Assessing Jordan Mickey's potential fit on the Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are still looking to make the finishing touches on their roster. The team could use a big man who could run the floor and stretch out opposing defenses. Jordan Mickey could be that guy.

It is clear what Brooklyn Nets fans want in terms of a free agent big man signing. Plodding post-players do not fit the bill. They may only be a disruption to the team’s free-flowing offensive schemes.

3-point shooters are attractive, but not just any stretch-big will do. An athletic rim-runner capable of knocking down long-range shots and playing lock-down team defense.

More from Nothin' But Nets

Finding such a player on the trade market seems tough. A player with all of the attributes previously mentioned likely aren’t available on the trading block at a low cost. The Nets also lack a treasure chest of assets to offer without gutting their current core.

Who can the Nets acquire that can fill this void? One option is Jordan Mickey.

Mickey is a two-year veteran who has never played any significant minutes for the Boston Celtics. With a crowded frontcourt ahead of him last year, Mickey was barely able to crack the rotation for the Eastern Conference’s best regular season team.

Mickey’s career averages reflect little about his ability as a player. Having never played more than five minutes per game in his first two seasons, signing Mickey would be more about what the LSU product could potentially accomplish as a pro.

Perhaps he could accomplish quite a bit. The Nets wouldn’t need him to be an more than a role player, though. Mickey would be an ideal energetic presence off the bench in Brooklyn. His bounce and athleticism make him a modernized fit in Brooklyn’s run-and-gun outfit.

But what Mickey has a chance to evolve into is a “3-and-B” player, a term used by Chris Reichert of 2ways10days.com.

For those unfamiliar with the term, it simply means a player who can hit the 3-pointer and block shots. Where as many scouts look for wing players who can morph into “3-and-D” guys, Mickey wants to specialize in one aspect of “D”: a top-notch block artist.

He already profiles to be one. Mickey, in his days with the G-League affiliate Maine Red Claws, was known for his spectacular rejections.

Offensively, Mickey has room to grow. He raised his field goal percentage from 36 percent to 44 percent in his sophomore season. Mickey has a nice touch around the rim and has the ability to knock down shots from 15-25 feet.

Next: Prokhorov hopes to sell Nets for $2 billion

Mickey has a wealth of untapped potential. Bringing him into training camp on a make-good deal would be a great way to integrate him into the Nets plans and the Nets could certainly use a talent like him on the Long Island Nets, who begin their first season in Long Island this season.

Mickey is a low-risk, high-reward investment. He won’t cost much and he can be a useful body off of the bench. Anybody capable of post a ten block triple-double performance is certainly worth a look.

Assessing Jordan Mickey’s fit on the Brooklyn Nets

By Andrew Hughes | Aug 8, 2017

The Brooklyn Nets are still looking to make the finishing touches on their roster. The team could use a big man who could run the floor and stretch out opposing defenses. Jordan Mickey could be that guy.

More from Nothin' But Nets