Nothin' But Nets
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Former Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Finals

By Christian Milcos

Dec 13, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Shaun Livingston (14) tries to dribble around Detroit Pistons shooting guard Rodney Stuckey (3) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Shaun Livingston (14) tries to dribble around Detroit Pistons shooting guard Rodney Stuckey (3) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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In the midst of a lopsided NBA Finals, there are several former Brooklyn Nets who have seen court action this June.

It has been 14 years since the Nets have participated in The Finals. This was when Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin were running the show in the Meadowlands.

Traditionally, the Nets have done a superb job at gifting players to teams that ultimately go on to win the championship. Most notably, in an attempt to cut costs Rod Thorn dealt Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks in 2008.

Kidd would then go on to be an integral part of the Mavs’ second championship run. As their starting point guard, Kidd 7.7 points, and 6.3 assists a contest in addition to shooting 42% from behind the arc over the course of a six-game series win over the Heat.

The Nets have been particularly generous in gifting contenders valuable assets over the past several years. Most notably, Billy King took Jarret Jack’s contract off the Cleveland Cavaliers’ hands in 2014, which was significant in clearing enough cap space for Cleveland to sign none other than LeBron James.

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In addressing the elephant in room, the King-era Nets will be mostly remembered for giving up three unprotected first round picks and one costly pick swap to the Boston Celtics. This will almost certainly be the first time in sports history that a playoff caliber team has received three straight top-five picks as a result of a trade.

The Warriors have asserted their dominance thus far in the 2017 NBA Finals. However, both teams have shown that they are forces to be reckoned with, as James led the Cavaliers to an astounding, 12-1 record in the Eastern Conference bracket. There are three former Nets playing in this year’s finals, all of whom landed with their current squad’s in unique ways. In addition to the three who previously Nets, there are three other players who have ties to the organization.

Kyle Korver: Korver was picked by the Nets 51st overall in the loaded 2003 draft. However, he would only remain a Nets for a few hours, as his rights were traded to the Sixers for $125,000. It is rumored that part of this return was used to buy a copier machine. This trade is perhaps the best way to sum up the Nets’ years in the Garden State.

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Draymond Green: The Nets once owned the pick that was used by the Warriors to select Green 35th overall in 2012. On that same night, the Portland Trail Blazers used the 6th pick, which was obtained in the Gerald Wallace trade, to take Damian Lillard. Brooklyn missed out on two future All-Stars that evening, instead opting for two players who played a combined 30 games for the organization, and a guy who shot the Nets out of the 2013 playoffs.

Dahntay Jones: Jones was heavily rumored to be Lionel Hollins’ favorite to win the Nets’ last roster spot heading into the 2015-2016 season. He would go on to lose the spot, but this was in fact a blessing in disguise, as he would eventually get a ring with the Cavs last June.