The Nets cleared out their front office this week, removing their head coach and general manager.
Brooklyn has lost 5 straight games, including a 27-point loss to the Spurs on Monday.
The new head coach and GM will face many challenges, both on and off the court.
1 – FUTURE 1ST-ROUND DRAFT PICKS
The Nets are 10-28, the third-worst record in the NBA (76ers, Lakers). Normally, a struggling team would be in the mix for a high-draft pick in hopes of turning around the franchise.
The Nets will be challenged to add young talent through the draft. Their 2016 1st-round pick has been dealt to the Celtics. It is unprotected. No matter where that pick falls, the Celtics own it.
In 2017, the Celtics have the right to swap 1st-round picks with the Nets.
Brooklyn’s 2018 1st-round pick belongs to the Celtics as well. This too is an unprotected pick.
2 – AGE
You might expect the Nets to be among the youngest teams in the league.
Brooklyn’s average is 26.5 years old, which is 11th-youngest in the NBA.
But, the younger players don’t play. Just 21% of the team’s minutes have been played by those that are 25 years old or younger.
Just 23 games have been started by players 25 years old or younger – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Shane Larkin and Markel Brown. That is just 5.6% of the team’s total starts this season!
3 – TALENT & ROSTER MAKEUP
Brook Lopez ranks 31st in the league in efficiency. He ranks as the 10th best center in the NBA. Thaddeus Young ranks 57th in overall efficiency.
These are the only Brooklyn players among the top-100 in efficiency.
Real plus/minus paints an even bleaker picture. Lopez leads the team, but is just 68th in the league. Hollis-Jefferson ranks 111th and Jarrett Jack is 117th. Those are the only players on the team with a positive impact on the team’s performance, according to this metric.
Peter Newmann is an analyst and writer who spent 10 years at ESPN, 8 as the NBA senior researcher working 24/7 on the league. He wrote game notes for crews, articles for ESPN.com, analysis for studio shows, and regularly assisted reporters and writers. Follow him on Twitter, and check out his Web site, www.allball365.com.