Brooklyn Nets: As last year’s veteran leaders leave, what is lost?
By Akbar Best
Even as the Brooklyn Nets shook up the NBA landscape, there will be an change as Ed Davis and DeMarre Carroll moved on with Jared Dudley perhaps to follow.
Free agency has arrived here and a lot of things have changed for the Brooklyn Nets. And not just a little either.
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The landscape of the NBA has changed drastically and now the Brooklyn Nets are in that conversation of contenders for the foreseeable future.
That has many in the fan base happy about the changes made to Brooklyn’s roster, but there are some moves that hurt or what the fans would just rather not see (wish you the best, D’Angelo Russell).
Last season was huge for what Brooklyn was able to do in free agency on Sunday. The veterans were a big reason for a lot of the Nets’ success and Brooklyn is losing some of that veteran presence.
Ed Davis
Ed Davis was a great addition last offseason by Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks. Honestly, great would be underselling it.
The Nets got him on an extremely team-friendly deal when Brooklyn got him for the Bi-Annual Exception and he easily exceeded what someone would expect out of a player on this contract.
Although in his nine seasons in the NBA, Ed has had six in which he averaged more minutes per game, he put up career highs in multiple categories. He averaged a career-high 8.6 boards and shot a career high 61.6 percent from the floor.
Outside of putting up career best, Ed (just like the other veterans that will be mentioned) was a model citizen. He was a great professional and example for the younger players. In a February interview with HoopsHype, coach Kenny Atkinson spoke on Ed Davis.
"Brooklyn, however, has been a team that has thrived because it is the sum of their parts. Head coach Kenny Atkinson tells HoopsHype that Ed Davis has been the glue that has kept the team together all season long. “It’s the rebounding. It’s his toughness,” said Atkinson. “It’s his presence around the team. He coaches those young guys. He was a fantastic addition.”"
Kenny went on to say how Ed inspires his teammates and they all agree. They love Ed for the heart and hustle he shows on that court on top of him being a mentor to the younger players.
Now even with Ed Davis being one of the league’s best rebounders and all the intangibles he brought, I think the UNC product will be missed more in the hearts of players and fans than he will be missed on the court.
Not to say that he didn’t have enormous impact, but Ed Davis will be replaced by DeAndre Jordan. DJ not only is a great rebounder, but he’s also an elite defender. Ed Davis is a good defender, but slightly undersized and nowhere near the rim protector that DJ is.
May he have continued success with the Utah Jazz.