As teams in the NBA Playoffs get eliminated, Murphy’s Multiverse takes a look at their prospects for next season. The Brooklyn Nets were just swept by the Boston Celtics. What will it take for them to become real title contenders next season?
Notable Free Agents
- Guard Kyrie Irving (player option)
- Guard Patty Mills (player option)
- Guard Goran Dragic
- Guard David Duke (Restricted)
- Forward/Center Lamarcus Aldridge
- Forward/Center Nic Claxton
- Forward/Center Blake Griffin
Projected 2022-2023 Starting Lineup
- PG Kyrie Irving
- SG Joe Harris
- SF Kevin Durant
- PF Ben Simmons
- C *Free Agent*
The Brooklyn Nets season was tumultuous and disappointing at the very least. The organization still has championship aspirations, but it feels like their title window is getting smaller and smaller. This is an important off season for the Nets, with various moving pieces that needs to be put in place for them to be true contenders.
Kyrie Irving has a player option and is eligible to sign for a 5-year SuperMax worth over $250 million dollars. All signs’ points to the Nets agreeing to this extension but is this the best move? Especially given the distraction caused by Irving this season and the lack of real effort displayed by Irving during their embarrassing first round sweep by the Celtics.
A lot of weaknesses were exposed during the playoffs that the Nets will need to solidify during this offseason. Look for Brooklyn to shore up some front court depth as well as focus on wing versatility. The Nets are currently guard heavy and it was quite alarming to watch Dragic/Irving attempt to guard and rebound over Daniel Theis in the playoffs.
I don’t expect many of the current free agents to be resigned during the offseason, especially Nic Claxton as he’s eligible for a 5-year $55 million extension that the Nets just simply can’t afford. Selfishly, I would love Sean Marks to attempt to sign Bruce Brown as he was the most consistent player on the Nets roster this season but like Claxton the Nets may not be able to afford him.
