BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 30: Bruce Brown #1 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts with Tyler Johnson #10 and Kyrie Irving #11 during Game Four of the Eastern Conference first round series against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on May 30, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
5 roster moves the Brooklyn Nets need to make this offseason
Apr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Blake Griffin (2) warms up before game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
When people talk about the 2021-22 season and mention the Brooklyn Nets, they will talk about opportunities missed. Due to various vaccine mandates around the USA and Canada, one of their superstars, Kyrie Irving, was unable to play much basketball.
Then, the superstar they added last season, James Harden, wanted out and basically forced the team to trade him. The Nets received Ben Simmons back in the trade, but he was unable to play due to his body and mind not being right.
As a result of this, the Nets, who should have been towards the top of the Eastern Conference standings, were consigned to playing in the Play-In Tournament. They made it to the seventh seed, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers for the challenge of taking on the Boston Celtics. Such was the nature of their season, they were swept in the first round.
5 roster moves the Brooklyn Nets need to make this offseason: 1. Move on from Blake Griffin
Since the Nets claimed him off waivers March 2021, Blake Griffin has gone from somewhat solid in his first season with the franchise, to struggling to have much of an impact. His scoring average dropped in his second season to just 6.4 points per game.
If Griffin was a strong defender, then this would not matter. However, he has suffered too many knee injuries to have any lateral movement on defense. Sometimes, the Nets would have been better served defensively by putting a lamppost on the floor.
But seriously, Griffin’s game has diminished so much that he has almost become a liability on the floor. Of the 56 games that he played last season, he had a negative impact on the box score 33 times. The Nets have committed to Ben Simmons, who will offer the same rebounding presence as Griffin, meaning they should give his roster spot to an up-and-coming player.
!["Brooklyn](https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/05/moves-brooklyn-nets-offseason/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fimagn-images%2F2022%2F06%2F18152929.jpeg")
Cleveland Cavaliers for the challenge of taking on the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/05/moves-brooklyn-nets-offseason/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/boston-celtics/">Boston Celtics. Such was the nature of their season, they were swept in the first round.</p>
<h2>5 roster moves the Brooklyn Nets need to make this offseason: 1. Move on from Blake Griffin</h2>
<p>Since the Nets claimed him off waivers March 2021, Blake Griffin has gone from somewhat solid in his first season with the franchise, to struggling to have much of an impact. His scoring average dropped in his second season to just 6.4 points per game.</p>
<p>If Griffin was a strong defender, then this would not matter. However, he has suffered too many knee injuries to have any lateral movement on defense. Sometimes, the Nets would have been better served defensively by putting a lamppost on the floor.</p>
<p>But seriously, Griffin’s game has diminished so much that he has almost become a liability on the floor. Of the 56 games that he played last season, he had a negative impact on the box score 33 times. The Nets have committed to Ben Simmons, who will offer the same rebounding presence as Griffin, meaning they should give his roster spot to an up-and-coming player.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/05/moves-brooklyn-nets-offseason/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Move #2 </a>
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<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/05/moves-brooklyn-nets-offseason/"http://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2022/06/17776574.jpeg">!["Brooklyn](https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/05/moves-brooklyn-nets-offseason/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1177,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fimagn-images%2F2022%2F06%2F17776574.jpeg")
!["Brooklyn](https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/05/moves-brooklyn-nets-offseason/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fimagn-images%2F2022%2F06%2F18255068.jpeg")
Philadelphia 76ers. While Simmons, who the Nets received in return, is going to help the Nets defensively, they still need someone in the middle to protect the paint and finish the lobs thrown to them by their star teammates.</p>
<p>If Daniel Gafford was less injury-prone, then he would be a tremendous energy guy in the middle. The first two moves of this article were to get rid of players, partially based on their injury history. However, there are some quality big men on the market who could perform this function.</p>
<p>JaVale McGee would fit this role well, as he is an athletic big who can read the play. Another player who fits the bill is Hassan Whiteside. The veteran big man has shown the ability to protect the rim like so few others in the league right now.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/05/moves-brooklyn-nets-offseason/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Move #5 </a>
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<span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 3 trades for the Kings with the 4th pick </a> </div>
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