After a summer of turmoil, strife, and infighting, it’s hard to imagine the Brooklyn Nets being very competitive in the East this year.
But with Kevin Durant’s commitment to play, the situation is quickly turning around. On paper, the Nets’ roster includes Durant, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Patty Mills, Seth Curry, and Joe Harris (among others). That’s a pretty stacked rotation that has enough talent to match up against any team in the league.
That fact has convinced many NBA executives that, even despite all the drama that has unfolded this summer, the Nets could be a powerhouse in the East.
Multiple NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype projected the Nets to contend for a top-four seed in the East.
With Durant and Irving returning, Simmons expected to be fully healthy, shooters in Harris, Curry and Mills, Claxton’s projected development, O’Neale’s on-ball defense, and the scoring upside of Warren, the Nets believe they’ve upgraded their depth and talent.
“I think the Nets could be the best regular season team in the East,” one Western Conference general manager told HoopsHype. “I don’t think they will be, but I think they could be. I think they’re probably a top-four team in the East with Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Boston.”
“Brooklyn’s a top-four team in the East,” an Eastern Conference general manager predicted. “They can be really good depending on what Simmons can bring.”
“There’s a very predictable unpredictability, a predictable chaos, a predictable waffling,” one NBA general manager told HoopsHype. “What really would surprise you at this point?”
Obviously, the Nets are built like a superteam on paper. They have the talent, experience, and star power that every title contender needs.
And while making it all work will be no easy feat, they have more than enough time to figure things out and maximize their potential.
