among the top NBA centers. This season Allen will once again be used a lot in the pick and roll game, and will be catching a lot of lobs from Kyrie, LeVert, and Dinwiddie. One aspect of JA’s game that I am very interested in seeing is his three point shot. Allen attempted threes from the corner last season, but he shot a porous 13%. Allen looked more comfortable in his three point shot during the seasons, and will likely take the shot if it’s available to him during the regular season. Lastly, I fully expect Jarrett to average a double double for the first time in his career this season.

Bench :

Spencer Dinwiddie : Spencer Dinwiddie will win the Sixth Man of the Year award this season. Dinwiddie was in the conversation with Lou Williams before a hand injury caused Spencer to miss 14 games. However, Dinwiddie averaged a career high 16.8 ppg while shooting 44% from the field. Dinwiddie can beat defenders by driving to the basket or hitting his trademarked step back three. Dinwiddie is one of the toughest point guards to guard in the NBA because of his height (6’6) and his elusiveness. Dinwiddie will carry the Nets bench, and could get key opportunities at the end of games like he did last year. Dinwiddie may be the odd man out with Kyrie and LeVert, but Kenny Atkinson did say that he would consider playing all three guards at once. Dinwiddie is a complete stud and hopefully the NBA will give him a fair shot at the Sixth Man of the Year award if his numbers are as good as Lou’s are.

DeAndre Jordan – Sean Marks completed his stellar offseason with the 4 year $40 million dollar signing of DeAndre Jordan. The former all star will be this year’s version of Ed Davis, only better. Ed Davis was a tremendous rebounder off the bench last season, and DeAndre will look to play a similar role this season. DeAndre is a better scorer and shot blocker than Ed, and will look to play a bigger role overall than Ed did last season. Jordan averaged 11 ppg and 13.1 rpg in a split season between the Mavericks and Knicks last year. DeAndre brings the strength to the center position that Jarrett Allen lacks, and could be used to guard forceful Eastern Conference centers like Joel Embiid. Jarrett sometimes gets bullied by strong big men, and it will be DeAndre’s job to stop them this season. Jordan also lights up the locker room with his positive and funny antics, which is essential for any team.

Rodions Kurucs – Rodions Kurucs came out of nowhere last season, and played an impact. The second round pick averaged 8.5 ppg and 3.9 rpg during his rookie season while shooting 45% from the field. Kurucs brought fearlessness and tenacity to the Nets last season and will look to do the same this year. One aspect of Kurucs’ game that will be interesting to see is the development of his three point shot. Kurucs shot a measly 31% from deep last season, as his three point shot had its ups and downs. Kenny Atkinson wants Rodi to be one of his three and d players, and Kurucs will need to improve his three point shot to get significant minutes off the bench. Kurucs’ season is also in jeopardy because of his arrest this past summer, which could case him to miss significant time. There has not yet been a decision in Kurucs’ assault case, so it remains to be seen if Kurucs will be suspended by the NBA. The Nets would definitely like to have Kurucs contribute to this team, but there is no place on the team for him if he is found guilty.

Dzanan Musa – Dzanan Musa spent much of his rookie season tearing up the NBA G-League. The first rounder only appeared in 9 NBA games, averaging 2.1 ppg in only 4.3 minutes per game. Across 36 games played for the Long Island Nets, Musa averaged 19.5 ppg and 6.3 rpg while shooting 36% from deep. Musa is a gifted scorer, and he should get some minutes off the bench this season to showcase his scoring ability. Musa played very well in the preseason, averaging 12 ppg in 4 games. Musa’s role this season will be similar to Kurucs’ last year, as he will play meaningful minutes off the bench and kind of come out of nowhere. Musa’s liability is his defense, so he will need to improve that to get serious minutes.

Garrett Temple – Sean Marks made a bit of a surprising decision when he decided to sign veteran Garrett Temple to a 2 year $10 million dollar contract. Temple has bounced around the NBA in his career, as the Nets will be his 9th different team. Temple averaged 7.8 ppg while shooting 34% from deep in a split season last year between the Grizzlies and Clippers. Temple’s role this season will be a three point shooter off the bench, similar to Allen Crabbe of the past two seasons. I don’t expect Temple to be used as much as Crabbe was, but he will get his opportunities to knock down threes this year.

David Nwaba – David Nwaba will be this season’s Treveon Graham. For Cleveland last season Nwaba averaged 6.5 ppg and 3.2 rpg while shooting 48% from the field. Nwaba’s role on this Nets team will not be on the offensive side, as he will be relied on for his defense. Although Nwaba is only 6’5, Kenny Atkinson said that he would consider putting Nwaba at the 4 position in a lineup that would probably include Kyrie, LeVert, and Dinwiddie all on the court at once. Nwaba is a physical defender, like Treveon was, and will probably play meaningful minutes off the bench this season.

Theo Pinson – Theo Pinson will be the 4th point guard on the Nets roster this season. Pinson will most likely only play in blowouts or scenarios where one of Kyrie, LeVert, or Dinwiddie has gotten hurt. Pinson averaged 4.5 ppg and 2 rpg in 18 games last season. Pinson needs to work on his three point shot, as he shot a porous 26% from deep last year. Pinson’s most important role this year will be keeping the bench as hype as it was last year.

Nic Claxton – The Nets first round pick will likely spend more time in the G-League than the NBA this season. Sean Marks chose Claxton out of Georgia because of his agility at the center position, and he should be able to showcase it for the Long Island Nets. Claxton should also be able to learn a lot from fellow centers Jarrett Allen and DeAndre Jordan. Claxton’s year will be 2020, not 2019.

Henry Ellenson – Henry Ellenson will be the last man off the bench for the start of the 2019 season. Ellenson averaged 6 ppg and 3.4 rpg in 17 games last season between the Pistons and Knicks. The former first rounder will not play much at all for the Nets this season, and I could definitely see him getting cut when Wilson Chandler returns from his suspension.

Wilson Chandler – Wilson Chandler is suspended for the first 25 games of the season for violating the NBA’s drug policy. Once he returns from suspension, Chandler will have a role on this Nets team off the bench. The NBA veteran averaged 6 ppg and 4.2 rpg in a split season last year between the Sixers and Clippers. Chandler will also bring a toughness to this Nets team once he returns.

Bonus : Kevin Durant – Over the offseason, GM Sean Marks said that he does not expect Kevin Durant to play this season. No one in the Nets building, specifically Kyrie Irving, will not rush Durant back from his achilles injury. Durant is a top 2 player in the NBA when he is healthy, and is the type of player that can carry the Nets to a championship. I personally feel that Durant can recover fast enough in time to play at the end of the season/playoffs but who knows. I would love for Durant to play this year, but I also don’t want him to be rushed back too early. Hopefully Durant can magically heal fast and play this year, but the Nets seem to think that he isn’t going to be able to play this year. Durant’s role this year will be to coach and mentor from the bench, which will definitely be new for him. The most important piece of this team will likely not make an appearance this season, but it shouldn’t stop this Nets team from being a top team in the East.

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