Brooklyn Nets: Pair of Premium Free Agents Bum Rush Barclays

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

WELCOME TO BROOKLYN

Kyrie Irving  and  Kevin Durant

Were it not for the efforts of D'Angelo Russell perhaps this Nets off-season unfolds very differently.

I would be remiss if I didn't first thank D'Angelo Russell and express to him my utmost appreciation.  Were it not for his efforts perhaps this Nets off-season unfolds very differently.  As the story goes Russell is stigmatized as a clubhouse subversive by Magic Johnson and is banished from Tinsletown.  Unconcerned with Los Angeles scuttlebutt, Nets general manager Sean Marks sees in D'Angelo a talented 21-year old whom merely needs a second chance in a new environment.  Russell in his first season under Coach Atkinson receives far less playing time than he's previously accustomed to as a Laker.  I assume that's a hard pill to swallow for a 2nd overall 2015 draft pick, but he demonstrates exemplary maturity in gulping it down.  Russell in turn respectfully buys into Kenny's system, essentially relearning his position as Atkinson's pupil.

In his fourth season and second with the Nets D'Angelo Russell starts a career high 81 games.  Early in the season during fourth quarters D'Angelo is often regulated to the bench.  But that changes with a Caris LeVert injury in November.  Brooklyn ends calendar year 2018 with a sub-par 17-21 record.  But through continued coaching, confidence building, and growing proficiency, the Nets begin playing increasingly compelling basketball.  Brooklyn posts a 25-19 record the rest of the way for a 42-40 regular season finish which is not only a 14 win improvement over the previous season but qualifies them for the 2018-2019 NBA playoffs as the Eastern Conference sixth seed.  D'Angelo Russell plays a major role throughout.  Along the way he sets career highs with 30.2 minutes, 21.1 points, and seven assists per game.  He also establishes new career highs shooting 43.4% from the field and 36.9% from beyond the arc.  In fact, under Atkinson he becomes an NBA all-star.

Displaying on-court leadership qualities, he helps establish Brooklyn's emerging team culture and identity.  Moreover, he relocates to and embraces private life in Brooklyn.  How do we know?  Because he repeatedly tells us so.  In fact, Nets players have done a exemplary job integrating themselves into the Borough.  And for that I applaud them including of course the departing D'Angelo Russell.  He proves himself a great ambassador of Flatbush.

The 2012-2013 Nets previously strain to establish an emotional attachment with newly targeted locals.  Despite a few relatively competitive seasons with a playoff round victory to boot, the initial relationship nevertheless remains cool and somewhat distant.  Attendance figures prove that out.  The emotional attachment and unconditional love a fan base develops with its team and vise versa ignites in earnest this past season at Barclays with D'Angelo Russell, Jarrett Allen, and company spearheading the way.  D'Angelo Russell make a big impact in a short period of time, and I wish him well.

However, D'Angelo Russell was brought in as part of a much greater vision.  With very little to no resources at his disposal, the Nets quick rise to their present condition and emerging state of competitiveness can't go under-spoken.  With just a shade over three years spent rebuilding the franchise from the foundation, up, Marks enters this year's free agency period set on kicking Brooklyn's basketball operation up another notch.

D'Angelo Russell is only 23-years old, and it remains to be seen just how high he can elevate his level of play.  It's actually somewhat unsettling to ponder.  He no doubt caught the league's attention this past season.  Is Kyrie Irving better?  The short answer is yes.  He doesn't turn 28-years old until next March.  Entering his ninth year in the league, he's averaged at least 30-minutes in all eight seasons.  He's also averaged at least 20-points in six seasons of eight seasons.  However, I'm rather unimpressed with his 5.7 career assists.  The Nets were quite erratic and somewhat out of control when assaulting the rim.  Kyrie Irving brings that skill to both create and finish with polish.

We have a whole year to ponder the Kevin Durant signing.

In the meantime, the whole of the NBA's global influence is today focused on Brooklyn.

Moving forward, I'm hoping Sean Marks formulates a plan for locking up Caris Levert and Jarrett Allan.