NBA Finals free agents the Nets should and shouldn’t target
Shaun Livingston
Shaun Livingston is no stranger to the bright lights of Brooklyn.
Fans will remember the floor general for his days as a combo guard with the Jason Kidd-led Nets. The 2013-14 version of the team only played like a top-tier unit after then-coach Jason Kidd inserted Livingston in the starting lineup after a rocky start to the season.
Livingston had his finest year of his career with the Nets. He averaged eight points, three rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes per game. He started alongside Deron Williams, Joe Johnston, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in an effective small-ball line-up implemented by Kidd.
The team found its identity with Livingston as a focal point of the offense. His post-up abilities as a guard helped set the table for the Nets offense. Livingston was the definition of a Swiss army knife on offense and defense.
The guard has been through it all in the NBA. Livingston has survived an ACL tear and has been on 10 teams and has seen his production depend on what his physical capabilities allowed him to accomplish.
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Livingston has starter-level talent. He can take on most opposing guards on offense and can defend any position from point guard to power forward.
His versatility on offense and defense makes him one of the more intriguing free agent options. The Nets should definitely consider a reunion.
If the team has enough financial leeway they should pull the trigger. A short-term maximum deal isn’t crazy by today’s salary cap climate.
If the Nets can land Livingston, they could expedite the rebuild and attempt to relive the glory days of Brooklyn playoff basketball. That is a big “if” though.