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Brooklyn Nets: C.J. Miles is a perfect fit

By Andrew Hughes

Apr 17, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Indiana Pacers forward CJ Miles (0) reacts to a call during the second half in game two against the Cleveland Cavaliers of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 117-111. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Indiana Pacers forward CJ Miles (0) reacts to a call during the second half in game two against the Cleveland Cavaliers of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 117-111. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Brooklyn Nets are on the hunt for talent in free agency and the NBA Draft. After finishing with the league’s worst record, the Nets have plenty of holes to fill. Sean Marks’ priority is finding a small forward.

Free agency is a wonderful time in the NBA. Team’s can reshape their rosters and welcome aboard new talent. Unlike the NBA Draft, free agency sees proven talent call new cities their new home. There figures to be plenty of new faces suiting up next season for the Brooklyn Nets.

The NBA Draft for the Brooklyn Nets looks like a chance for the team to fortify their frontcourt. Harry Giles, Anzejs Pasecniks and Isaiah Hartenstein are three names frequently linked to the Nets. All three youngsters stand above 6-foot-10 and figure to be backup bigs behind Brook Lopez if Marks decides to draft any of them.

Rodions Kurucs is the other name Nets fans have seen the team show interest in. Kurucs is a modern small forward but is only 19. Even if the Nets draft him with either the 22nd or 27th pick, there is no guarantee Kurucs makes his way to the NBA next season. The Nets could stash Kurucs overseas or even bring him along slowly with the Long Island Nets.

All of the aforementioned draft rumors suggest the Nets won’t address their need at the 3-spot in the draft. The team could instead look to free agency for that solution.

The Nets shouldn’t have to dig deep to find the ideal match in free agency. C.J .Miles will be there for the taking.

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When the clock strikes midnight on July 1st, Marks should do everything in his power to secure the first meeting with the sharpshooting swingman. He is the perfect fit for Brooklyn.

Miles played so well for Indiana this past season that he usurped Monta Ellis in the starting lineup. The 30-year-old started 29 games for the Pacers and shot a blistering 41 percent from deep. He averaged 10.7 points in 23 minutes per game.

Miles stands at a sturdy 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds. The former second round pick made the jump from high school to the NBA. He has steadily improved his 3-point shooting from 25 percent to over 40 percent this past season.

The Nets front office has plenty of cap space to work with. With the team’s need for a small forward, as Marks previously alluded to, Miles is an all around fit.

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Miles is a low-usage weapon. He only had an 18 percent usage rate this past season for Indiana. That makes him the perfect spot-up sniper for Kenny Atkinson’s motion offense.

During the past two seasons, Miles has been employed as an undersized power forward in small-ball lineups. Atkinson already employs one of those with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Miles and Hollis-Jefferson could almost be interchangeable in defensive schemes for Brooklyn.

Hollis-Jefferson’s athleticism would allow him to defend more athletics wings while Miles frame would see him body up the more rugged bruising forwards.

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Inserting Miles into the Nets offense gives the team better spacing and a reliable knockdown shooter. His defensive versatility and possible fit alongside Hollis-Jefferson allows the team to employ a sturdy defense that could improve the Nets 29th ranked defense.

Employing a 30-year-old veteran who worked his way from the second round of the draft to a starting role with the Nets would serve as a lesson to the younger players. It doesn’t matter where you start but what you do when given an opportunity.

All of this points to Miles being the perfect fit with the Brooklyn Nets.