Brooklyn Nets Outlook After Trade Deadline
The Brooklyn Nets made a few trades to cap off the trade deadline. They traded away a starter in Spencer Dinwiddie and a key bench player in Royce O’Neal. These players were inevitably going to be traded because of cap reasons. To keep these players would hurt the Nets more than help. The Nets traded Dinwiddie to Toronto for Dennis Schroder and Thaddeus Young. Brooklyn would eventually waive Young, and Royce O'Neal was traded to the Suns for three future second-round picks and Keita Bates-Diop. The Nets now shift their focus to developing young players such as Cam Thomas and rookies Jalen Wilson and Noah Clowney. Throughout this season Cam Thomas has shown so much hope in becoming a young star and Dinwiddie leaving can give him a bigger role. For a stretch during this season, Cam Thomas was benched because of his lack of defense but during that period the team struggled to win games. This gave Jacque Vaughn no other option but to start him again. Jalen Wilson has been playing on a two-way contract along with Noah Clowney but when they do play for the Brooklyn Nets, they show glimpses that they belong in the NBA.
Ben Simmons just came back with an injury and has quickly shown why he still belongs on the court. Many critics believed that Ben Simmons was mentally done with the NBA after his Sixers stint, but it seems like he still enjoys the game, and it has shown on the court. Whenever he has the ball, everyone is ready to shoot. Now that may not seem like anything special but sometimes the Nets struggle with decision making and Simmons makes that problem go away. Also, since his past few games Simmons has shown great aggression toward the rim and isn't afraid to get fouled. This team as of now is a great fit for him to provide value with so many great shooters on the court.
As the Nets shift their focus towards developing the rest of the season, we can't forget the value of Mikal Bridges, Nicolas Claxton, and Cam Johnson. These players are key contributors to this team. But have also shown their ceiling. Last Season Mikal Bridges showed how great he can be as a number one option on this team. The tides have changed this season, Mikal hasn't been the same player as last season. Teams have begun to switch on defense whenever there is a pick and roll because of the lack of shot-creating there is on the team. Outside of Cam Thomas, everyone plays very stagnant. With that said my prediction for the Nets for the rest of the season will be a play-in berth. The eastern conference is stacked with teams like the 76ers, Bucks, and of course the dominant Celtics. The Nets are in a tough spot to succeed if they can't land a superstar soon like Donovan Mitchell.
