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Sean Marks’ Vision: The Brooklyn Nets Team That Could Have Been

By Alexander Cuesta

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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Feb 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas (20) after a play during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas (20) after a play during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Donatas Motiejunas

Donatas Motiejunas easily had the oddest season of any player in the NBA. He entered the year in a contract dispute with the Houston Rockets that dragged on for about a month. We all thought it was over when he accepted an offer sheet with the Nets, but the Rockets matched the offer.

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Motiejunas refused to play for Houston due to more disputes with the matched contract. They eventually came to an agreement, but after a physical, the Rockets retracted the deal, making him an unrestricted free agent. Per NBA Rules, the Nets could not pursue Motiejunas for a full year because he had signed the offer sheet, so he ended up signing with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Marks was attracted to him because he was a young player (sense a theme yet?) and can score in bunches. He is not an overpowering big man, but knows how to use his body well and score in a variety of ways.

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How Motiejunas would’ve fit with the Nets

Motiejunas is a seven-foot power forward, which is not very common in the NBA. So when he is on the floor with a seven-foot center, it would create matchup issues for opponents. The Nets have two centers who are seven feet tall: Brook Lopez and Justin Hamilton, and they would have had a great size advantage down low by pairing with Motiejunas.

He would’ve more than likely been used off the bench to back up Trevor Booker and would have been a solid scoring option for the second unit. Motiejunas is another player that would’ve been a welcome addition to a young team that could use as much talent as it can get.