Nothin' But Nets
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Brooklyn Nets: How Does Their Current Rebuild Compare to Those of the Past?

By Malcolm Ireland

Feb 19, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets new general manager Sean Marks speaks to the media during a press conference before a game against the New York Knicks at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets new general manager Sean Marks speaks to the media during a press conference before a game against the New York Knicks at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 1, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Kevin Garnett (2) high fives guard Joe Johnson (7) and guard Deron Williams (8) during the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Kevin Garnett (2) high fives guard Joe Johnson (7) and guard Deron Williams (8) during the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

What went wrong?

The Brooklyn Nets were not satisfied with the season they just had. Even though the team started off slow, they finished 35-19 under P.J. Carlesimo. Carlesimo did a great job, but the Nets fired him and brought in Jason Kidd. This move was questionable, but nonetheless, Kidd is considered the greatest Net of all time. Having him as head coach was exciting for the organization and fans everywhere.

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But the Nets continued with rapid changes. With Mikhail Prokhorov coming up on his five-year promise of an NBA championship, he told Billy King to make any moves necessary to compete for a championship. Considering the Nets were in the same conference as the Miami Heat, who at the time had LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ray Allen, it would be hard to make a competing roster. That didn’t stop King though. King went ahead and made probably the worst trade in NBA history.

On July 12, 2013, the Brooklyn Nets traded Keith Bogans, Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks, Gerald Wallace, a 2014 first-round pick, a 2016 first-round pick, a 2018 first-round pick, and a right to swap picks in 2017 to the Celtics. In return, the Nets received Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry. Just in case you did not know, none of the picks listed above have protection on them.

Well, the thought process here was that the Nets would be title contenders for the next five years and that the draft picks would not be useful. Aside from Joe Johnson showing up every night, the Nets looked awful in 2013-14. They lost Lopez after only 17 games. Garnett was a shell of himself. Pierce had a drastic decline. And Williams’ ankle seemed to be held together by duct tape. The best highlight from the season might as well be Jason Kidd spilling his drink on the floor to get another timeout. All joking aside, the Nets lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals to none other than the Miami Heat.