NBA 2015-16 season: Grading every team’s performance
By Tom West
Brooklyn Nets (F)
The Nets (21-61) were hardly that much better than the 76ers (10-72) in terms of record, but they’re far worse off in terms of future assets and young talent. Even though Embiid hasn’t managed to get healthy yet and Okafor won’t turn around the franchise by himself, they at least have the best chance to draft the best rookies on offer.
The Nets, meanwhile, have lost all their draft picks and are left watching Danny Ainge and the Celtics having a party over in Boston.
Their 2016 picks are in the hands of the Celtics and Clippers, their 2017 picks are in the hands of the Celtics and Hawks, and their 2018 picks are in the hands of the Celtics (Ainge is just greedy at this point), Hornets and 76ers. Unless the Nets start working hard to trade back into the draft, they’re in a terrible position.
At least, after so many heavy pay checks, Joe Johnson has been bought out.
The highlight of a poor season as the third worst team in the NBA is that there is some notable talent on the roster. Brook Lopez is one of the premier scoring centers in the league and had a highly respectable campaign with 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game with 51 percent shooting. Thaddeus Young also had a solid season as a defensive, energetic forward, tallying 15.1 points and a career-high nine rebounds per game.
Those two were the standouts, and rookie Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has shown some potential and defensive talent. But that’s essentially where the promise ends, especially after Jarrett Jack was ruled out with an ACL tear back in January.
The worry clouding the Nets isn’t so much the roster they have right now (although it’s still pretty terrible). The worry is that no right-minded player will want to sign with them in free agency and they have no hope of rebuilding anywhere in the draft. Poor management, like the 76ers, has left them stumbling.
Next: New York Knicks