Nets Ranked No. 12 Team in Eastern Conference, Too Low?
· Yahoo Sports
The Brooklyn Nets made some significant moves this offseason, adding a good mix of young and veteran talent to the roster.
On Friday, Michael Pina, senior staff writer at The Ringer, released a podcast where he ranked every team in the Eastern Conference.
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The Nets came in at No. 12, beating out the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, and Washington Wizards.
Pina noted the dedication of the front office to head coach Jordi Fernández, who inked an extension this offseason despite a slow start to his head coaching career.
He said that Fernández is his "dark horse" candidate for Coach of the Year, while giving him credit for elevating Michael Porter Jr.'s game last season.
Porter had his best year as a pro in his first season with the Nets, averaging 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and a career-best three assists.
Following the end of the Nets' 20-win regular season, Porter told reporters in the team's season wrap-up press conference he wants to be a part of the Nets' turnaround.
"If it was up to me, I'd love to sign an extension with this franchise," Porter said. "I would love to spend many, many years in Brooklyn and make this my home and watch this franchise take off."
Entering the final year of his five-year, $179 million deal that he initially signed with the Denver Nuggets, it may be smart to lock down Porter before he increases his price tag.
Julius Randle was the biggest name acquired by Brooklyn this offseason, as the front office mad a move for the 3-time NBA All Star just one night before the draft.
Pina said that he was surprised by the move, but admitted that it could be the "perfect space" for a player like Randle, who needs the ball in his hands to be effective.
In his second season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Randle scored 21.2 points per game, adding 6.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists on solid 48.1-percent shooting.
After a solid first round showing against the Nuggets, Randle struggled immensely against the San Antonio Spurs' length and size, which had many analysts and fans calling for Minnesota to look to move the 3-time All-Star.
By trading Nic Claxton as part of the multi-team deal to acquire Randle, the Nets are putting a lot of trust in Day'Ron Sharpe to lead their thin center position, but Brooklyn's size at the forward position will help to supplement the loss.
Additions like Tyler Bilodeau and Moritz Wagner are big for helping Sharpe get acclimated, while the 1-2 punch of Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin in the backcourt is intriguing.
Expect the Nets to make some noise as a potential play-in team this upcoming year.