NBA Draft: 5 Best Destinations for Fred VanVleet
By Brandon Ogle
1. Brooklyn Nets
Draft Picks: 34th
The top destination for VanVleet is the Brooklyn Nets. Simply put, the 2015-16 season has been a tumultuous one for Brooklyn. With the departure of Joe Johnson, it appears they are in full-on rebuilding mode. Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young will both be back, so there are some pieces to build around. How would VanVleet fit in? As of today, they have Shane Larkin with a player option for next season and Jarrett Jack with a team option. With Jack coming off an ACL and meniscus tear, it wouldn’t surprise me if they let him walk rather than pay the $6.3 million option.
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As with some of the teams above, the Nets need stability. Similarly, much of a team’s stability is a direct result of the point guard position. If you’re ball handlers can’t find open shooters and get the ball in the post, the offense is going to turn to iso-ball.
VanVleet’s offense will improve, but his passing abilities have always been there. To go along with the talent in the post, the Nets will have capable shooters in Bojan Bogdanovic, Wayne Ellington, Markel Brown and Sean Kilpatrick. I understand it’s not great, but this is a spot where VanVleet could carve out a back-up job and play 20 minutes a game. For young players, just the experience can be immensely valuable.