Brooklyn Nets depth chart: Potential starting 5 after adding Mikal Bridges, letting go of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and keeping Ben Simmons
The Brooklyn Nets have been the story of the NBA this week, starting with Kyrie Irving's trade request on Friday. The team accepted an offer from the Dallas Mavericks, sending the All-Star to join Luka Dončić, on Sunday.
The team then made a blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant, sending him to the Phoenix Suns and leaving the rest of the league flabbergasted. After entering the month as one of the teams that nobody was really expecting to make a major move before the trade deadline, the Nets have essentially blown it up.
Of course, the team received plenty of future assets as well as players who will help them remain competitive in the meantime. After trading away their two biggest names (and James Harden a year ago), let's take a look at Brooklyn's depth chart for the rest of the season.
The Brooklyn Nets' depth chart the rest of this season
Beginning with the team's starters, at point guard, the Nets parted ways with 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers champion Kyrie Irving. As part of the trade with Dallas, the team picked up Spencer Dinwiddie as its starting point guard.
At shooting guard, the team retained Royce O'Neale. As a top-tier 3-and-D player, O'Neale has been efficient in his role this season.
At small forward, the Nets' depth chart saw quite the shake-up as the team acquired young forward Cam Johnson from the Phoenix Suns in the Kevin Durant trade. Johnson has played in just 17 games this season after missing considerable time early on because of an injury. Since re-joining the lineup, Johnson has shown that he's ready to pick up right where he left off last season.
At power forward, Brooklyn lost Kevin Durant, getting Mikal Bridges in the trade with Phoenix. Year after year, Bridges, an athletic young forward, has elevated his play.
At center, the team will hold onto Nic Claxton, who is proving to be one of the league's best interior defenders. This season, the fourth-year player is the league leader in blocks (2.6 per game).
Off the bench, the team will have some solid reserves, starting with Seth Curry, who provides lethal 3-point shooting. In addition, with the team retaining Joe Harris, he will also be coming off the bench as long as they retain him.
Add in Dorian Finney-Smith, who has been one of the Dallas Mavericks' most consistent defenders in recent seasons, and the Nets are looking competitive.
Of course, at the same time, the Nets have managed to retain Ben Simmons, who has shown flashes of brilliance this season. While he hasn't shown the same dominance he did in Philadelphia, he is under contract for another two years.
With Brooklyn looking far different than it did at the start of the season, how do you see things playing out for them? Will they be able to remain competitive in the East? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.