Despite securing the worst record in the NBA with no lottery pick to show for it, the Brooklyn Nets are in a great position. Their culture and room for salary make them a desirable destination for free agents this summer.
While talent is hard to come by, culture and a strong program are the most elusive parts of building a franchise. With Sean Marks and Kenny Atkinson, the Brooklyn Nets have changed their brand. As an organization that plays with heart, high IQ and develops young talent, Brooklyn is now a respectable team.
With a limited number of superstars available, teams are relying more on depth, fit and system to keep them competitive. The Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks are prime examples. The Heat started the 2016-17 season in a hole. However, around Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside, the Heat built a strong culture with great team play and committed defense. By the end of the season, they were one of the hottest teams in the NBA..
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The Atlanta Hawks traded Jeff Teague and let Al Horford walk. However, with a budding star in Dennis Schroder and aging stars in Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard, Mike Budenholzer has the Hawks hitting on all cylinders. Furthermore, Tim Hardaway Jr. is having a breakout year, and Kent Bazemore is a perfect three and D rotation player.
The Nets can position themselves similarly to these two teams. Because of this and the difficulty of landing superstar free agents, the Nets should target the following four restricted free agents as they build their culture. Although restricted free agency is risky, if one lands, it could change the franchise’s destiny quickly.