The Brooklyn Nets are hopefully brainstorming ways to improve their roster after they were ousted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the playoffs.
This clearly goes without saying, but if one of James Harden or Kyrie Irving managed to stay healthy, the Nets like would’ve waltzed their way to a championship.
After all, the Phoenix Suns are the only team still standing that hasn’t seen one of their star players shelved through injury, and the Nets match up incredibly well with them.
In any event, Brooklyn’s front office will have some huge decisions to make this offseason, as several key players from 2020-21 are set to hit free agency. That list includes Jeff Green, Blake Griffin and Bruce Brown, each of whom played prominent roles in the playoffs.
You also have to throw Spencer Dinwiddie, who appeared in just three games before a partially-torn ACL ended his season, into the mix, though it seems like the 28-year-old has made up his mind about testing free agency and returning home to Los Angeles.
Assuming Dinwiddie has played his final game with the Nets, let’s try to determine whether general manager Sean Marks should re-sign Green, Griffin or Brown.
Who should the Nets re-sign this offseason?
3. Bruce Brown
With Dinwiddie likely testing the free agent waters this summer, the Nets must emphasize maintaining some semblance of depth in the backcourt. After all, Kyrie Irving is prone to the occasional leave of absence and James Harden’s hamstrings could flare up again.
That makes re-signing Brown an absolute must. The 2018 second-round pick came over in a three-team trade last offseason and proved to be a huge addition for the Nets, averaging 8.8 points and 5.4 rebounds on 55.6% shooting over 65 games (37 starts).
The Nets should definitely re-sign Bruce Brown this offseason.
To put it simply, Brown’s the type of player every championship team needs, as he’s more than willing to do all the dirty work while his teammates carry the scoring. The 24-year-old is one of the best rebounding guards in the NBA, an excellent defender and proven slasher.
While he might not having a starting role on the Nets moving forward, Brown’s intangibles are exactly what you want coming off the bench. He certainly needs to improve his halfcourt offense, but everything we saw from him in 2020-21 proved he deserves a potential multi-year deal from Brooklyn this offseason.
2. Blake Griffin
This one might surprise some people, but the Nets, given their financial situation, probably shouldn’t re-sign Blake Griffin this summer.
Let it be known that opinion isn’t a reflection of how Griffin performed after he landed with Brooklyn after agreeing to a buyout with the Detroit Pistons. In fact, the 32-year-old veteran performed so well that he might’ve played himself out of the Nets’ price range.
Former Nets PF Blake Griffin could receive a lucrative contract in free agency.
In 46 games with Brooklyn, Griffin averaged 11.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists, while shooting 43.2% and a respectable 34.1% on threes. His stellar play extended into the playoffs, where he really helped pick up the slack following Harden’s and Irving’s injuries.
Griffin looked to be a step away from being out of the league with Detroit, with whom he consistently settled for jumpers and offered no value on defense. The six-time All-Star even endured the longest stretch of his career without registering a dunk.
In a perfect world, Griffin would re-sign with the Nets on a cheap, short-term deal. However, considering that he can spread the floor at the PF position and still has some bounce left in his legs, he could land a multi-year deal that Brooklyn won’t be able to match.
1. Jeff Green
Fans in Brooklyn likely already made up their minds about wanting Jeff Green to sign another contract with the Nets before the playoffs started.
However, any fans who were on the fence about Green re-signing likely became in favor of the move after he returned from injury to help the Nets pick up a massive Game 4 win over Milwaukee, when he poured in 27 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 7-of-8 on threes.
The Nets would be insane if they didn’t re-sign Jeff Green.
Green was absolute lethal in the Nets’ small ball lineup, as he and Kevin Durant formed an excellent partnership as the two de facto big men. The former No. 5 overall pick will turn 35 in August, but you wouldn’t know it with how much energy he still plays with.
Green offers tremendous versatility on the defensive end, and proved with his Game 4 performance that he’s capable of taking the pressure off Durant, Irving and Harden to manufacture offense on every possession.
In 68 games this season, Green logged a plus-minus of +113. Assuming retirement isn’t on the table, we’d gladly take the 13-year vet back on the Nets on a cheap, one-year deal.
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