NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 23: Kevin Durant #7 and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets look on in the final seconds of their 109-103 loss against the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 23, 2022 in New York City.
The Nets season is over after an ugly 4-0 sweep at the heads of the Celtics. What can Brooklyn do to strengthen their roster this offseason?
At the start of the 2021-22 NBA season, the Brooklyn Nets were expected to run roughshod over the Eastern Conference behind the star-studded triumvirate of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. Instead of achieving postseason glory with that trio, Brooklyn bowed out of the playoffs without a single victory over the Celtics.
Moreover, the Nets didn’t even make it to the playoffs with their star power intact. The team’s midseason decision to send James Harden to Philadelphia in exchange for Ben Simmons made it clear their original plan wasn’t working. Irving’s lack of availability due to COVID regulations also played a role in the team’s choice.
Now it’s time for the Nets front office to focus on fixing the roster’s deficiencies to make Brooklyn a real postseason contender next year. Here are five things the organization needs to do this offseason.
5. Offload the veteran deadwood
LaMarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin were big names on the Nets’ roster this season but they weren’t useful players for Steve Nash and his coaching staff once the postseason arrived. The good news for Brooklyn is that both are headed for free agency.
It’s crucial that the Nets’ front office resist the temptation to placate their stars by signing big-name players to guaranteed contracts. It’s time to let Aldridge and Griffin walk. Neither is worth a roster spot for a team with legitimate championship aspirations.