The Brooklyn Nets are in for a tough few years and they know it. The lack of talent and future allows for innovation and tinkering. According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, they may even attempt unconventional lineups featuring Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, mostly because they can.
Adding one perimeter marksman, along with good health for Lin, might offset the loss of Lopez’s shooting. Lopez dragged opposing rim protectors far away, unclogging the lane for Brooklyn’s slashers. His drift outside freed Atkinson to try Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, a total non-shooter, as a small-ball power forward, and even use him as a pick-and-roll screener as Lopez chilled in the corner.
The alignment worked. Hollis-Jefferson is long-armed and feisty enough to bang with bigs. The Nets tightened their defense after the All-Star break, and outscored opponents with Lin, LeVert, Hollis-Jefferson and Lopez on the floor together.
Hollis-Jefferson will open camp as the starting power forward, Atkinson said, with Mozgov presumably in Lopez’s spot. Spacing will be tight. Trevor Booker is honing his 3, but we’ve seen that movie before.
Allen Crabbe and D’Angelo Russell now give the Nets more wiggle room and Jefferson at the four may actually make for a workable lineup.
