The Nets could have sold more.
If available, Mikal Bridges would bring home a treasure trove of draft picks.
As an agile, defensively capable center, there would have been a strong market for Nic Claxton.
Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson could have been hung.
The Nets’ actions at Thursday’s trade deadline essentially traded Spencer Dinwiddie and Dennis Schroder for three second-round picks, Royce O’Neal and forward Keita Bates-Diop. It was a half-hearted measure to keep an eye on the future. Another person was trained based on the present.
This leaves the 20-31 team outside the bloated playoff picture, but it still has a chance and a goal to advance to the play-ins, which could mean playing meaningful games in April. means.
After adjusting rather than replenishing the roster, the Nets have shown they intend to care about the rest of the season.
“I think it’s really important that we go out there and compete. That’s the biggest thing,” GM Sean Marks said Thursday. “Our goal here is to play in the postseason. … They’re a competitive young group and they want to prove to people that they can do it.”
The Nets started Friday with the fourth-easiest remaining schedule.
They are two games behind the Hawks (10th in the conference) and 4¹/₂ games behind the Bulls (9th), and will need to get back on their feet quickly if they are to get back to any sort of season.
After a quiet decision day, here are four more things to note about the Nets’ final 31 games of the season.
Build around bridges?
The Nets certainly hope so by continuing to protect valuable role players who have yet to make the leap.
Bridges continues to show great durability and has yet to miss a game in Brooklyn, but he has yet to develop into a star who can lead a team without significant help. Without much help creating shots, Bridges is shooting his lowest percentage since his rookie season (45.4 percent). He may already be a solid No. 2 or No. 3 option, but the 27-year-old has yet to prove himself as No. 1.
However, Bridges’ game has trended upward over the past three weeks, averaging 23.9 points on 42.5 percent shooting from deep in 11 games. If his shot continues to improve, it would make more sense to pair Bridges with a more bona fide star this offseason.
“Who fits our schedule?” Marks said, looking at the young roster. “When I was 22, 25, 27, [age range], it takes three or four years to sit there and think, “OK, it’ll be fun to see what Mikal looks like when he’s in his prime.” ”
It will also be interesting to see if the Nets reduce Bridges’ playing time. please think about it. He is shooting 36.3 percent from deep after games with zero or one day of rest, and 45.7 percent from 3-point range with two days of rest.
Can Simmons stay healthy?
Ben Simmons returned to the court after missing nearly three months with a pinched nerve in his lower back, but only played in one game before missing another with a knee contusion. He came back, but lost Monday’s game against the Warriors on the cusp of a winning streak.
A full two years after the James Harden trade, Simmons has played in a total of 52 regular season games with the Nets. Simmons has improved his team’s overall play this season, although he still struggles to shoot when healthy.
The Nets are bigger, faster and better when Simmons is on the court. Can he stick around for the final two months of the season, giving the Nets hope in 2024-25?
“The big thing is that [Simmons] It’s going to be healthy,” Marks said. “I look forward to what’s next as we build up his minutes and lift minutes limits and things like that.” [31] In games, you see Ben who can go out and really contribute at a high level. ”
Is Schroder a PG solution?
The biggest factor in the Nets’ comeback this season is Schröder, a journeyman who the Nets hope can run the offense.
Coach Jacques Vaughn’s group has been without a true point guard all season, in part because of Simmons’ injury and in part because of Dinwiddie’s struggles.
Will Schroder, 30, playing on his seventh team and under contract through next season, be the orchestrator the Nets have been looking for?
If that happens, the Nets will be even stronger next season.
They are seriously thin on the field, a fact that has been constantly emphasized through Simmons’ absence.
What else can Cam do?
Is ball-dominant guard Cam Thomas just a microwave scorer who has scored 40 or more points three times this season and nothing more?
Or will Thomas, a polarizing player who has distinguished himself through his scoring ability, develop into a more well-rounded player?
With Simmons and Schroder running the show, Thomas’ development will be crucial.
His assist numbers have increased as the season has progressed.
“When you see him getting his teammates involved, you can see him making the right reads and really trying to play with his teammates. And that’s the growth we’ve seen as well.” Marks said.
