With the NBA ramping up for the rest of the season in Orlando, several teams have had players opt out of playing due to various reasons including prior injury, family, or the pandemic. The Brooklyn Nets were of the hardest-hit teams, losing Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Dinwiddie, and a few others.
With that in mind, general manager Sean Marks was wise to add depth in the form of forward Michael Beasley and combo guard Jamal Crawford.
The Nets have added two former stars who can help fill some roster holes and potentially lead the team toward a deep playoff run. Beasley has played for the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Shanghai Sharks, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucs, Shanghai Golden Stars, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and most recently the Guangdong Southern Tigers. He’s clearly had his share of time around the league, and he’ll bring some leadership to a young Brooklyn team.
Crawford, to his credit, is a 40-year-old three-time Sixth Man of the Year award winner returning to the NBA for a 20th season. He was also the oldest player to score 50 points in a game when he scored 51 for the Phoenix Suns off the bench late last season. Crawford will bring some much-needed versatility to the guard position in his second tenure in the city of New York. He is one of the best ball handlers in NBA history and should make a strong impact for a team that suddenly needs offensive playmakers.
The Nets are currently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a 30-34 record. They will probably have a starting lineup consisting of Jamal Crawford, Caris Levert, Joe Harris, Michael Beasley, and Jarrett Allen moving forward. This is certainly a downgrade compared to the starting five they expected to bring to Orlando, but Beasley and Crawford will help soften the blow.
Look for the Nets to also add some depth at the center position with Jarrett Allen currently the only one on the roster.
