When you only win 21 out of 82 games, there’s an obvious temptation to tear everything down and start from scratch. With a new general manager and head coach in place, the Brooklyn Nets figure to be a different organization moving forward. With many changes in store, it begs the question: Should Brook Lopez be a part of their plans to rebuild? I for one, believe the Nets should move ahead with their talented, productive center.
Much of the blame for the Nets’ woes over the years has been directed at the seven-footer; some see him as the common denominator. It’s true, they’ve only had one winning season (2012-13) with him in a prominent role during his eight-year tenure with the team. However, there have been other factors that have contributed to the Nets’ lack of success; the list includes roster mismanagement, misfortune with health and discontinuity in leadership. How many other NBA players have averaged one head coach per season during their career… with the same team?! That’s right, Kenny Atkinson will mark Lopez’s ninth coach.
The NBA has been trending towards smaller lineups with an emphasis on three-point shooting, however, there’s still a place for a player of Lopez’s caliber. Despite the lack of a supporting cast, he still managed to average 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks on a nightly basis this past year. What’s most impressive is that he was able to continue his post-2015 All-Star Game dominance (19.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG) into the ’15-16 year with a significant downgrade in the talent around him, especially at the point guard position. When you think of the efficient, consistent production he’s been able to generate, it’s justifiable that he earned an All-NBA 3rd team vote and was considered an All-Star snub.
Lopez may seem as if he’s been around forever, but he just turned 28 and has shown room for growth in recent years. His rebounding, aggressiveness and rim protection used to be a big concern, but that doesn’t seem to be as much of an issue anymore. This past year saw an uptick in Lopez’s assists as well. He may not seem like the most obvious candidate to improve under Atkinson’s tutelage, but perhaps there’s untapped potential in terms of passing and pick-and-roll defense. It’s also not farfetched to think Lopez’s jumper can’t extend beyond the arc as well. If you’ve seen him play, then you’ve seen his impressive range.
As talented as he is, Lopez will probably never be the featured player on a playoff contender, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still be a cornerstone piece. He always seemed better suited as the second option, so the key for Sean Marks is to find another star player to pair him up with, similar to what former general manager Billy King attempted to do with Deron Williams. With two years remaining on his contract, and his foot issues hopefully behind him, Lopez is the key in expediting Brooklyn’s rebuilding and return to relevancy.
To hear more thoughts from Jonathan Griggs about the Nets, follow him on Twitter @WeMustBeNets.
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