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Brooklyn Nets: Yes, Jevon Carter deserves minutes over Cam Thomas

ByJerry Trotta|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Jevon Carter #0 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center on October 08, 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. Brooklyn Nets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 119-115. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Jevon Carter #0 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center on October 08, 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. Brooklyn Nets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 119-115. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets‘ roster is an embarrassment of riches. It’s a great problem to have. Maybe not for an inexperienced head coach like Steve Nash, whose rotations can be puzzling at times, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?

While the Nets are currently riding a four-game winning streak, there are still things Nash could be doing differently.

For instance benching Blake Griffin until he breaks out of his shooting slump in favor of LaMarcus Aldridge, who has already formed a palpable chemistry with James Harden, are two tweaks fans would love to see.

You know what Nash hasn’t gotten wrong, though? Giving Jevon Carter minutes over touted rookie Cam Thomas.

Fans have been calling for the No. 27 overall pick to replace Carter in the rotation, but that would make absolutely zero sense.

Brooklyn Nets: Stop complaining that Jevon Carter is getting minutes over Cam Thomas.

Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News makes some great points.

For starters, Carter logged 12 minutes per game on a Phoenix Suns team that reached the NBA Finals last season. That’s not a huge role by any stretch, but it’s not like he was wearing his pregame warm-up and handing out water bottles to his teammates during timeouts. He was very much a part of Monty Williams’ rotation.

Through nine games, Brooklyn currently ranks ninth in the league in points allowed (103.3) and third in opponent field goal percentage (41.7%). That obviously isn’t all Carter’s doing, but he’s been immensely important to the Nets’ defensive turnaround.

The 26-year-old is fifth on the team in defensive rating, trailing only the likes of Harden, Kevin Durant, Bruce Brown and LaMarcus Aldridge. He’s also fifth on the team in steals despite ranking eighth in total minutes played.

Do the Nets really need another volume scorer off the bench? Or should they keep deploying Carter as a defensive nuisance? Going back to his days at West Virginia, he’s the type of player no ball-handler wants to match up with.

Carter’s motor is second to none and his hands are as active as any player on the roster. We won’t go as far as to call him a glue guy, but every championship-caliber team needs a player like him in the rotation.

Why replace that with Thomas, who’s a massive liability on that end of the floor? We understand the hype surrounding the LSU product after the preseason he put together, but Nash would be insane to try to fix something that isn’t broken.