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The Brooklyn Nets should not consider Spencer Hawes

By Andrew Hughes

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 28: Spencer Hawes #00 of the Milwaukee Bucks is seen before the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 28, 2017 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 28: Spencer Hawes #00 of the Milwaukee Bucks is seen before the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 28, 2017 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 28: Spencer Hawes #00 of the Milwaukee Bucks is seen before the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 28, 2017 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 28: Spencer Hawes #00 of the Milwaukee Bucks is seen before the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 28, 2017 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The search for an end of the rotation big man continues for the Brooklyn Nets. While the team has considered Jared Sullinger, there is a possible better fit. Spencer Hawes in theory can be the answer for the Nets. The franchise is better off passing on the recently waived big man.

Sean Marks is in a good position. He has two capable floor generals and a whole bunch of shooters for head coach Kenny Atkinson to play with. The Brooklyn Nets’ system is predicated on ball movement and rapid-fire 3-point shooting. Sounds like all the loose ends are tied.

Well, besides rounding out the bench with a traditional big man.

Atkinson has a roster he deems is “position-less.” While that is the direction the game is headed, it is always useful to have a healthy supply of wings, bigs and ball handlers.

The team is certainly stocked with ball handlers. Jeremy Lin, D’Angelo Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie and Isaiah Whitehead are all capable of handling point guard duties in a pinch.

Brooklyn is certainly not short on wings either. Sean Kilpatrick, Joe Harris, Caris LeVert and Allen Crabbe could all play interchangeably as 2’s or 3’s. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and DeMarre Carroll are both natural wings who will be playing as small-ball power forwards.

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The Nets are not quite as stocked with big men however. Though the team acquired Timofey Mozgov and drafted Jarrett Allen, there is still a lot to be desired when it comes to their center situation.

Both Mozgov and Allen can’t be depended on to play for long stretches for Brooklyn this season. Allen is just a rookie while Mozgov has never played more than 25 minutes per game and played only 20 minutes per game last year. Eventually, he fell out of the Lakers rotation altogether.

Trevor Booker will be an option, but at 6-foot-8, he won’t be able to effectively cover the behemoths of the league. Quincy Acy will have an even tougher time doing so.

What the Nets need is a big man who can anchor the team’s interior defense and maybe stretch the floor. The team is currently looking at Jared Sullinger, who isn’t known for doing either of those things. Brooklyn may be inclined to look elsewhere.

They shouldn’t look in Spencer Hawes’ direction.

Hawes is in theory a good fit. He is supposed to be a stretch-5 who can stroke the 3-pointer and grab rebounds.

He has grabbed no more than four rebounds the past three seasons. His 3-point field goal percentage has been below average at just 32 percent in that time. Worse yet, his team has performed better when he was off the floor.

If the Nets had the choice between Hawes and Sullinger, it’d be a no-brainer to go with Sullinger. Though the former Ohio State Buckeye struggled last year, he offers more upside. Hawes, at 29, is four years older than Sullinger. He also never showed the rebounding prowess the deceptively strong Sullinger has.

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The Nets will likely audition several big men in training camp to fill the final roster spot. Guys like Prince Ibeh and Cliff Alexander from the Long Island Nets are better options. Sullinger is a better option.

While Hawes has proven himself as an NBA-caliber player, he is a poor fit for the current iteration of the Brooklyn Nets.