Power Rankings
Overall rank: 24th
Tier: Playoff Hopefuls
Projected Seeding: 12th in East
The Nets wisely kept a keen eye on the future this offseason, after several ugly, future-mortgaging decisions over the past few years. They locked up their frontcourt duo of PF/SF Thaddeus Young and C Brook Lopez to contract extensions, spent the #29 pick in the draft on Syracuse standout PF/C Chris McCollough, and acquired defensive ace SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the #23 pick in the draft, from Portland to round out their future core. PG Deron Williams and his ugly contract were bought out to preserve cap space, and SG Joe Johnson’s contract expires after this season, which will be the final connection to Brooklyn’s troubled past, and open up major financial flexibility next summer. But while these moves look all well and good for potential success down the line, the Nets did little to nothing to help fill the void left by Williams at point guard, and Joe Johnson will probably have to be their number one scoring option again at 34 years old, as the rest of their roster is too young to take on a leading role for a playoff team (save for perhaps Lopez and Young). Which is precisely why they are not yet a playoff team.
Overall rank: 24th
Tier: Playoff Hopefuls
Projected Seeding: 12th in East
The Nets wisely kept a keen eye on the future this offseason, after several ugly, future-mortgaging decisions over the past few years. They locked up their frontcourt duo of PF/SF Thaddeus Young and C Brook Lopez to contract extensions, spent the #29 pick in the draft on Syracuse standout PF/C Chris McCollough, and acquired defensive ace SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the #23 pick in the draft, from Portland to round out their future core. PG Deron Williams and his ugly contract were bought out to preserve cap space, and SG Joe Johnson’s contract expires after this season, which will be the final connection to Brooklyn’s troubled past, and open up major financial flexibility next summer. But while these moves look all well and good for potential success down the line, the Nets did little to nothing to help fill the void left by Williams at point guard, and Joe Johnson will probably have to be their number one scoring option again at 34 years old, as the rest of their roster is too young to take on a leading role for a playoff team (save for perhaps Lopez and Young). Which is precisely why they are not yet a playoff team.