Brooklyn Nets: 5 Things To Watch During Training Camp

Mar 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; New York Knicks center Andrea Bargnani (77) drives to the hoop next to Golden State Warriors center Marreese Speights (5) in the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

5. Bargnani’s Duties

When the Nets signed Andrea Bargnani, the question that most fans had was why? Sure, Bargnani has not lived up to the expectations of being the first overall selection in the 2006 draft at all, but being able to sign a seven-footer that can knock down threes consistently for the veteran minimum is an absolute steal for any team. Bargnani could turn out to be a huge steal and make a major impact right away.

He will be the back up to Lopez, but Bargnani offers a totally different style of play. Last season, shooting 36 percent from deep indicates that he should utilized in a lot of pick-and-pop sets with the perimeter players. Bargnani would even benefit from the Nets playing faster (despite being a big man), because trailing three-point shooters are deadly in the transition game (ask Paul Pierce). Hollins hinted that Lopez may have more opportunities to shoot from deep this season, but with Bargnani coming off the bench and doing just that, it doesn’t make much sense.

In this era of NBA basketball, big men that can shoot from three are highly sought after, and Bargnani will look to prove just how valuable he is when he is the only consistent shooter from deep in the Nets’ front court.