The Brooklyn Nets took a giant roll of the dice by trading franchise cornerstone Brook Lopez to the Los Angeles Lakers, getting a young, promising piece in return in D'Angelo Russell.
While the move carved a free space at the starting point guard position for the Lakers, it signifies the start of something new for Nets general manager Sean Marks, who is hoping to grow in an infusion of youth stashed over the last few seasons.
“We’ve had candid conversations with D’Angelo, like we’ve had with all of our guys,’’ Marks told Brian Lewis of the New York Post on Tuesday. “D’Angelo knows the expectations. He has a chip on his shoulder. He knows that, defensively, he’s got to get better. But he’s got to get better at a lot of things with his all-around game.
“We all know he makes players better. He’s got a high basketball IQ. Now, how does he take that on the court here with a new group of guys he’s never played with before? And how do they develop trust together? How does Caris [LeVert] and him develop? How do Jeremy [Lin] and D’Angelo get along on the court?”
Marks could be very well putting his reputation and shelf life in the Nets organization on the line based on this very trade, hoping to emerge from the cellar of the Eastern Conference into being a playoff team once again.
“It doesn’t bother me in the slightest,’’ Marks said. “I’m not concerned about what I’m known for here. If that’s the trade that goes down as [my legacy], I’m happy. That’s no problem.
“But we’re going to be creative the whole way along here. We know we’re a long ways from where we want to get to.”
The organization has intended to deploy Jeremy Lin and Russell in the backcourt, with the general feeling being to work off each other and tap into Russell's scoring potential as the one to lead the way for Brooklyn.
Follow Us
Subscribe