Brooklyn’s latest roster build tells a pretty clear story: size matters.
Look at the Nets and you’re not finding many players listed below 6-foot-5. That’s a notable shift for a franchise that, in other eras, leaned on electric smaller guards and often made them the centerpiece of the offense. This version of the team has gone in a different direction, with backcourt pieces like Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Demin standing on the taller end of the spectrum.
It also helps explain why Brooklyn passed on Darius Acuff Jr., a decision that didn’t exactly land well with plenty of fans and analysts.
For a defensive-minded team, the logic is easy to follow. Starting a smaller point guard can create problems on that end of the floor, especially when the goal is to pressure the ball the way Jordi Fernandez wants his team to play. Bigger guards give the Nets more flexibility, and that appears to be part of the calculation.
“I do think positional size is certainly a factor that we look at,” Nets GM Sean Marks said. “Jordi and I are hand in hand in that when we discuss [who] we want to bring in and what position and what needs we look for.
Sometimes size can make up for some other deficiencies, whether it's on the defensive end and so forth. So it's certainly a factor.
“This is just the way it's tends to be working out for us now but that's one of those things that as much as he and his coaching staff and the performance team have done a hell of a job developing. I'm not sure we're hoping our guys are going to grow another five inches and so forth, right? So, we'll just see how it all plays out.”
The league may be trending away from smaller guards, but the Knicks just showed there’s still a path for one to lead the way. Jalen Brunson, generously listed at 6-foot-2, helped guide New York to a championship, and the structure around him mattered. The Knicks paired him with bigger, defense-first wings and a floor-spacing big in Karl-Anthony Towns, which gave Brunson the room he needed to work in the painted area.
That’s the balancing act. Size gives a team more cover defensively, but a smaller guard can still be a weapon if he can get downhill, beat defenders off the dribble and finish at the rim. The trick is building enough support around him to hide the rough edges.
In Other News...
Nets Camp Battle Just Got More Serious With Two Young Pieces Limited
Josh Minott has spent the summer and early part of camp trying to show he belongs in a crowded Brooklyn rotation picture, and coach Jordi Fernandez has noticed. Fernandez has already praised Minotts work in the teams competitive camp environment, while the forward himself has talked about how important it is to keep competing at this stage of his career. For a roster trying to sort out roles and identify who can handle the demands of the season, that sort of internal push matters.
The intrigue around the young group only grows with the health picture around it. Center Danny Wolf will wear ankle braces this season after dealing with a previous sprain, while lottery pick Mikel Brown Jr. is still working back from an ankle injury even as he sounded upbeat about the team at the annual Fan Fest. Brooklyn has made a point of leaning into development, but the status of those two young pieces adds another layer to a camp battle that already has the feel of something more than just an audition. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Rookie Point Guard Battle Suddenly Looks A Lot More Real
The Nets got a useful look at their rookie guards in a preseason win over the Hornets, and both Nolan Traor and Ben Saraf made the kind of case that can change a camp conversation fast. With Brooklyn already sorting through its guard rotation, the backup point guard battle suddenly feels less like a long-term evaluation and more like something the staff may have to start weighing in real time.
Sarafs improved three-point shooting stood out, while Traor showed more of the rim pressure that makes him such an intriguing fit in the open floor. The competition is far from settled, though, and with three preseason games still to come, the Nets have a little more time to see whether one rookie can separate himself or whether this remains one of camps more closely watched decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Nets New-Look Rotation Just Gave Fans A Reason To Buy In
The early signs of Brooklyns new-look rotation were encouraging in a preseason romp over Charlotte, a 124-90 win that offered a little of everything the Nets have been hoping to see. They hit 20 three-pointers, came out firing from deep and never let the Hornets settle in, using a steady second-half push to turn a comfortable lead into a lopsided finish.
Michael Porter Jr. led the way with 16 points, while Julius Randle added 13 as Brooklyns offensive flow looked sharper than it has at other points in the exhibition slate. It is still preseason, of course, but the combination of perimeter shooting and control for long stretches gave the Nets something tangible to point to as they continue sorting out how this rotation fits together. [Read more 🡒]