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Before the 2019-20 season was suspended due to COVID-19, the Brooklyn Nets were in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 30-34. It was a fairly impressive record considering Kevin Durant played in zero games and Kyrie Irving appeared in only 20.
Durant was always going to miss the entire 2019-20 season recovering from his Achilles tear. Nets fans certainly can’t wait to see Durant on the floor at the Barclays Center next season, competing with Irving and fellow All-Star DeAndre Jordan by his side.
A 10-time All-Star and two-time Finals MVP, Durant has career averages of 27.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in the NBA. He's one of the best players in league history.
In the 20 games he played for the Nets this season, Irving was spectacular. He put up 27.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.4 assists in his first season back home with the Nets. The All-Star point guard grew up in New Jersey and was a big Nets fan as a kid.
Irving is expected to be 100 percent whenever the 2020-21 season begins. He underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder.
The Nets will be title contenders next season with Durant and Irving in the lineup. However, there are some moves Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks can make that will increase the Nets' odds of winning a championship.
3. Hire Mark Jackson
The Nets will have Jackson, Jacque Vaughn, Tyronn Lue, Jason Kidd, and Jeff Van Gundy on their radar once they can begin their coaching search. Vaughn took over for Kenny Atkinson after Atkinson and Brooklyn parted ways.
There is an expectation that the Nets will hire a head coach with a proven track record, as that's the preference of Durant and Irving. With that said, Jackson makes perfect sense since he already has a rapport with KD and Kyrie and would instantly command respect in Brooklyn's locker room.
Jackson went 121-109 with the Golden State Warriors during the regular season, which was good for a winning percentage of 52.6 percent. The Dubs also went 9-10 in the postseason from 2011-14 under Jackson. He was eventually fired for not having the best relationship with management but that shouldn't stop the Nets from hiring him.
The Warriors don’t win that 2015 title over the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first ring in the Stephen Curry era without Jackson's help. He developed Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green the proper way and turned them into winners and All-Stars.
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2. Re-sign Joe Harris
Harris is one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA. The Nets have to re-sign the sharpshooter whenever the 2020 free agency period begins. Harris will become an unrestricted free agent.
The Nets may have to overpay to keep Harris since he's going to be a hot commodity on the open market. However, when you shoot 41.2 percent from beyond the arc and hit 152 3s, you have proven your value to a team with elite floor spacing skills.
Harris began his career with the Cavs. He has career averages of 10.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.
1. Trade for Bradley Beal
The Nets are expected to use their young assets to trade for a third star this offseason. Washington Wizards All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal is the perfect player to target.
Both the Wizards and Nets would have to perform financial gymnastics, but Brooklyn could hypothetically build a trade around Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, and Spencer Dinwiddie for Beal, who averaged 30.5 points per game in 2019-20 before the season was suspended.
Again, a lot of work would need to be done (like maybe adding a third team) to get this trade to work. However, the Nets should do whatever it takes to acquire the two-time All-Star. Brooklyn could have a starting lineup of Irving, Beal, Durant, Taurean Prince, and Jordan if they play this right.
