The Brooklyn Nets aggressively pursued Allen Crabbe last year, dangling him a rich $75 million offer sheet. The Portland Trail Blazers matched the offer and now it is turning out to be a costly mistake.
Crabbe did play for the Blazers for the 2016-17 NBA season but it seems he has headed to Brooklyn anyway. The 25-year-old out of the University of California has been traded by Portland to Brooklyn in exchange for Andrew Nicholson, a move that would save them around $60 million.
The Blazers plan to waive Nicholson as they continue to crunch the numbers. The 27-year-old Canadian is due $19.9 million, something Portland can stretch for seven seasons. This would end up as a better option against the team salary cap, owing Nicholson just under $3 million.
Will Brooklyn benefit?
For the Nets, they get the player they always wanted in Crabbe. The backup guard brings in more outside firepower which Brooklyn sorely needed. It remains to be seen if he will start or continue to reprise his role as someone coming off the bench. If not as a shooting guard, Crabbe could end up playing small forward if coach Kenny Atkinson decides to play small ball.
Crabbe’s entry is a big improvement for the Nets. They already have Jeremy Lin, added D’Angelo Russell, DeMarre Carroll and Timofey Mozgov to the mix. Compared to last season, they have a gathering of stars that could compete. But will it be enough for them to make the playoffs?
Jeremy Lin sees the team making the playoffs even before the coming of Crabbe. But will this justify the big paychecks to Crabbe, Mozgov, and Carroll? The Nets will be paying the trio almost $100 million for the next two seasons.
Will Mozgov stay?
The Nets are no strangers when it comes to unloading high-priced players. Of the mix, Mozgov could be a candidate if Atkinson turns to another player to man the slot.
Mozgov got an auspicious contract from the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that befuddles pundits to this day.
The Nets actually inherited him since he was part of the Russell for Brook Lopez trade. Curiously, Brooklyn seems to be keeping him with no word on potential trades or a waive being heard.
Mozgov did have some games where he showed game brilliance, mostly when he was still a Cleveland Cavalier. He hardly made an impact with the Lakers but the Nets could be a new lease on life.
It all depends on how he can fit into coach Atkinson’s system. The Nets are hoping to do better this year as they try to erase the stigma of having the worst win-loss (20-62) for the 2016-17 NBA season.