2017 Brooklyn Nets

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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Brooklyn Nets (Last Year: 20-62)

2017-18 Projected Depth Chart:

C: Brook Lopez/Justin Hamilton

PF: Trevor Booker/Andrew Nicholson

SF: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson/Joe Harris

SG: Sean Kilpatrick/Caris LeVert

PG: Jeremy Lin/Isaiah Whitehead

NBA Free Agents:

SG-Randy Foye (UFA)

PF-Quincy Acy (UFA)

SG-Archie Goodwin (UFA)

PG-Spencer Dinwiddie (UFA)

SF-K.J. McDaniels (TO)

2017-18 Team Salary: Approximately $63.9 million

NBA Offseason Team Needs:

1. Make a Big Move in Free Agency: The Nets have enough cap space to make a big move in free agency, and they sorely need to bring in some new talent. None of the big-name free agents will want to join a rebuilding effort in Brooklyn though unless they are massively overpaid. Expect the franchise to make a run at some young, restricted free agents like it did last year – though the team failed to actually land any of the guys it pursued since its offers were all matched.

2. Play-making Wing: Plain and simple, the Nets cannot contend for a playoff spot if Sean Kilpatrick is their best wing scorer.

3. Have a Productive Draft: A team as terrible as Brooklyn can usually rely on a high draft pick to bring in a potential face of the franchise, but the Nets’ pick belongs to the Celtics not only this year but in 2018 as well. The Nets do have the 22nd and 27th picks in the 2017 NBA Draft and need to hit home runs with those selections.

4. What to do with Brook Lopez: Lopez is entering the final year of his contact and Brooklyn’s best asset. The Nets should shop Lopez in an effort to help their rebuilding process unless they feel strongly that he will re-sign. Even in that case, is Lopez going to be worth the monster deal he will be seeking and likely get?