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

The Brooklyn Nets beat the Washington Wizards (let’s go) in a game that nobody should’ve wanted.

Brooklyn entered the bubble without a real shot at the title, trying to stave off the eighth seed by the skin of their teeth with a cavalcade of eighth-stringers.

On Sunday, though, at least they gave us a spot of joy, as well as an all-important reminder.

Yes, there’s nothing quite like the wonderful puns of Ian Eagle on a muggy Sunday afternoon.

Caris LeVert put in a wonderful fourth quarter possessing shades of his 37-point fourth (plus overtime) takeover against the Celtics from five months ago. Joe Harris proved his value from behind the arc (6-of-7!). Besides his 22-15 points-board double-double, Big Jay converted all 10 of his free throws — not bad, considering he’s hitting them at a 62% clip on the year.

But as much as I enjoyed the ephemeral short-term pleasure of watching LeVert teleport me back to his March with his fourth-quarter takeover, I couldn’t help but feel that itch in the back of my throat reminding me not to get too excited.

Such a feeling reminded me of my favorite SAT word from a half-dozen years ago: pyrrhic. A Pyrrhic victory is a victory “that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat. Winning a Pyrrhic victory takes a heavy toll that negates any true sense of achievement or damages long-term progress.”

Think of a triple-overtime thriller where the Nets come out victorious, but by playing through fatigue, a healthy but fragile Kevin Durant aggravates his achilles and has to be held out for two weeks. The victory is delightful, sure, but would you really trade a triple-OT W for two weeks of Kevin Durant?

In the same light: would you trade four playoff games for a first-round pick?

Before Tyler Johnson goes out tweeting that FanSided is hating again, I will present both sides of the argument. My only disclaimer: it’s a tough sensation, rooting against your own team because, deep down, you know it’s in their best long-term interests.

PROS OF THE VICTORY

No, I’m not sick.

Like everyone else, watching Caris pour in an efficient 34 reaffirms everyone’s belief that he has all of the tools to be a leading option on an offense. Now, the ceiling of that offense may come into question, but LeVert is among the upper echelon of combo (inside + outside) scorers. His game is eerily reminiscent of Jayson Tatum, minus some of the length and Tatum’s efficiency from deep.

On top of all that, you love to see this sort of mentality.

From strictly a 19-20 season point-of-view, the Nets playoff chances are well-and-surely sewn up: 538 has them sitting with >99% odds.

The rest of the new “big 3” (LeVert, Broadway Joe, and Allen — the only regular rotation Nets who made their way to the bubble) came out roses as well. On top of his six deep balls, Harris went for a season-high 27 and the team went +14 in his 37 minutes. Like in the previous slide, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for Jarrett Allen’s confidence for him to can 10 of 10 free throws. Maybe DeAndre Jordan joining the team (a worse shooter from the charity stripe) just improved Allen with his presence alone?

In addition to this season, having LeVert and Allen play so well in more featured roles will undoubtedly help improve their trade values. With the inevitable hunt for a third star, this increase will prove invaluable. Bradley Beal, anyone?

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.