The Brooklyn Nets are rounding into shape, having knocked off the team tied for the second-best record in the NBA — the Los Angeles Clippers — in their most recent outing at the Barclays Center.
#ScaryHours is upon us.
That win was their fifth in six games. The lone loss in that stretch was a wild overtime loss to the Washington Wizards that saw the Nets give up 149 points…in a war that lacked Kevin Durant.
Clearly, with all three men healthy, the only thing stopping Cleveland is a potential postseason clash with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who beat them by 12 in their debut as a trio.
I’m kidding. Collin Sexton is good, but he isn’t dragging this team to a playoff victory over the Nets in the NBA’s second season. Taking four games against this Brooklyn squad will be a tall order for even the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston Celtics.
That said, no NBA general manager is ever done working on his roster. Sean Marks has scratched and clawed for the last five years to turn Jeremy Lin, Randy Foye, and Trevor Booker into Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant.
With the potential for rosters to expand, and COVID-19 making day-to-day availability difficult to forecast, here are five free agents Marks should consider for the Brooklyn Nets:
Brooklyn Nets Free Agent Target No. 1: J.R. Smith
J.R. Smith was recently the centerpiece of an article by the New York Daily News talking about potential free agent additions. While Smith was mentioned as an option, Kristian Winfield also acknowledged that there are other veterans on the table as well (more on them later).
Smith brings championship experience and big-play ability, creating offense out of thin air and making shots that most fans probably wouldn’t want him taking. Already possessing a championship bond formed on the 2016 title-winning Cleveland Cavaliers with Kyrie Irving, Smith is coming off a title with the Los Angeles Lakers in the bubble.
Bringing on someone who’s conditioned to win is a smart move for the Brooklyn Nets, especially if they can get the most out of Smith like Ty Lue’s Cavs did.