Brooklyn Nets: Grading the offseason

BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 5: The Brooklyn Nets logo before the game against the Miami Heat during a preseason game on October 5, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 5: The Brooklyn Nets logo before the game against the Miami Heat during a preseason game on October 5, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Brooklyn Nets
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JANUARY 24: Jared Dudley #3 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against T.J. Leaf #22 of the Indiana Pacers during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on January 24, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 116-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

July 20: Trade with Phoenix Suns

Five days after acquiring Darrell Arthur from the Denver Nuggets, the Brooklyn Nets sent him to the Phoenix Suns, getting back Jared Dudley and a 2021 second-round pick that is protected from 31-35.

The Suns were expected to pursue a buyout of Arthur, but as of now he remains on their roster.

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The Nets, meanwhile, got Dudley, whose game didn’t expand in 2017-18 even as he did, with reports his weight ballooned to 255 pounds last season.

Dudley, in part because of his conditioning woes, played career-lows of 48 games and 14.3 minutes per game last season, mostly as a small-ball 4.

He’s got one year and $9.5 million remaining on the three-year, $30 million contract he signed to return to the Suns in July 2016.

Dudley’s been vocal since joining the Nets, calling out young guard D’Angelo Russell to step forward as the unquestioned team leader, showing the behavior that has earned him a reputation as one of the best locker-room presences in the NBA.

It could be a case that what the 33-year-old veteran contributes in the room could be as valuable as what he provides on the court for Brooklyn, but he claims to have lost considerable girth this summer and may be able to provide some needed spacing from the 4 spot.

The Nets will be Dudley’s sixth NBA team as he enters his 12th season and even with the problems last year, he still shot a respectable 36.3 percent from deep and is a 39.6 percent 3-point shooter for his career.

On-court grade: C, Off-court grade: A+, Overall grade: B+