Brooklyn Nets: 5 biggest offseason questions

3. What about the picks and the size?

The Brooklyn Nets played small a lot in 2018-19, using 6-foot-7 Jared Dudley and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and 6-foot-5 Treveon Graham as starters at the 4 — ostensibly the power forward spot — for 66 games this season.

Hollis-Jefferson also started a game at center and saw significant action as a backup at the 5, while Dudley also spent some time there.

So does that mean the Nets have to go all in on size this offseason after they were often bullied by opposing bigs?

Joel Embiid absolutely scorched the Nets in the playoffs, averaging 24.8 points and 13.5 rebounds in just 24.3 minutes per game in the four games he played and backup Boban Marjanovic lit up Brooklyn for 10.8 points and 6.2 boards in just 15.4 minutes a game.

No team in the NBA surrendered as many 20-point, 20-rebound performances this season than the Nets, who were victimized seven times (there were 47 20/20 games in the NBA total).

Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons got them twice, as did Hassan Whiteside, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic. Those are all considered to be high-profile NBA big men.

But the Nets also got hit for 33 points and 20 rebounds by JaVale McGee, the consummate journeyman.

At the team’s exit interviews this week, coach Kenny Atkinson believes the size factor — by itself — is overstated, per Tom Dowd of NBA.com.

"“I think we have to be careful with the rebounding thing, the size thing, because I think — especially the rebound thing — it’s not just the center position, it’s all around the roster. You have to rebound at all positions in today’s games. “Quite honestly, when you look at the playoffs [Tuesday] night, I see a lot of 6-7 guys running around out there. So we also have to understand where the NBA’s going, but I liked our roster this year and I was pleased with the size we had, so it’s not necessarily a target for us just getting one big guy.”"

Jarrett Allen holds the key to improvement in the middle and Jared Dudley called Allen a key for the franchise.

Atkinson concurred.

"“I agree with Jared. I think it’s one of our priorities this offseason. Keep (Allen) on an improving plane. I was really impressed with how he improved during the playoffs alone from Game 1 to Game 5 and how he just kept getting better. His rebounding improved this year, but he’s a key cog and still 21.”"

That would be an indication small-ball is here for awhile in Brooklyn and the draft picks will likely reflect that philosophy.

General manager Sean Marks said having three picks is a good thing, but that he could trade any or all of them if the right moves came along.

Marks has done some draft night dealing in the past and more could be headed our way.