Nets Front Office Excited for 'Physical, Veteran' Presences
· Yahoo Sports
With the Brooklyn Nets' offseason additions, the team has quickly become a nice mix of young and veteran talent.
Spotrac's Keith Smith spent 11 days in Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League gathering intel on some of the teams in attendance, and noted some of the biggest stories about Brooklyn - one being the improved variety of players.
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"We probably still lean a little too young, to be honest," a Nets front office executive said. "The good news is that adding guys like Julius [Randle], Keon [Ellis] and Moe [Wagner] will help these guys grow up a lot. Those are real, physical, sometimes nasty, NBA guys. I can’t wait to watch them help our young guys grow.”
Randle was the most-notable player added before the draft, as the Nets made a move the night before the draft to acquire the three-time All Star.
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 good first-round showing against the Denver 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 bruising forward.
After Randle skipped out on Minnesota's postseason interviews, it seemed inevitable that he would be moved.
The Nets were the team to do so, instantly raising their floor and level of physicality on the inside.
Additional free agent signings like Ellis and Wagner are value pickups for Brooklyn's bench unit as well, as both players bring different elements to the team.
Ellis played 48 games for the Kings last season before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to the deadline.
In Cleveland, Ellis played seven minutes more per game, increasing all his scoring, rebounding and assist numbers while shooting nearly 10 percentage points higher than he did with the Kings.
Ellis was also a difference maker defensively, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
As a career 40.7-percent 3-point shooter, Ellis' spacing will be a benefit to Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Demin, who like to get downhill and find perimeter shooters for kick-outs.
Wagner, on the other hand, is a high-energy big man who can provide intensity and offensive spark to the Nets' bench unit, having signed with the team for two-years and $19 million.
With Day'Ron Sharpe entering his first season as a full-time starter, having a proven rotation player like Wagner will be a big boost to the front court.
Having these players, who have been in various situations and big spots throughout their careers, will be a lifeline for Brooklyn's young talent as they play through the early years of their career.
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