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Showing posts with label Sean Marks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sean Marks. Show all posts

Nets can't make the same mistake with Fernandez that they made with Atkinson



 The Brooklyn Nets have a great coach in Jordi Fernandez. They had a terrific coach from 2016 to 2019 in Kenny Atkinson. 

Due to a mass influx of superstars, including Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, they parted ways with their head coach back in 2019 to acquiesce to the stars' demands. 

Both of those stars, along with James Harden, left the Nets at the altar and it's clear five years after the Nets made a coaching change, that it was the wrong decision.

Jacque Vaughn took over for Atkinson at the end of 2019 and through the NBA bubble season during COVID-19.

Then, Sean Marks had the bright idea of hiring his former teammate with no head coaching experience whatsoever in Steve Nash. 

That, along with a bunch of internal dysfunction and lack of commitment from supposed leaders, led to a talented Nets roster failing to win a single Atlantic Division crown, Eastern Conference crown or NBA title. 

Now, the Nets are in an early similar position to where they were with Atkinson in 2016. Brooklyn is a gritty, never say die team that is making the most out of its talent with a competent and tough-nosed head coach.

Sound familiar?

Brooklyn's rebuild looks to be more of a retooling as Fernandez is fast tracking success at an overachieving 4-5 record. Many NBA pundits and even Nets fans were anticipating or even rooting for a tank season where the Nets would at worst land a top five NBA Draft Lottery pick.  

That scenario is very much on the table since Brooklyn started 13-10 last year with Jacque Vaughn in his second stint as head coach before being fired at the end of last year. 

The lesson learned here is when an organization hands over the keys to a star player, that player does not have the long-term interest of the team or the franchise at hand. 

The Nets bent over backwards to please Irving, Durant and Harden and have nothing to show for it. 

Now that another coach killer in Giannis Antetokounmpo is disenfranchised with the direction of the Bucks under Doc Rivers, the Nets need to tread lightly.

The Nets have been listed among the top landing spots for the Greek Freak, but the soon to be 30 year-old with an injury history, certainly presents some risks. 

Marks and company cannot derail what looks to be a promising retooling of the franchise just to please another superstar player. 

So while adding Antetokounmpo to the current mix in Brooklyn would be enticing, the front office and ownership brass needs to ensure that the plan is clear for Fernandez to have as much runway as possible to build a winner in the borough. 



Nets trail only this one team in future draft assets

 


The Brooklyn Nets have an embarrassment of future first round picks. In fact, they have 13 first rounders between the 2025 and 2031 NBA Drafts.

And guess what? More could be on the way.

Dorian Finney-Smith is a highly coveted player across the league and he might possibly net Brooklyn at least another future first rounder.

Cam Johnson is a valuable 6-foot -8 wing with accuracy from long range. Teams may look to attached a future first round pick to any deal where he's included.

Don't forget expiring contracts in Ben Simmons and Dennis Schröder. Teams that are looking to clear salary cap space next summer to make a play for a big free agent, will find those two players'contracts useful. 

When all is said and done, Brooklyn may come close to Sam Presti and Oklahoma City's ridiculous draft stock.

Nets fans are fully embracing the rebuild and Sean Marks is now well armed to build a long-term contender in Brooklyn. 

Overpaying this free agent would be fatal mistake for Nets' GM

 


There's one player on the Nets roster who Is a pending free agent and the most polarizing figure on the roster within the team's fan base. 

He's averaging a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds along with two blocks on 62.9% from the field. At 25 years of age, the fan base is hoping the best is yet to come from him. 

Unfortunately, for Nets general manager Sean Marks, resigning this player at the wrong price could be a death wish. 

Center Nic Claxton, who is reportedly might command a contract extension in the neighborhood of a $25 million of average annual value (AAV), would be a major mistake for Brooklyn.

Claxton has been a solid player for the Nets, but in the same mold as a Clint Capela, paying him as a top center would not make much sense for the future of the franchise.

Many within the Nets fan base and Twitter base have grossly overestimated Claxton's value and what he deserves on the open market. 

Claxton's free agent market isn't exactly as robust as many expect. Don't anticipate teams lining up to pay a player who is incapable of making a mid-range jump shot top dollar on the open market. 

While the Nets bringing Claxton back at the right price range of $15-$18 million is understandable, anything over the $20 million Mark would just be pure lunacy and a fireable offence for Marks. 


Player Nets need to trade before deadline isn't the one you think


 The Brooklyn Nets are one of the surprise stories in the NBA this season, sitting at a very respectable 4-4 record heading into Friday night's matchup against the Boston Celtics. 

Led by a sensational 22-year old in Cam Thomas, who will be sidelined at least two weeks with an ankle sprain, and supported by veterans Mikal Bridges, Spencer Dinwiddie and Ben Simmons.


Brooklyn might be some subtle roster maneuvering away from making serious noise in the East. 

So, as Sean Marks looks to maintain cap flexibility, he'll have big decisions about the future free agent status of Nic Claxton heading into this upcoming summer and Simmons the summer to follow.

While most are rumoring that Simmons will be on the move ahead of February's trade deadline, it's actually Claxton who makes the most sense to ship out.

The Nets center has missed more games than he's played in during his young career and it's problematic from a spacing and free throw efficiency standpoint for him to play alongside Simmons for extended minutes, particularly in clutch time.

Claxton could be a huge add for a center-needy contending team and could bring in a combination of significant draft capital and perhaps a quality big man in return. 

Brooklyn has an embarrassment of riches at the wing position and Marks could get very creative pairing Claxton with Royce O'Neale to bring in valuable draft and front court pieces 

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