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Should the Brooklyn Nets pursue Rashard Lewis?

By Andrew Hughes

LEXINGTON, KY - AUGUST 06: Rashard Lewis #9 of the 3 Headed Monsters drives past Josh Childress #7 of the Ball Hogs during week seven of the BIG3 three on three basketball league at Rupp Arena on August 6, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - AUGUST 06: Rashard Lewis #9 of the 3 Headed Monsters drives past Josh Childress #7 of the Ball Hogs during week seven of the BIG3 three on three basketball league at Rupp Arena on August 6, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – AUGUST 06: Rashard Lewis #9 of the 3 Headed Monsters drives past Josh Childress #7 of the Ball Hogs during week seven of the BIG3 three on three basketball league at Rupp Arena on August 6, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – AUGUST 06: Rashard Lewis #9 of the 3 Headed Monsters drives past Josh Childress #7 of the Ball Hogs during week seven of the BIG3 three on three basketball league at Rupp Arena on August 6, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The Brooklyn Nets have a need for a sweet shooting big man. Perhaps Sean Marks could look at an unlikely source to find one: the Big3 league. Ice Cube’s professional 3-on-3 league could see the comebacks of many former NBA players to the Association. Could Rashard Lewis be a fit with the Nets?

Back in his day, Rashard Lewis was a rare breed. The preps-to-pro forward was a floor-spacing big man who helped unlock Stan Van Gundy’s four in, one out system in Orlando. His sweet 3-point stroke, which hovered around 40 percent for his career, allowed the Magic to become a championship contender. The team won the Eastern Conference Championship in 2009.

Lewis’ career tailed off, however, a few seasons after signing a deal worth six years, $118 million. In 2012, he was waived by the Washington Wizards with the newly implemented amnesty clause in the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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After two seasons with the Miami Heat in which he was primarily a backup, Lewis was unable to have a deal ratified for the Dallas Mavericks for the 2014-15 season. His knee required surgery and Lewis was inactive since the dawn of the Big3 league.

Lewis has been a beast in the Big3. His 152 points through eight games is a league-high and he ranks third in rebounds with 52. Can this translate to the NBA? Would Lewis be able to help the Nets in a meaningful way next season?

It would be a gamble for sure. Fellow Big3 players like Kenyon Martin and Rasual Butler have played in the NBA in recent seasons. Lewis hasn’t played since 2014.

Even then, Lewis was merely a reserve for a Heat team that lacked a solid big man rotation. Lewis’ shooting percentages weren’t exactly that impressive either playing alongside LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Lewis can still ball. He would likely outperform many current NBA players in a half court setting. Unfortunately, the pace of an NBA game would be tough for Lewis, who is seemingly enjoying retirement just fine.

The Brooklyn Nets play an up-tempo style of play. Lewis would have a hard time adjusting to the pace of NBA play after dominating in a 3-on-3 setting. His lack of physicality and rebounding, having only grabbed five boards per game in his career, make him an ill-fit on a Nets roster that needs a presence on the glass.

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Lewis has revived his career and has showed he could still ball. The Big3 has given Lewis a second chance to prove he can still ball.

The best move for his career would be to continue impressing in Ice Cube’s 3-on-3 league. For Brooklyn, the best move would to be to look the other way.