Nets beat the Wizards…but shouldn’t they be tanking?

CONS OF THE WIN

The Nets have waited over six years in Brooklyn to be NBA title contenders, and it’s been almost 17 years since they were bona fide candidates. Why go into the playoffs if you can’t stand to even compete?

Barring a sudden uptick in play, the Nets will find themselves playing the historically great 59-14 Milwaukee Bucks. Against a depleted Detroit Pistons team without Blake Griffin in the first round last season, Milwaukee ran out as winners by 35, 21, 16, and 23 points in four consecutive contests.

Did you see what Giannis did to the Celtics the other night?

I’m sorry. For Brooklyn, it will be good morning, good afternoon, good evening, and good night. Plus, any supposed “playoff glitter” won’t have the same stardust of last season, when the team vanquished a four-year playoff hiatus … in their city, mind you.

But hey, playoff basketball is playoff basketball. Now, what if I told you about something more valuable in the long-run than four humiliations at the hand of Giannis & co? Something that could prove to be more valuable than the slight improvements in the trade values of Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert?

Per the team’s advanced salary dump with the Hawks last season, the Nets sent Allen Crabbe(‘s contract) and 2019 first and a 2020 lottery protected first. Lottery protected. Lottery. As in, behind Washington in the standings.

Considering the aforementioned push for a third star, an extra first in GM Sean Marks’ calvary can make all the difference in getting the deal over the line. True, if the pick doesn’t convey this season, it will simply carry over the lottery protection into next season. The difference? It would be foolish to think an even semi-healthy Nets team would miss the playoffs in the (l)east.

What if the Nets decide to keep the pick?  Marks has done uncharacteristically well with picks, considering his predecessor Billy King left the draft-pick cupboard nearly barren.

Jarrett Allen was snagged with the 22nd pick in 2017.

Rodions Kurucs and Nic Claxton were second-rounders over the last two seasons.

Caris LeVert came over in a draft-day swap as the 20th pick in 2016.

Just #giveSeanachance. The math says it’s too late, and the team would be required to go on a soul-crushing six-game losing streak to end the season, and Washington would need Ish Smith and Shabazz Napier to turn into Portland’s backcourt. Then, DC would probably be the worst playoff team (by win percentage) since Jordan’s 1986 Bulls.

VERDICT: As Nets fans, winning against Washington was a Pyrrhic victory. Trading for a third star or building an appropriate supporting cast will be that not much harder.

But hey, it’s not like the team ever anticipated even being in contention to keep the pick in the first place.

Nets: 3 Jarrett Allen Trades Brooklyn Should Pursue

Here are three trades that the Brooklyn Nets should pursue involving big man Jarrett Allen if they want to upgrade their roster.