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Nets Rumors: Insider speculates futures of Blake Griffin, Bruce Brown and Jeff Green

By Thomas Carannante

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 15: Blake Griffin #2 of the Brooklyn Nets attempts a jump shot against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on June 15, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 15: Blake Griffin #2 of the Brooklyn Nets attempts a jump shot against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on June 15, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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At this point, it’s clear what the Brooklyn Nets need to do this offseason as free agency approaches.

This team was stopped dead in its tracks against the Milwaukee Bucks due to injuries.

Their supporting cast outside of Kyrie Irving and James Harden unfortunately couldn’t ride Kevin Durant’s coattails to the Eastern Conference Finals.

All in all, they need to trim in the fat and keep a few of their integral depth pieces around.

They won’t be spending big money on another acquisition. The only significant move we might see is a sign-and-trade involving Spencer Dinwiddie, who priced himself out of Brooklyn with his contract demands.

The Nets have a number of impending free agents — a number of which they can afford to let walk — but they need to ensure these three remain with the team heading into 2021-2022.

Brooklyn Nets free agency: Who will stay and who will go?

According to Nets insider Alex Schiffer of The Athletic, he believes all of Blake Griffin, Jeff Green and Bruce Brown Jr. will stay. If those are Brooklyn’s biggest in-house priorities, there’s no reason the front office can’t make that happen.

All of those versatile figures were crucial in making this Nets roster as dynamic as it could possibly be after being hamstrung following the Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant signings as well as the James Harden trade. Griffin, Green and Brown were able to play multiple positions and serve as imposing presences on the inside and out.

Green’s and Griffin’s veteran voices no doubt helped echo solidarity throughout the roster while Brown’s scrappiness and defensive abilities set the tone for how the rest of the younger/depth options should be contributing.

Each of these guys played a very specific role on a team that needs all of its parts outside of its Big 3 to succeed on the margins — and they put up solid numbers while doing so.

  • Griffin: 10 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 21.5 minutes per game
  • Green: 11 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 27 minutes per game
  • Brown: 8.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.9 steals in 22.3 minutes per game

If the Nets can upgrade over Tyler Johnson, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Chris Chiozza, all of whom Schiffer predicts will not be on the team next year, then Brooklyn will truly have a championship in their crosshairs if KD, Kyrie and Harden are able to stay healthy.

The Nets spent much of this past season experimenting without their best three players on the floor at once and still managed to finish second in the East, just one game behind the 76ers. If they can execute a fairly low-stakes offseason plan, there might not be a team that can compete with them next year.

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