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2016 NBA Free Agency: 1 move every team needs to make to be contenders

By Daniel Rowell

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Feb 10, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley (11) reacts after a three point shot in front of Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) and Memphis Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph (50) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley (11) reacts after a three point shot in front of Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) and Memphis Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph (50) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are finally under the Cap after trading Joe Johnson, Deron Williams last season. Although they had to give up their third overall pick to the Celtics, they managed to get back into the draft by trading Thaddeus Young to the Pacers for the 20th pick, Caris LaVert. Unfortunately, Boston still owns the rights to swap picks in 2017, which limits the Nets moves going forward. They have about $26 million in cap space, and a decent core between Brook Lopez, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

The jump from third from last lottery team paying luxury taxes to a playoff contender is a difficult one, but if the Nets want to make that leap, they’ll need to make a big signing. The missing piece for their core is a point guard, which leaves them with two free agency targets: Sign Mike Conley Jr or Rajon Rondo.

Rondo is the more likely of the two given the situation that Brooklyn is in, and Rondo is also the less likely of the two to make a playoff-level impact. Still, if Conley wants out of Memphis, the Nets could convince him to come East for the perks of New York City. Either way, a premiere point guard free agent would go a long way to rebuilding the Nets core for the future.

Next: Charlotte Hornets

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