Is Brooklyn an attractive destination for free-agents?
Through 48 games this season, the Brooklyn Nets sport a dismal 12–36 record, thus flushing my (apparently delusional) hopes for an eighth seed playoff berth down the metaphorical toilet.
This year, the basketball paradigm has shifted – the Eastern Conference now boasts more teams with winning records than the typically stacked Western Conference. The fourth seed Atlanta Hawks (currently 27-21) are only 7.5 games ahead of the thirteenth seed Bucks (currently 20-29). The resurgence of the Eastern Conference comes at a poor timing, as the Nets are going through a “bridge year” and lack first round draft picks in the foreseeable future.
Given Brooklyn’s situation, are the Nets still an attractive destination for free-agents?
With time, free agents (especially the ones of higher caliber) have shown more interest in a destination that can provide one particular thing: winning. Whether it was “The Decision” or more recently LaMarcus Aldridge’s relocation to San Antonio, it’s apparent that winning has now taken precedence over the big market, constant limelight cities like New York or Los Angeles. Players want to win, and they want to win now.
Brooklyn’s failed attempt at Prokhorov’s win-within-five-years model has left the organization in shambles from top to bottom. They currently showcase an interim head coach, no General Manager, and a roster that is for the most part extremely lacking in talent. But from a more positive outlook, they do have some quality selling points to offer. One might point to the Nets’ brand new practice facility. They can bring up the sleek new Barclays Center. They could mention that they do have one of the most offensively skilled centers the league has to offer under contract for a few more years. Not to mention the fact that the non-ball-dominant Thaddeus Young, who would be a joy to play alongside for an incoming star.
Could these be enough to lure a superstar free agent? Many analysts feel as if the goal is to stay competitive until their next draft pick in 2019. With the ample cap space they have, it is possible for the Nets to sign quality players to surround their young core if the attempt to lure a superstar fails.
What readers said at the time
1 reply came in under this piece in 2016, and they are kept here as they were written — the readers’ words, not ours, spelling and all. The thread is closed; the desk does not take new comments.
Terry Bogard1 February 2016
January was just a very bad month for the Nets and i say that month ended there season. They lost Jarrett jack for the season, they fired Lionel Hollins, they reassinged Billy King but didn’t fire him when they should have and only won 3 games but lost 13 games for that month. They are most likely sending a top three pick to the Celtics and i wouldn’t be shock if it’s numer one overall. Sad also they are ranked 27th in NBA Attendance with an average of 15,020 and tickets are as cheap as they were when they were in NJ. I think you are gonna seee a lot of season ticket holders give up there tickets after this season. The only thing i am looking forward to the rest of the season is to see when Rondae Hollis-jefferson return and when Chris Mccullough make his debut because April 13th can’t get here fast enough. As far as free agency goes, i think they have to go after role players that are hungry and have something to prove because top free agents like Derozan, Durant, Rondo and Conley are not coming to Brooklyn at all. As you said, players wanna win and they wanna win now. And looking at the nets record, no top free agent is gonna want to be apart of the mess that Billy King created. They will at least listen and entertain the nets come july and they will like the Nets brand new practice facility which i think is gonna look fabulous. But in the end, i strongly doubt any of them will sign long term with the Nets.