This article is part of our NBA Team Previews series.
STATE OF THE FRANCHISE
Brooklyn finds itself at a crossroads as an aging team in the youth-infused Eastern Conference. While teams like Washington and Toronto made leaps behind strong performances from young players last season, the average age of the Nets' most common starting five was just under 30 years old. Replace rookie Mason Plumlee with Kevin Garnett – KG started all 54 games in which he played – and that number jumps to nearly 33 years old. Paul Pierce signing with the Wizards this offseason opens up some room for youth infusion, but one glance at the roster raises some questions as to who will replace the veteran's production. Mirza Teletovic and Alan Anderson were solid contributors last season, but neither can replicate the impact Pierce had from a playmaking perspective. Another veteran, Andrei Kirilenko, is a proven commodity, though he was hurt nearly all of last season and turns 34 in February. With no shortage of questions on the wing, the Nets will rely heavily on two former All-Stars in Deron Williams and Brook Lopez. Williams' production has taken a sharp decline over the past two seasons, as chronic ankle issues have robbed him of the quickness and consistency that once made him one of the top five point guards in the league. Following offseason surgery on both ankles, Williams insists he's now healthier than ever, but he'll need to prove he can stay on the floor before returning to upper-tier point guard status. Lopez is also coming off of surgery, having gone down with a season-ending foot injury for the second time in three years. He, too, is reportedly feeling better than ever entering camp, but a 7-footer with a history of foot injuries is a risky combination. Much like last season, the Nets should compete for a bottom-four playoff spot in the East, so long as Lopez and Williams stay healthy. Lionel Hollins is an improvement over Jason Kidd, and he's the ideal coach to handle a veteran-laden roster. The Nets may not be the most exciting team to watch, but they retained enough firepower to avoid falling out of the upper half of the Eastern Conference.
PLAYING TIME DISTRIBUTION
If he can avoid injury, Lopez will command the lion's share of minutes at center. He's averaged over 33 minutes per game for his career and should see close to that number once the season is in full swing. Kevin Garnett and Mason Plumlee will eat up most of the reserve minutes at center, and both will see time at power forward, as well. According to Hollins, Garnett will open as the starter at power forward, but it wouldn't be a surprise if Plumlee usurps that title coming off of a strong summer with the gold-medal-winning Team USA at the FIBA World Cup. Whether that happens or not, Garnett's minutes will be limited in his age-38 season. Look for him to play between 15-20 minutes, with Plumlee and Mirza Teletovic absorbing the rest. The small forward position is the biggest question mark heading into the season. Andrei Kirilenko and Alan Anderson project to battle for the starting spot, with the versatile Kirilenko probably holding a slight edge. Athletic rookie Markel Brown could work his way into the discussion, as well. Coming off of his seventh All-Star appearance in eight seasons, Joe Johnson will continue to have a stranglehold on the starting shooting guard spot. Expect him to play 30-35 minutes per game after seeing 33 minutes last season – his fewest since 2002-03. Jarrett Jack, acquired this offseason from the Cavaliers, will be Johnson's primary backup and could also see time at point guard behind Williams. Last season, Jack spent 50 percent of his minutes at each guard spot. Assuming Williams' ankles are as healthy as he claims, he should return to playing 35-plus minutes per game after hovering around 32 minutes last season. Beyond Jack, former Cal standout Jorge Gutierrez will compete with Marquis Teague for reserve minutes at the point.
PLAYER OUTLOOKS
Centers
Brook Lopez: For the second time in three years, Lopez's season was cut short by an injury. Seventeen games into the 2013-14 campaign, he went down with broken foot that cost him the remainder of the season. Just two years prior, Lopez suffered a stress fracture and missed 77 games. While the 26-year-old's durability is a huge concern at this point, he's been among the league's most productive big men when healthy. Prior to the injury last season, Lopez was averaging 20.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 56 percent from the field and a career-best 82 percent at the free-throw line. While his rebounding numbers have been the subject of scrutiny throughout his career, Lopez's efficiency on the offensive end compensates for the deficit. He's arguably the top offensive center in the league and is one of only a handful of players with a complete low-post, back-to-the-basket game. Again, health will be the factor that dictates his value, but if Lopez can avoid another devastating injury, he'll be one of the most productive fantasy centers in nearly any format.
Mason Plumlee: The 22nd overall pick in the much-maligned 2013 draft, Plumlee emerged as one of the top rookies in the NBA last season. He appeared in 70 games (starting 22), averaging 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 18 minutes per game. Plumlee connected on nearly 66 percent of his field goals en route to All-Rookie First Team honors. The 6-10 Plumlee helped to fill the void left when Brook Lopez was lost for the season with a broken foot and spent the majority of his minutes at center, despite having prototypical size for the power forward position. With Lopez back in the fold this season, Plumlee will likely spend more time at power forward and should push Kevin Garnett for the starting job. While new head coach Lionel Hollins has a reputation for favoring veterans, Garnett is 38 years old, and Plumlee is coming off of a very impressive summer that saw him qualify for the United States' FIBA World Cup squad over several well-known talents. Even if Garnett or fellow-veteran Andre Kirilenko starts, it will be difficult for Hollins to keep the athletic Plumlee off the court.
Forwards
Kevin Garnett: The 38-year-old Garnett returns for what will, in all likelihood, be his final NBA season. He's in the final year of a three-year deal that will pay him $12 million in 2014-15. An extremely productive player for the better part of 15 years, Garnett finally showed signs of a major regression in 2013-14. His scoring averaged dipped below double-figures for the first time in his career, and he averaged his fewest rebounds since his rookie season in 1995-96. In 54 games (all starts), Garnett averaged 6.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while playing 21 minutes per game. For much of the season, Garnett was held out of one game of back-to-back sets in order to rest a back issue that plagued him throughout the season. With another year of mileage on his body, Garnett's playing time will likely again be closely monitored under new coach Lionel Hollins. It's unclear whether he'll receive scheduled nights off again, but the Nets will certainly try to avoid overworking the veteran. While Garnett currently projects as the starting power forward, that role could certainly be usurped at some point by second-year forward/center Mason Plumlee, who played with Team USA at the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Garnett has only come off the bench 37 times in 1,377 career games, but at the rate he regressed last season, Hollins, who is notorious for playing veterans over unproven young players, could be forced to bring Garnett in as a reserve.
Andrei Kirilenko: Kirilenko battled through various calf, ankle, and back injuries last season to play in only 45 games (starting four). The 33-year-old averaged 5.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 19 minutes – all career-lows. Now a full year removed from a stellar 2012-13 campaign with the Timberwolves in which he averaged 12.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, Kirilenko will look to turn things around in Year 2 with the Nets. He figures to have plenty of opportunities given the departure of Paul Pierce and the still-unsigned Andray Blatche. Kirilenko projects to step in as the starting small forward, but Alan Anderson will be ready to step in if the injuries again start to pile up for Kirilenko. If he remains healthy, Kirilenko could be an underrated fantasy asset. While his three-point shooting tailed off considerably last season, the veteran shoots a high percentage from the field (47.4% career), rebounds consistently, and is an above-average passer. He's also a dependable source of blocks. Kirilenko led the league with 3.3 blocks per game in 2004-05 and has averaged at least one per game in 11 of his 12 NBA seasons.
Mirza Teletovic: Teletovic emerged as a consistent rotational player in his second NBA season, appearing in 72 games and making seven starts. Following a rookie season in which he found himself buried on the bench, Teletovic took advantage of injuries to Andrei Kirilenko and rest for Kevin Garnett to carve out minutes in the frontcourt. In 19 minutes per game, Teletovic averaged 8.6 points, 0.8 assists, and 3.7 rebounds. He shot a hair under 42 percent from the floor but converted 39 percent of his three-pointers, which accounted for well over half of his field goal attempts. With Garnett set to return for a 20th NBA season and Kirilenko healthy, Teletovic's opportunities could be more limited this season, but he figures to again be a constant in the rotation. He's still a bit rough on the defensive end, but he's the Nets' top three-point shooter and is a somewhat surprisingly effective rebounder.
Alan Anderson: Anderson averaged 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 23 minutes per game in his first season with the Nets. The 31-year-old appeared in 78 games (starting 26) and shot just 40 percent from the field. A capable three-point shooter (35% career), Anderson converted a third of his attempts last season (34%). Thus far in his five-year career, Anderson has been little more than a scoring spark off the bench and capable defender. He's not an effective rebounder or passer and doesn't rack up blocks or steals defensively. Even if he sees increased minutes this season due to the departure of Paul Pierce, Anderson's value will be limited by his inefficient shooting. He may be a solid source of three-pointers (1.1 per game last season), but he's more of a volume shooter than a three-point marksman at this point. With Joe Johnson firmly entrenched as Brooklyn's starting shooting guard, Anderson will likely find himself coming off the bench. However, there's a good chance he'll steal some starts at small forward from projected starter Andrei Kirilenko, who missed significant time due to injury last season.
Bojan Bogdanovic: The 31st overall pick in the 2011 draft, Bogdanovic has played professionally overseas since 2004. He signed a three-year, $10 million deal with the Nets in July and expects to be a part of the rotation. Just how the 6-8 Yugoslavian fits in remains to be seen, but he'll likely see time at both small forward and shooting guard. He likely won't provide much in terms of rebounds or assists, but he's a career 36-percent three-point shooter who brings a much-needed perimeter presence. Heading into the season, he figures to slot in as the Nets' fourth shooting guard behind Joe Johnson, Alan Anderson, and Jarrett Jack. He'll battle Anderson, who has a similar style of play, for time at both wing spots.
Sergey Karasev: The Nets acquired Karasev from the Cavaliers in a three-team trade that also brought Jarrett Jack to Brooklyn. A first-round pick in 2013, Karasev appeared in only 22 games last season, frequently bouncing between the Cavaliers and the Canton Charge of the D-League. In 18 D-League games, Karasev averaged 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 45 percent from the field and 42 percent from three. Karasev appeared in 22 games for Cleveland, doing most of his damage in garbage time, as he saw double-digit minutes on only five occasions. He finished with averages of 1.7 points and 0.7 rebounds in seven minutes per game. While the 20-year-old didn't have many opportunities as a rookie, he flashed the shooting ability that made him one of the top international prospects in the 2013 draft class. At 6-7, the left-hander has excellent size and excels in catch-and-shoot situations. Whether he'll have more opportunities this season remains to be seen, as he'll compete with several players – Bojan Bogdanovic, Markel Brown and Alan Anderson, primarily – for time on the wing.
Cory Jefferson: Jefferson was selected by the Spurs with the final pick in the 2014 draft and dealt to Brooklyn on draft night. A four-year player at Baylor, the physical Jefferson - think Reggie Evans - earned a reputation as one of the Big 12's premier interior scorers and rebounders. He averaged 13.3 points and 8.0 rebounds as a junior and nearly duplicated those numbers last season, posting 13.7 points and 8.2 boards. He's excellent around the rim but showed off expanded range, knocking down 37 percent of his three-point attempts (14-of-38) as a senior. The Nets are thin in the frontcourt, so Jefferson could see regular minutes as a rookie, but if Kevin Garnett and Andrei Kirilenko stay healthy, 2014-15 could be more of a developmental year for Jefferson.
Guards
Deron Williams: For the second straight season, Williams' ailing ankles received more publicity than his on-court performance. He was limited to just 64 games and had easily his least productive season since his rookie year in 2005-06. In 32 minutes per game, Williams averaged 14.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 45 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range. While many teams would be thrilled with that kind of production at the point guard spot, it's easy to remember just how much better Williams has been in the past. Only three seasons ago, he averaged 21.0 points, 8.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds and made a legitimate case for the title of "best point guard in the league." Still only 30 years old, Williams remains an elite talent, but his health will ultimately decide how productive he can be. Offseason surgery in May to remove bone spurs from both ankles should help, but he's a difficult player to trust given his recent injury history. Regardless, Williams is expected to be at full strength for the start of training camp and will open the season as Brooklyn's starting point guard. Assuming he's able to stay healthy, he should see near his career average of 36 minutes per game.
Joe Johnson: In his 13th NBA season, Johnson was his usual reliable self, averaging 15.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 79 contests. He earned his seventh All-Star bid in eight seasons and led the Nets to the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. While Johnson's production has steadily declined with age, he's still a very capable scorer who shoots a high percentage, given his style of play. Johnson may not generate many assists, but a shooting percentage better than 45 percent for a guy nicknamed "Iso Joe" isn't too shabby. Part of the reason for the increased efficiency was Johnson's improvement as a three-point shooter. He converted 40 percent of his attempts – the second-highest percentage of his career – making more than two threes per game. Heading into his age-33 season, Johnson will again be the focal point of the Nets' offense. While he may not provide much outside of consistent scoring and decent rebounding numbers, Johnson is one of the better overall options at the league's weakest position. Plus, he's been able to stay relatively healthy, even at his advanced age. Though he has not participated in all 82 games since 2007-08, Johnson has played at least 70 games in 11 of his 13 NBA seasons.
Jarrett Jack: Jack was traded from the Cavaliers to the Nets in July to help facilitate the signing of LeBron James. The Cavs sent Jack and Sergey Karasev to Brooklyn, clearing nearly $8 million in cap space in the process. Jack, who will join his fifth team in as many seasons, saw his production tail off last season after two solid years with the Pelicans (then Hornets) and Warriors, respectively. While the decline in quality of his supporting cast was at least partially to blame, Jack simply was not the offensive spark off the bench that he had been in the previous two seasons. In 28 minutes across 80 games for the Cavs last season, Jack averaged 9.5 points, 4.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 41 percent from the field. As member of the Warriors in 2012-13, Jack posed 12.9 points, 5.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds while knocking down 45 percent of his field goals and 40 percent of his threes. His PER (player efficiency rating) dropped more than points, and his assist percentage fell from 29.9 in 2012-13 to 22.7 last season. Under coach Lionel Hollins, Jack will look to return to his 2011-13 form. He figures to earn plenty of minutes backing up Joe Johnson and the oft-injured Deron Williams while battling Alan Anderson for additional playing time.
Jorge Gutierrez: Gutierrez was in training camp with the Nets last fall before being waived prior to the start of the regular season. In March, he signed a 10-day deal with Brooklyn and remained with the team for the rest of the season, signing a multi-year contract in March. That deal is only partially guaranteed for 2013-14, and it's possible he could again be waived before the season begins. In 15 games last season, Gutierrez averaged 4.1 points, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 rebounds. He made two starts – the final two games of the regular season – when Deron Williams and Shaun Livingston were both sidelined with injuries. Given the small sample size (244 total minutes), it's difficult to gauge the precise strengths and weaknesses of Gutierrez's game. He's not a great three-point shooter and prefers to do most of his damage inside the arc, where more than 77 percent of his field goal attempts came last season. Assuming he's able to crack the roster, Gutierrez projects as the Nets' third or fourth point guard behind Deron Williams and Jarrett Jack. He'll primarily battle Marquis Teague for reserve minutes.
Marquis Teague: Teague split his second NBA season between the Bulls and Nets, coming over from Chicago in a January deal that sent Tornike Shengelia to the Bulls. He appeared in 40 cumulative games, making 21 appearances for Brooklyn in which he averaged 3.0 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. While his numbers increased after the trade, Teague shot a combined 32 percent from the field, one of the lowest percentages in the league at any position. In the 2012-13 season, Teague shot just 38 percent from the field and a paltry 17 percent from three. He's a talented, athletic defender but is simply too inefficient offensively to warrant consistent playing time. Teague will open the season as the third or fourth point guard, battling Jorge Gutierrez for reserve minutes.
Markel Brown: The explosive rookie out of Oklahoma State was selected by the Timberwolves with the 44th overall pick in June's draft and promptly traded to the Nets. Brown was a stellar four-year player for the Cowboys, starring alongside Marcus Smart in 2013-14. As a senior, Brown averaged 17.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 47 percent from the field and 38 percent from three. One of the top pure athletes in the 2014 class, Brown recorded a 43.5-inch vertical leap at the NBA Draft Combine. Couple that with a nearly 6-9 wingspan and 8-4 standing reach and Brown has the makings of an elite defender at the pro level. At 6-4, Brown projects to see most of his minutes at shooting guard, despite dabbling as a point guard in college. He'll compete with Alan Anderson, Jarrett Jack, and Bojan Bogdanovic for playing time in the Brooklyn backcourt.
SLEEPER
Brook Lopez: Lopez certainly is not a traditional sleeper, but his fantasy value is lower than ever due to injury concerns. Of course, those concerns are justified, but if Lopez remains healthy, he's arguably the top offensive center in the NBA. Before going down last season, Lopez was averaging a career-best 20.7 points on 56-percent shooting (also a career-high). His rebounding and assist numbers are a concern, but he shoots a great percentage at the line (79% career) and is good for nearly two blocks per game. Lopez's health will ultimately determine his value, but he's worth the risk given how high his ceiling can be.
BUST
Kevin Garnett: Garnett doesn't have much fantasy value heading into his 20th NBA season, but he's still projected to see considerable minutes under the notoriously veteran-favoring Hollins. The fact that he'll likely start much of the season at power forward may inflate his value, on the surface, but don't expect Garnett to produce in many categories outside of rebounds. He averaged 11.4 points per-36 minutes on 44-percent shooting last season, by far career-worsts, and those numbers don't figure to improve with Lopez returning and taking up offensive possessions. Garnett looked worn down for most of last season, and another year of tread coming off his tires simply doesn't bode well. Chances are, he would have opted for retirement had it not been for a $12 million incentive to return.
