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Brooklyn Nets 2018-19 Primer: Jared Dudley saying the right things

By Phil Watson

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 26: Jared Dudley #3 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Boston Celtics on March 26, 2018 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 26: Jared Dudley #3 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Boston Celtics on March 26, 2018 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Brooklyn Nets, Jared Dudley
PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 26: JaredDudley #3 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Boston Celtics on March 26, 2018 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Jared Dudley was best known by Brooklyn Nets fans for being critical of the club in 2011, but since being acquired in July, he is saying the right things.

Brooklyn Nets fans knew of Jared Dudley long before he was acquired by the Nets from the Phoenix Suns in a July 20 trade, but what they knew wasn’t particularly positive.

Dudley caught the ire of Nets fans in 2011 when he questioned in a tweet why then-Orlando Magic superstar Dwight Howard would want to play for the team.

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But since he was picked up from the Suns along with a top-35 protected 2021 second-round pick in exchange for Darrell Arthur, Dudley has shown Nets fans why he is often lauded for his veteran leadership skills in the locker room.

He’s been complimentary of young Nets players D’Angelo Russell and Jarrett Allen, while also publicly and privately challenging Russell to assume the leadership mantle for the mostly young group in Brooklyn.

The bggest questions surrounding the 33-year-old forward heading into the 2018-19 season involve what sort of contribution Dudley can actually made between the painted lines on the floor.

He’s coming off the worst season of his 11-year career, a season in which he averaged only 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game and played in only 48 games due to the Suns’ youth movement and his own poor conditioning.

To the latter part, Dudley told Brian Lewis of the New York Post shortly after the trade that he’s been on a mission to lose some of the excess weight he carried last season.

Dudley is listed as 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds, but that weight figure has to be from several seasons ago, as he’s — shall we say — thickened significantly over the course of his career.

He’s been in the bounce-around stage of his career for awhile now, playing for four different teams — including the Suns twice — since 2012-13.

Dudley is still a solid shooter from 3-point range, hitting 39.6 percent over his career and managing to can 36.3 percent last season even as his overall shooting percentage dipped to a career-worse 39.3 percent.

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    • He is an interesting character, active on social media and always a good quote for the press.

    Dudley is perceived and respected as a veteran voice in the locker room, even though he’s only played for three teams in his career that made the playoffs, appearing in a total of 29 postseason games.

    He was with the Suns in 2010 when they reached the Western Conference Finals, was a spare part on the 2014 Los Angeles Clippers, who advanced to the second round, and was with the Milwaukee Bucks for their first-round loss in 2015.

    As for what he brings on the court, finding minutes will be an uphill battle. Dudley is clearly behind Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Kenneth Faried at the 4 and is past the point in his career where he can be expected to contribute at the 3.

    So whatever he brings to the club will be in the form of wisdom off the court more than anything he will contribute on it.

    But if Dudley can knock down some 3s as a small-ball 4 and help the younger Nets continue their growth process as NBA players, he can still have a positive impact on the organization.

    Next. 10 best seasons in franchise history. dark

    He been saying and doing the right things since coming to the Brooklyn Nets. If he can play often enough to keep the ear of the young guys, he can add some value to the club.