Brooklyn Nets considered leading candidate for Bucks sharpshooter
By Mike Luciano
After injuries and bad luck forced the Brooklyn Nets to exit the postseason early, they had to watch Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bryn Forbes, and the Milwaukee Bucks blitz through the playoffs and take home the 2020-21 NBA Championship.
While Giannis and Khris Middleton did most of the scoring, Forbes played a critical role on this squad, as his impeccable 3-point shooting made him a prime target for kick-outs when one of Milwaukee’s star trio was able to drive to the rim.
Playing that role is nice, but he has his sights set on a payday.
As effective as Forbes was in the regular season, he didn’t play in the final three games of the NBA Finals, and that led to him declining his player option in order to hit free agency. He might just end up on another title contender based on the latest rumors.
Per Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Nets are considered a “leading candidate” to sign Forbes away from Milwaukee. The Bulls, Cavaliers, Mavericks, and Pelicans are also showing a great deal of interest in him.
The Nets have plenty of good shooters already, but Forbes would make them comically dominant in that regard.
The NBA free agency point guard carousel is getting ready to spin. Latest on Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, Ben Simmons, Chicago’s big plans, the Knicks’ many options, and everyone’s favorite Lakers rumors @BR_NBA: https://t.co/zjchCNhiGs
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) July 31, 2021
Would Bryn Forbes fit on the Brooklyn Nets?
After making 40% of his 3-point attempts in a four-year stint with San Antonio, Forbes agreed on a two-year deal in Milwaukee. In what might be his lone season with the Bucks, he made a ridiculous 45% of his 3-point attempts, establishing himself as a quality sixth man.
The problem with Forbes is that shooting appears to be the only arrow in his quiver right now. His assist rate was pitifully low for a guard that played as much as he did, and he ranked 110th out of 116 qualified shooting guards in defensive real plus-minus. Is that one trait worth a substantial payday?
In the modern NBA, there is no such thing as having too much shooting, and Forbes could be an ideal replacement for the recently traded Landry Shamet in the eyes of some. However, the contrasting viewpoint, which states that Brooklyn needs to focus on adding more size, is valid as well.
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1396983700731039744
Don’t let his playoff series against Forbes and Milwaukee fool you. Joe Harris is still one of the best shooters in the game. The Nets also used the No. 27 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft on a defense-deficient microwave scorer in LSU’s Cameron Thomas. Is adding Forbes really the best course of action?
Despite those additions, the Nets should make a run at Forbes. Shamet’s uptick in production near the end of the year will need replacing. Brooklyn might not be ready to throw Thomas out there full-time due to the fact he needs some development in his offensive game outside of isolation scoring and defense.
Forbes isn’t going to cost an arm and a leg for the Nets, as a deal that pays him slightly more than $3 million per season, roughly what he was making in Milwaukee, might be enough to bring him in. That gives the Nets plenty of wiggle room if they want to add one more star center or depth piece in the frontcourt.
What you see with Forbes is what you get. He isn’t going to improve the Nets’ perimeter defense, and he might actually be detrimental in some regards, but he is a sniper that can light it up from deep at a rate that very few in the league can match.
With Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving all on the roster, Forbes will have plenty of wide-open shots to knock down, and adding his shooting to this roster would be just one more headache for defenses to deal with.
