The NBA Eastern Conference underwent serious turbulence this offseason. With LeBron’s westward expansion, the 76ers and Celtics seemed poised to fight over the conference for a decade. Now, they sit at the fourth and fifth seed respectively. However, they’ll both likely ascend a spot with the Oladipo injury. Toronto and Milwaukee were both supporting actors in the Eastern Conference movie last year, minor bosses defeated in the montage before the Celtics and Cavaliers met to play for a chance at a championship. Now, they perch atop the conference. In short, the King’s exodus has left his kingdom in anarchy.
Next year’s offseason could shake the conference to its core again. Four of Milwaukee’s starting five are free agents. The Raptors could lose Leonard. The Celtics could lose Irving. Philly has the Jimmy Butler decision. And who’s left to pick up the potential pieces? Perennial bottom feeder and modern symbol of basketball brutality and banality, the Brooklyn Nets.
The Nets are currently sixth in the East, with a 4.5-game gulf between them and Boston they’ll likely never surmount. But their eyes are looking further down the road, and they should be. Although Danny Ainge shredded their drafting capabilities, then burned the shreds in a fiery ritual, they still have acquired excellent young talent.
Sixth man G Spencer Dinwiddie, 25, was signed to a minimum deal. He’s since re-signed with Brooklyn for a team friendly three-year $34 million contract, and his 17 PPG and 5 APG on 45.8/37/79 splits had him in the running for Sixth Man of the Year. Dinwiddie’s injury hampers the Nets chances to compete in a playoff series this year, but he’s still a vital asset long term.
Starting PG D’Angelo Russell, 22, was acquired for Brook Lopez (now a role player) and a late-first that became Kyle Kuzma. While the Kuzma selection by the Lakers has made the trade lose some of its luster, Russell is making a serious All-Star case this season.
Russell is averaging 19 points and 6.5 assists on 44/38/81 splits, one of 11 players with that many points on those splits. He’s also kicked it up a notch in the short-term, scoring 30+ in three of his last five, all Nets wins.
Starting center Jarrett Allen, 20, was drafted 22nd with one of the few picks Ainge’s wrath spared them and has blossomed. Allen is 10th in the league in blocks, for those averaging more than 25 MPG and is building a solid foundation in the middle for Brooklyn. While his three-point shot remains nonexistent (9-44 on his career), his free throw is good, and he’s progressed at almost every measurable this season and met some of the NBA’s best at the rim.
On top of three young developing stars, the Nets have an eclectic collection of role players. This includes deadeye Joe Harris, 27, Latvian rookie Rodions Kurucs, 20, and although he’s stagnated of late, the athletic Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, 24.
Don’t think I forgot about Caris LeVert either. LeVert was brutally injured only 14 games into a promising season. Prior, he seemed in the midst of taking a step up as Brooklyn’s marquee player, matching or supplanting Russell. Now, when he returns later this season, Brooklyn could feature an All-Star backcourt with Dinwiddie in their back pocket.
Their only hindrance is a lack of a marquee player, assuming Russell’s development continues logically not exponentially. They have no Kawhi, Giannis, Kyrie, or Embiid. For now.
The Brooklyn Nets’ largest contract going into the offseason is Allen Crabbe’s $18.6 million player option that’s close to John Wall’s 2022-23 option in pick-up likelihood. Their next two are Dinwiddie’s $10.6 million and Harris’ $7.6 million respectively. Russell and Hollis-Jefferson are both RFAs, so the potential for two maxes is likely gone when they re-sign Russell. But they’ll have one max spot, and if they continue to put together a solid body of work, they could be the most appetizing spot for that marquee missing puzzle piece like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, or Kyrie Irving.
The East is a neck-and-neck horse race between Milwaukee, Toronto, Philadelphia, and Boston right now. However, all four of those horses could be hamstrung next season. Milwaukee has its supporting cast up for free agency. Toronto will likely say goodbye to Kawhi Leonard. Philadelphia needs to figure out what’s going on with Jimmy Butler. Boston needs to stabilize its rollercoaster team dynamic then re-sign Irving.
Maybe Milwaukee, Boston, Philadelphia, and Toronto all solve their postseason problems and return at the top of the conference. Or, maybe they don’t. Maybe the Brooklyn Nets sign Durant, Leonard, or Irving and rule the East next season.