Small deals lead to bigger future
Nets general manager Sean Marks came to Brooklyn from the Spurs, a team expected to contend and spend the trade deadline looking for pieces to put itself over the top. But with the Nets, he has made savvy smaller moves such as dealing Bojan Bogdanovic and Chris McCullough for Andrew Nicholson and a first-round pick Wednesday, and picking up Houston’s K.J. McDaniels for cash Thursday.
With a 9-47 team, one has to rebuild a brick at a time.
“You’ve got to be careful saying we’re going to hit this one of out of the park,” Marks said. “If that’s the only deals you’re going for, that can get you in trouble. Where we’re at, we’re going to be systematic in how we approach whether it’s free agency, whether it’s the draft, whether it’s acquisitions from Europe or wherever it may be, and build the team that way. It’s about singles and doubles, not always home runs.”
Both moves — the McDaniels trade was still pending approval Thursday night— would qualify.
Former GM Billy King’s deals gave Boston the right to swap picks this June, and left the Nets without a first-round selection at all next year. So while losing Bogdanovic and his 14.2 points will hurt over the final third of this season, the Nets are in agreement about building for next season and beyond.
“The Nets adding a first-round pick, it’s not easy; those picks aren’t easy to get,” coach Kenny Atkinson said. “It excites me. “We got Caris [LeVert] and Isaiah [Whitehead], and you add another young guy, another young asset. Sean and his group did a great job in the draft, so that’s really exciting. I’m excited about that.”
Nicholson is a 27-year-old power forward who some in the league — including the Nets — feel hasn’t shown his best yet. The 6-foot-9, 240-pounder was on the rise with Orlando and got a fouryear, $26 million deal last summer from Washington, but got lost in the shuffle on a good team.
McDaniels is a 24-year-old swingman the Rockets moved to create cap room in pursuit of bought-out players. He has a team option for next year at almost $3.5 million, and his acquisition leaves the Nets roughly $800,000 under the salary-cap floor.
“I like that acquisition,’’ one scout told The Post. “I think it’s a good get for the Nets. Young, athletic wing. He’s definitely got some upside. At worst, he projects to be a very good wing defender. Definitely has shown some spark in the past but has not had a real chance to play or a big opportunity. That’s a solid player to get.”