Did the Nets do enough in the offseason to make a difference?
The Nets didn’t have the flashiest or craziest offseason in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean they had a bad one.
That doesn’t mean it was even neutral.
For the first time in a while, Brooklyn approached the summer looking more like a team trying to move forward than one looking toward the lottery. There wasn’t a franchise-changing trade or a massive free-agent signing, but the front office added players who should make the roster better from day one.
Julius Randle is the biggest addition. He isn’t expected to carry Brooklyn back into title contention, but he gives the Nets something they didn’t always have last season: a dependable veteran who can create offense, play heavy minutes and help a young team get through the ups and downs of a long season.
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Brooklyn also added Keon Ellis, who has developed into a valuable role player. His defense and outside shooting should fit naturally with this roster, while first-round pick Mikel Brown Jr. gives the franchise another young player worth investing in. Brown may need time, but his upside is easy to see.
The offseason wasn’t perfect, though. Losing Nic Claxton hurts a lot. He was one of the team’s most important defensive players, and replacing that production won’t be easy. Ziaire Williams also moves on after showing flashes during his time with the organization.
Still, it feels like Brooklyn left something on the table. The Nets had enough flexibility to make a bigger move if they wanted to, and for much of the offseason it seemed like that was the direction they were headed. Instead, they stayed patient and resisted making a splash just for the sake of making one.
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Maybe that’s the right call. This roster deserves a chance to show what it can do before the powers starts pushing all of its chips into the middle. If the young players develop and Randle helps stabilize the group, Brooklyn could surprise some people.
