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Paul Pierce (left) and Kevin Garnett (right) were the two marquee acquisitions Brooklyn made this summer |
Brooklyn Balling returns from its nearly two-month summer vacation today as I try to catch up on the Nets' ridiculously busy offseason with a recap of the team's summer activities. We start with the massive blockbuster deal between the Nets and the Boston Celtics that went down on June 27th, sending Pierce, Garnett, and Jason Terry to Brooklyn:
June 27th- Nets trade Gerald Wallace, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Keith Bogans, Kris Joseph, and 1st-round picks in the 2014, 2016, and 2018 NBA Drafts for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry
Big deal. Brooklyn turned a pair of underperforming forwards, a potentially-effective NBA scorer, over-the-hill veteran, project, and three (probably low) 1st-round picks into two future Hall-of-Famers and a lights-out sharpshooter that can come off the bench. A crazy haul for Billy King and the Nets to get rid of Wallace's albatross of a contract and gain immediate title contendership in return.
The addition of guys like Garnett, Pierce, and Terry give Brooklyn three studs–albeit aging ones–on offense who can put up tons of points in a hurry. The clear drawback with them is the fact that all three are on the wrong side of 30 and don't have the mobility anymore to be consistent lockdown defenders.
June 28th- With the 22nd overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Nets selected F Mason Plumlee from Duke
In a bit of a surprise, King drafted the 6'10'' Duke product when other more pro-ready prospects were still available. His brother, Miles, has a similar style to him and is already in the league, as he roams the bench for the Indiana Pacers, the family's home-state team. Both are inside-fighters who will get rebounds and blocks for sure, with points coming scarcely behind. With Garnett starting at power forward and Reggie Evans as his backup, Plumlee with have to scratch and claw for any leftover front-court minutes on this roster.
July 6th- Nets sign PG Shaun Livingston
Injury-prone veteran ballhandler who will compete with Tyshawn Taylor for the reserve-to-Deron-Williams role on the Nets. Doesn't bring anything fascinating to the table but can lead the second unit successfully, when healthy that is.
July 12th- Nets sign F Andrei Kirilenko
Spent last season with the Timberwolves but opted out of a lucrative deal to play for a countryman (Mikhail Prokhorov) and a contending team. Provides a tall frame and is a hard-worker on defense who has a solid jumper and can also bring in points at a nice clip. More than suitable back-up to Paul Pierce at small forward but is also getting up there in age as well. Has experience with Deron Williams from their years together on the Jazz.
July 30th- Nets sign F Alan Anderson
Former Raptors swingman who fills in the void left by MarShon Brooks as in-between guard/forward that is going to hit threes and spread the floor on offense with a limited effect felt on the other side of the floor. Will have to fight with Kirilenko and Terry for playing time but will end up as an injury fill-in and rotation stop-gap when needed.
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