Welcome to the January edition of the Nets mailbag.
We have plenty to catch up on. If you missed it, Seth Partnow and I did a deep dive into Kevin Durant’s first 15 games as a Net to see how he looks. The short answer is great, the long one addresses some concerns.
Let’s get right to the questions.
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How long do you think the Nets’ championship window is? — Ral O.
As of now, it’s two years with the potential to be three if James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant all opt-in for the third year, which is why the Nets are all in right now. Nothing in life is guaranteed and it’s such a short window in a league like the NBA where stars don’t settle in one place for long. It’s fair to expect one or more of the Big Three to potentially move on after this window, especially if things turn sour.
Harden (38.5) and Durant (36.8) are ranked Nos. 1 and 3 in minutes per game, and Irving (35.7) is in the top 15. Isn’t the idea of having three stars that you can stagger them and not have to play them all the whole game? Isn’t the bench less effective because they aren’t getting consistent playing time? How concerned are you about Durant breaking down if he keeps his current workload for the rest of the season? — Matt. P
It’s not ideal and Steve Nash has said the same. Multiple things can be true. The Nets need to be winning, developing chemistry and figuring out their rotations as they go. This is a condensed season, which makes for little practice time, which is why Nash has said he’s treated games like practices. The problem is that the Nets have been in eight games this year that went to clutch time (which means the point differential was five or less in the last five minutes) and that has led to an uptick in minutes for all three stars. Ideally, the Nets will start blowing out opponents, which would allow Nash to empty the bench more and rest his stars more. This has been a long way of saying that the correlation between close games and the situations outlined in the questions is more minutes for the starters and less for the bench, which has played a role in the Nets struggles.
As for Durant, I’d say there’s reason to be concerned about his minutes because of the role the team is asking him to play and the way the roster currently sits. There’s a lack of depth and defenders, which puts more onus on him. Ideally, Durant has the least on his plate compared to Harden and Irving. Not more. Partnow and I got into this in detail in our breakdown of Durant’s first 15 games.
Do you think Harden will develop a mid-range game? — Jesse F.
This season, including his time in Houston, Harden has attempted 245 field goals; nine have been from between 10 feet out and the 3-point line, according to Basketball Reference. He’s 31 and has won multiple scoring titles on his ability to shoot 3s, get to the rim and play one-on-one. If that skill set has gotten him this far, I don’t see why he’d make that a priority at this point in his career.
(Harden’s 2020-21 shot chart via Basketball Reference)
Am I crazy to think that Andre Drummond would not solve Brooklyn’s main issues? He would help tremendously on the glass, but in today’s NBA, wouldn’t a more mobile big (maybe Kenneth Faried) who can switch and guard dribble penetration floaters and alley-oop moves fit better? Drummond seems as stationary defensively as DeAndre Jordan. — Rick G.
I could see Drummond as a buyout candidate, but I don’t think he solves Brooklyn’s problems. You’re correct in that he would help shore up the Nets’ rebounding, but he is limited defensively. I think the Nets need someone more like Faried. JaVale McGee makes more sense to me as a roster addition, but I’d rather see if Norvel Pelle and Nic Claxton, when he returns from injury, can aid down low before signing another center.
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If able, can Spencer Dinwiddie return this season even though the Nets were granted the DPE? — Paul P.
The Nets have until April 19 to use the $5.7 million exception they got for Dinwiddie’s injury. If they don’t use it, they’d have to reapply for it after that date comes and goes. The DPE could be used for the buyout market, depending on whose in it, but in short, yes, Dinwiddie can return. The earliest return I’ve ever seen an athlete return from an ACL injury is Marcus Stroman coming back in roughly six months in 2015. If that were to happen, you’re still looking at Dinwiddie returning at some point in the playoffs.
What would that look like? Playing Dinwiddie on a minutes restriction wouldn’t be bad to start and it would be an interesting late-season wrinkle as opponents prepare for the Nets. But this is Dinwiddie’s best chance to get paid during his career. Is coming back to play in the playoffs worth the risk? Maybe. He could potentially win a ring and increase his market. But this is all assuming he has no setbacks and the medical staff clears him.
What would you rate Steve Nash’s season so far out of 10? — Ral O.
I have a feeling my answer is going to be unpopular based on Nets’ postgame Twitter, but I’m going to give him a five. He’s a rookie head coach who lost a borderline All-Star in the third game of the season to an ACL tear, his best player to quarantine for a week, his All-NBA point guard for seven games for personal reasons and had half his rotation traded away a dozen games in for James Harden, who is still trying to get into shape. All during his rookie year as a coach. With no previous experience.
Have his rotations and timeout management been questionable? Yes. Have his star players logged more minutes than they should be? Yes. But I think Nash is being graded on a difficult scale because he was a transcendent point guard and maybe there was an unrealistic expectation that would translate to the bench fairly quickly. But he seems to have the respect of the players and there aren’t lingering issues the way there were last season with Kenny Atkinson. Plus, Nash has shown often that he has the players’ backs. Nash needs to figure things out fairly quickly but he’s coached just 20 games so far. Let’s see what he looks like at the All-Star break and how the team is doing. His success in the playoffs will ultimately be what defines him as a coach.
Most impressive win this season? — Corey C.
Good question, Corey. I would argue the win over the Bucks, but without Irving, I don’t know if that one counts. I guess you could say the win in Atlanta on Wednesday because it involved the Big Three in a matchup that gives the Nets a lot of problems, from Trae Young to the Hawks’ ability to slip ball screens. And the Nets had run out of gas before in overtime and they found a way to get it done with all three stars scoring and moving the ball well. If Kawi Leonard and Paul George play for the Clippers in Tuesday’s game, that matchup has a chance to be at the top of the list.
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What do you think is the Nets’ best closing lineup offensively and defensively? — Yis K.
Good question. On offense give me: Irving, Harden, Durant, Joe Harris and Jeff Green. Green and Harris are both 3-point threats in their own right that allow you to space the floor and potentially have a mismatch depending on the team’s personnel, even if you’re giving up some size for that.
Defensively, I’ll go with Durant, Bruce Brown, Pelle, Harden and Harris. Durant and Pelle provide size and rim protection, and I understand I’ve yet to see Pelle play and am going more off the scouting report. Brown is the best defender on the team and one of the better on-ball defenders in the league. He has to be out there. Harden isn’t a great defender but he can defend in the post on a switch, which helps, and Harris is a capable defender. Is it a lockdown lineup? No. But it’s the best I can come up with.
Should the Nets look to target Rondae Hollis-Jefferson? — Kyle K.
I didn’t include this answer just to plug my own work, but I’m going to do it anyway. Hollis-Jefferson was in my story on Monday as a potential Nets target. I think he’s a perfect fit with his length and his defensive ability to guard multiple positions. Pelle gives you help at center until Claxton returns and you can properly gauge the buyout market. Hollis-Jefferson brings in-house knowledge of Sean Marks’ organization and fills a need. He’s worth the phone call.
Are the Nets willing to trade Kyrie? — Edsel T.
No.
(Photo of James Harden and Kevin Durant: Jason Miller / Getty Images)
