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Brooklyn Nets: Caris LeVert’s Ascension in Shortened Rookie Campaign

By Charles Daye

Apr 2, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert (22) puts up a shot against Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at Barclays Center. Nets win 91-82. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert (22) puts up a shot against Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at Barclays Center. Nets win 91-82. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports /
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Caris LeVert was the 20th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. The shooting guard out of Michigan would have been a lottery pick if it weren’t for injuries. How has he fared in his first season with the Brooklyn Nets?

Going into the 2016 NBA Draft, general managers were hesitant to select Caris LeVert due to his foot injuries and subsequent foot surgeries. So hesitant in fact that the Michigan senior wrote an open letter on the Player’s Tribune reassuring general managers around the league of his potential.

LeVert was selected with the 20th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers. The Brooklyn Nets would trade Thaddeus Young to Indiana for the rights to the Michigan prospect, and the Nets would have their first-round pick.

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Going into that draft, Brooklyn did not have a 2016 first-round pick due to the infamous trade with Boston. Interestingly enough, Young, who was essentially traded straight up for LeVert, was acquired in a one-for-one trade that shipped Kevin Garnett “home” to Minnesota. So the Nets, in essence, got one of their picks back from that disastrous trade.

After making his professional debut in December 2016, LeVert would go on to play in 57 games and start in 26 of them. He averaged 8.2 points on 45 percent shooting from the field, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals in 21.7 minutes per game for his rookie season.

The final month of the season was the rookie’s most impressive. LeVert averaged 12.3 points on 47.8 percent shooting from the field, 3.7 rebounds and two assists per game in the month of April.

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In the rookie rankings, LeVert finished 10th in points per game, 10th in rebounds per game, sixth in steals per game and ninth in minutes, behind fellow rookie Isaiah Whitehead, who finished eighth. Interestingly enough, the self-described “point-slash-shooting guard” also finished 14th among rookies in assists per game. Not bad for the guy who was selected 20th.

The 22-year-old has been so impressive that it is widely believed that next year, he will be in the team’s starting rotation. Whether he is starting at shooting guard or small forward, it’s clear the Nets rookie has shown versatility. He can either initiate the play and create offense, or play off the ball on the wing.

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LeVert could be considered the first piece to general manager Sean Marks‘ foundation for the Nets’ future. When Brooklyn is on the clock during the 2017 NBA Draft, hypothetically, are they not selecting a player they believe will play well with LeVert?