Category: Nets

How will the Nets’ offense operate under Steve Nash, Mike D’Antoni?

Steve Nash won two MVP trophies while playing for former NBA head coach Mike D’Antoni, who will join Nash’s staff on the Brooklyn Nets.

One of the most successful NBA duos of the ’00s is back together as Mike D’Antoni joins the staff of rookie head coach Steve Nash on the Brooklyn Nets.

D’Antoni will bring his esteemed offensive pedigree with him to one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. His hiring should have a profound impact on Brooklyn’s system moving forward.

When asked what kind of offense Nash plans to run during his first tenure, Nash spoke about the “principles and ideas” that he hopes to implement for superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (transcription via Nets Wire):

“So, I want us to play fast. I want us to space the floor, to create opportunities to get downhill with our ball-handlers and make plays for one another, attack close-outs. So a lot of high-level philosophical thoughts, and of course we’ll design and have offensive sets and things that we think fit our group. But, we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves with our offense. We want it to stay pretty high-level right now.”

Of course, this fast-paced philosophy was on full display when Nash played for D’Antoni. The first-time head coach called the time “revolutionary” and the numbers reflected that when compared to the league average.

We took a look at each team D’Antoni has coached since his first year as an assistant back in 1997, which provides context for the pace that Brooklyn will play next season and beyond.

As the league average pace has increased over the last twenty-plus years, the teams that D’Antoni coached have consistently finished well above the league average.

The faster the pace recorded, the more opportunities that teams will have to score. This will offer a methodical way of optimizing the all-world talent of Durant and Irving.

(Data via NBA.com/stats and Basketball-Reference)

Looking at the chart above, it is interesting to focus on the stretch from 2004 until 2008. Not only was Nash on the team under D’Antoni but new Nets player development assistant Amare Stoudemire and Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks were both on the roster during that tenure as well.

Phoenix famously had the fastest pace among all NBA teams in both 2004-05 (97.35) and 2005-06 (92.92) and Nash won league MVP in both campaigns.

Another takeaway is that the Rockets had the second-fastest pace (104.04) in the NBA last season. During the 2013-14 seasons, when Nash played point guard and D’Antoni was the coach, the Los Angeles Lakers (99.72) had the fastest pace among all teams in the Western Conference.

(Data via InPredictable)

Pace offers a perspective on the full game but on a more granular level, we also took a look at how fast the teams have played on a per-possession level.

Under coach D’Antoni, Phoenix had the shortest time of possession among all teams in the NBA in 2004-05 (11.2 seconds) and 2005-06 (11.6 seconds).

Meanwhile, also coached by D’Antoni, the Knicks had the shortest time of possession among all teams in the Eastern Conference in both 2008-09 (11.7 seconds) and 2010-11 (12.2 seconds). Note that Stoudemire was a key player for New York during the latter of the two aforementioned seasons.

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Brooklyn is inevitably going to play a quicker brand of basketball with Nash, D’Antoni and Stoudemire all in the mix. They will push the break in the open court and could be dominant in transition.This will be fantastic for superstar talents like Durant and Irving.

When including the regular season and the playoffs, per Synergy, Durant had the second-most total points scored in transition as recently as 2018-19. He was among the top five in transition points per game in 2013-13 (5.8 ppg) and in 2016-17 (6.5 ppg).

Irving, meanwhile, had the fourth-most transition assists per game (1.8 apg) among all players in the Eastern Conference during his first season with the Nets. Irving may also both play off the ball as a shooting threat in space with either Spencer Dinwiddie or Caris LeVert bringing it up the court.

Regardless, the offense with Durant and Irving is going to be potent with Nash in the driver’s seat and D’Antoni as his experienced, savvy co-pilot.

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Michael Scotto and Anthony Puccio on the Steve Nash hiring, Nets trade candidates and more

On this episode of the HoopsHype podcast, we discuss Nets’ hiring of Nash, how close Gregg Popovich was to coaching the Nets, and more.

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On this episode of the HoopsHype podcast, Michael Scotto is joined by Anthony Puccio of NetsDaily. Scotto and Puccio discuss the reaction to Brooklyn’s hiring of Steve Nash, how close Gregg Popovich was to coaching the Nets, what the rest of the assistant coaching staff could look like, and more. Is Caris LeVert the team’s third star? Which Nets players will be trade candidates this summer?

:20 – Initial reactions to Nash’s hiring.

1:20 – The possibility of Gregg Popovich coaching the Nets.

Puccio: “As far as I’m concerned, and what I was told, was Pop was definitely somebody that they had on the table. They wanted a big name back when they fired Kenny Atkinson coming into this next season, where Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are going to be healthy, as we assume. I understand that they wanted to get him. He was definitely a name that was on their list, but throughout the process, I was being told it was far fetched. There were a lot of obstacles to get him.”

4:34 – Evaluating the roles Joe Tsai and Sean Marks had in the hiring process.

7:03 – The comparison to the Jason Kidd hiring.

10:07 – The shift in Brooklyn’s culture.

13:00 – Questions for Nash to answer as a head coach.

15:10 – What retaining Jacque Vaughn means for Brooklyn.

16:00 – The backlash for picking a coach with no experience.

19:44 – Could Vaughn be a head coaching candidate next offseason in the NBA or college game?

20:20 – Nets assistant coaching changes to keep an eye on.

Scotto: “When I look at it, Tiago Splitter, Bret Brielmaier, Adam Harrington, I think those guys stay. Adam’s got a great relationship with Kevin Durant. Tiago and Bret have Spurs ties. You mentioned earlier that Jacque Vaughn was brought in by Sean Marks to be a guide for Kenny (Atkinson) when he first started. The guy I remember Kenny bringing on was Jordan Ott from Atlanta. He’s done great work with DeMarre Carroll in the past. He’s continued to do great work with Joe Harris as well. If Kenny gets a job as a head coach somewhere, I could see him maybe trying to bring Jordan Ott with him.”

Puccio: “I think a name to look out for is Raja Bell, somebody he played with the Suns in Phoenix. Someone else to look at is Alvin Gentry, who was part of the coaching staff in Phoenix and was just laid off from his Pelicans job.”

23:44 – Is Caris LeVert the third star for the Nets?

27:54 – Is LeVert a candidate to come off the bench and compete with Spencer Dinwiddie to be next season’s Sixth Man of the Year?

32:36 – Who could be in trade talks for the Nets this offseason? Dinwiddie? Jarrett Allen?

Scotto: “You’ve got Dinwiddie who’s got a guaranteed deal next year, and then he’s got a $12.3 million player option the year after that. He’s opting out of that, barring any injury. He’s going to opt out of that to try and get more money, survey the market and be a potential starting point guard. I’d be shocked if he didn’t.”

36:39 – What executives and scouts think of Nicolas Claxton as a trade target.

Scotto: “Anytime I’ve had conversations with opposing scouts or executives, Nic Claxton is a guy that they all come out to watch and talk to people about to try and get more background on. If he was in the draft this year, no doubt in my mind he was going to be a lottery pick and probably in the top 10.”

38:07 – What Joe Harris could command in free agency.

Scotto: “I think they definitely re-sign Joe Harris, and I think he doubles his salary to somewhere around $15 million, give a couple million more or less.”

39:06 – What are the futures of Jamal Crawford, Tyler Johnson and Wilson Chandler?

Puccio: “I think you definitely see Jamal Crawford come back next year. I’m very confident that he’ll be back, and also Tyler Johnson as well after what he did in the Orlando bubble. We know Sean Marks likes him a lot after the contract that he threw at him when he was in Miami.”

“I think, with Chandler, it’s kind of a coin flip. I personally don’t think that he’s coming back, but we’ll have to see on that front.”

44:03 – Looking at the landscape of the East next season.

MORE: Is Steve Nash the right hire for the Nets? Executives, coaches and scouts weigh in.

Is Steve Nash the right hire for the Nets? Executives, coaches and scouts weigh in

“Not many things in the NBA would get me to say ‘holy s-.’ The Steve Nash hiring just did.” That tweet from former Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks summed up the initial reaction to the hiring of Nash as Brooklyn’s new head coach. Nash, …

“Not many things in the NBA would get me to say ‘holy s—.’ The Steve Nash hiring just did.”

That tweet from former Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks summed up the initial reaction to the hiring of Nash as Brooklyn’s new head coach. Nash, who signed a four-year deal according to ESPN, becomes the fifth former player to win multiple MVPs and become a head coach, joining Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Bill Russell, and Bob Pettit.

Jacque Vaughn, who guided the Nets to a 7-3 record before getting swept by the Raptors in the first round, will become the league’s highest-paid lead assistant coach, per ESPN.

The hiring of Nash drew varying reactions from around the league. HoopsHype spoke with three coaches, two general managers, and two scouts to get their takes on the move.

LOVE THE NASH HIRE

Since 2015, Ty Lue, Steve Kerr, and Nick Nurse won a championship without any prior head coaching experience. Nash will look to join that group with the help of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

“I like it,” an Eastern Conference general manager told HoopsHype. “I am not sure if Kyrie will respect Nash as a coach, but I think it’s a great hire. I think Steve displays a lot of the attributes, which are important to building a winning culture. He has a great basketball IQ. He’s been around Kerr the past couple of years, and he’ll assemble a great staff. Bird had never coached, and he was one of the best coaches the Pacers ever had. Larry created a winning culture, which resonated with the team.”

Another former player who’s made the transition from executing plays on the court to drawing them up on the sidelines without any prior assistant coaching experience and thrived is Doc Rivers. What has made Rivers successful is his ability to relate to players. Coming into Brooklyn, Nash has the unwavering support of his team’s best player, Durant. Nash even worked out with Durant, Caris LeVert, and former Nets guard Sean Kilpatrick back in 2016.

“I think Nash will do well because he has the backing of KD, which is the most important thing,” another Eastern Conference general manager told HoopsHype. “There are some similarities between him and Jason Kidd’s hiring with them both having no experience and having to coach a team with big-time expectations. I think Nash’s experience being around Golden State for a few years will really help him. He has seen some of what goes into coaching before taking the job, even if not on an everyday basis. Plus, having an assistant like Vaughn, who does not have an ego, will also help.”

As Marks noted on Twitter, the roster Kidd coached was built to win for one season led by the acquisitions Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to complement Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez.

“The Brooklyn roster now is a win-now team but also has at a minimum three-year shelf life to win a championship,” Marks tweeted. “There are two franchise players in the prime of their careers with KD and Kyrie. A possible third star in LeVert and a great supporting cast of (Spencer) Dinwiddie, (Joe) Harris, and (Jarrett) Allen. Plus, there is still a nucleus of young players and draft picks to develop and build out the backend of the bench or use in a trade.”

“They were different teams,” one Western Conference assistant coach told HoopsHype. “KG and Pierce were so much older, and Nash actually knows management. Wasn’t only hired by ownership. Nash and Sean played together. There is much more potential synergy. I think Nash will be really good with Kyrie. I’m very confident in Nash’s communication skills. He is really calculated too.”

As noted by HoopsHype colleague Frank Urbina, Nash called Irving one of the top four point guards in the NBA on a list that also included Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, and Russell Westbrook. While the connection between Nash and Durant is clear. It remains to be seen how the relationship between Nash and Irving will unfold. One former Nets assistant coach believes two of the greatest point guards to play the game will be able to find common ground and work together nicely.

“If there is anyone that can, it’s him (Nash),” the former Nets assistant coach told HoopsHype. “Kyrie is a different dude, but Nash has the relationship skills, the swag, and the backing to do so!”

For what it’s worth, Nash has held an annual soccer event over the years, which both Irving (2014) and Durant (2018) have attended.

“I love his leadership qualities that make up for the fact he’s never been a head coach,” an Eastern Conference scout told HoopsHype. “He has all the intangibles, as well as the initial support of Kyrie and KD, to be successful. There will be an obvious learning curve, but I think he will do well.”

Nash also has the support of Dinwiddie, one of Brooklyn’s best players who is coming off a career season.

“I love the Steve Nash hire,” Dinwiddie tweeted. “So much of coaching at this level is being a psychologist. I think Caris is the third star, so that’d mean four rockstars in the building. Further roster construction will be interesting.”

QUESTIONING THE NASH HIRE 

Nash has the characteristics on paper to make a potentially successful transition to coaching. Nash was a Hall of Fame player and two-time MVP, who accumulated the third-highest assist total (10,335) in NBA history. However, there’s no guarantee his success on the court will translate to the sideline.

“It’s ridiculous,” one Western Conference coach told HoopsHype. “It’s just nearly impossible to be prepared without any coaching experience, especially for a team with championship expectations. They’ve got a two-year window. Lue was the obvious choice for me. They may prove me wrong, but I wouldn’t have done it myself. Just surprised to see a total unknown when you’ve got that short of a window.”

While some players have successfully made the jump from the court to the sideline, not every transition, such as Derek Fisher with the Knicks and Kidd’s with the Nets, went smoothly.

“Crazy they just hired Nash,” the former Nets assistant coach told HoopsHype. “(Sean) Marks is always looking to go away from what everyone thinks, and he loves anything Spurs, and he loves Nash. When I was coaching with the Nets, he always talked about Nash. He would always talk about the Spurs’ way and Nash’s approach. That’s what they’re trying to build!”

Marks has tried to establish a culture modeling the Spurs, but Durant and Irving bring their own culture as superstars. Durant and Irving have won three combined championships, and Durant has won two Finals MVPs. Nash never reached the Finals. Will they listen to him when it matters most at the end of a close game or if the team endures a losing streak?

“Steve Nash?” one long-time Eastern Conference scout asked HoopsHype. “I’m shocked for sure. It leads me to think now that Philly is going to get Ty Lue. How do the Nets go with a guy with zero coaching experience? Not even as an assistant. Being a point guard ain’t the same thing.”

The lack of coaching experience for Nash led one former Nets player to question the hiring process.

“Definitely happy for Steve Nash but super disappointed in the Brooklyn Nets,” former Nets forward Trevor Booker tweeted. “So many well qualified African American candidates and they get looked over by someone with no experience at all. The only reason they felt comfortable doing that is because JV stayed on board as the top assistant.”

Prior to Booker’s tweet, Marks noted in a press release the Nets met with a “number of highly accomplished coaching candidates from diverse backgrounds.” Marks was Nash’s teammate with the Phoenix Suns for two seasons and praised Nash’s acumen and selfless approach to the game.

“His instincts for the game, combined with an inherent ability to communicate with and unite players towards a common goal, will prepare us to compete at the highest levels of the league,” Marks said.

For more background on Nash, check out Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce’s appearance on the HoopsHype podcast, where he discussed college stories from their days together at Santa Clara by clicking here. 

Steve Nash goes way back with Kevin Durant, Nets

We look at some of the histories between the Brooklyn Nets and their new head coach Steve Nash, who is close with Kevin Durant.

Thursday morning brought with it the stunning news that the Brooklyn Nets had hired eight-time All-Star and Hall-of-Fame point guard Steve Nash as their head coach, a complete surprise considering the names that had been tied to their coaching search over the past few weeks.

Nash was never mentioned.

Regardless, there is some history between the Canadian legend and the Nets that make the hire even more interesting, mostly from his time with the Golden State Warriors.

Nash was a part-time consultant with the Warriors dating back to 2015. During that time, Nash was often seen coaching Kevin Durant, who will now be his most important player in Brooklyn.

Nash would work out with Durant even before his time with Golden State, however, as evidenced by this Instagram post from 2014 via Nash’s personal page:

Nash has also discussed Durant publicly in the past, including in this piece by the New York Times from October of 2017:

“Instead of looking at the huge, obvious differences between us, I think there are a lot of similarities in our games,” Nash, an eight-time All-Star, said of Durant. “There’s a lot I can share with him even though it might look to you like an unlikely pairing. He handles the ball in the pick and roll, he’s a terrific passer, he’s so good at attacking with the ball. “If I can teach him some of the things I did to create space and get shots off and make my teammates better at 6-2, it can only help him at his height.”

Nash will have even more time to teach Durant now in Brooklyn. And Durant – who has previously referred to Nash as his “Yoda” – will almost certainly be more than open to whatever advice or lesson Nash tries to share with him.

Of course, Durant isn’t the only big personality Nash will have to deal with on the Nets. There’s also the mercurial Kyrie Irving, the team’s point guard, who he’ll need to convince.

There isn’t anywhere near as much history between Irving and Nash, though Irving did go out of his way to congratulate Nash at his Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony in 2018:

Further back in 2015, during an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit, Nash called Irving one of the Top 4 point guards in the NBA on a list that also included Stephen Curry, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook:

Who are your top 3 Pgs in the NBA, Steve? Steve Nash: “Too hard! There’ve gotta be four — Chris Paul, Westbrook, Kyrie, and Steph.”

Outside of that, it’ll be a pretty blank slate for Irving and Nash, which will make their dynamic very interesting to monitor.

As far as Nash’s history with the actual Nets franchise, Brooklyn was one of the ball-handling maestro’s main suitors in free agency back in 2012 towards the end of his playing days. He even took a meeting with the team before ultimately choosing to join the Los Angeles Lakers:

Nash was also asked about the possibility of playing in Brooklyn for the Nets, which would largely hinge on whether Deron Williams decides to leave the team as a free agent. “Sure, another exciting opportunity,” he said. “Brand new stadium, a very passionate and resourceful owner, so it’s another exciting opportunity. I have friends in Brooklyn. I’ve been over there a lot. Brooklyn’s great. Brooklyn’s beautiful. I think a lot of guys are going to find out about Brooklyn.”

Ultimately, it didn’t work out back then for Nash and the Nets, but now Brooklyn has their guy. And it’ll be fascinating to see how the legendary floor general’s first stint as a head coach goes, particularly with stakes this high.

Is Caris LeVert Brooklyn’s third star, or should they make a trade?

Last summer, we saw the league shift towards a two-star tandem approach. Anthony Davis was acquired to team up with LeBron James on the Lakers. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George joined forces with the Clippers. Russell Westbrook was acquired by the …

Last summer, we saw the league shift towards a two-star tandem approach. Anthony Davis was acquired to team up with LeBron James on the Lakers. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George joined forces with the Clippers. Russell Westbrook was acquired by the Rockets to form an MVP backcourt with James Harden. The Brooklyn Nets also joined the fun by uniting Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

The Nets are striving for a championship next season as Durant and Irving will finally share the court. To achieve that goal, Brooklyn has a pivotal offseason ahead.

Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks has publicly stated re-signing Joe Harris, one of our top-ranked free agents this offseason, is his top priority. Other transactional moves like exercising Garrett Temple’s $5 million team option and guaranteeing the $1.8 million salary for Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot are expected. But there are other looming questions for the organization as one rival Eastern Conference executive noted.

“I love what Sean has done with that team, and he has a few choices to make,” the executive told HoopsHype. “My theory is everyone is available for the right deal. Can you keep both Spencer (Dinwiddie) and Caris (LeVert)? Do you have to get assets for Jarrett Allen since you can’t pay him? How much do you pay Joe Harris? The bigger question is, who is your coach that will agree to play the players you keep.”

Dinwiddie is on the books for $11.4 million next season and is then expected – barring injury – to decline his $12.3 million player option for the following season and become an unrestricted free agent. Allen will earn $3.9 million next season before entering restricted free agency.

Jacque Vaughn did a remarkable job with a depleted Nets team and went 7-3 after taking over for Kenny Atkinson before being swept by the defending champion Toronto Raptors in the playoffs. Vaughn worked closely with Irving and LeVert before games during the season.

Ty Lue and Gregg Popovich have also been linked to the Nets. Lue won a championship coaching Irving during the 2015-16 season in Cleveland. Marks played for Popovich and worked with him in San Antonio as a coach on the bench and in the front office.

However, arguably the biggest question for the Nets is whether LeVert is capable of being the third star behind Durant and Irving, or if the team will look to package him and other players to land a better star and form a super team in an attempt to win the title.

HoopsHype spoke with five executives, two scouts, and two former teammates of LeVert on the condition of anonymity to get their takes on whether the Nets should keep LeVert as their third star or use him in a trade package to land another player.

Five of those polled said to move LeVert for a bigger star. Some even named potential trade targets. The remaining four believe Brooklyn already has a third star to complement Durant and Irving effectively.

Caris LeVert, Brooklyn Nets

LEVERT IS BROOKLYN’S THIRD STAR

LeVert has shown glimpses of star potential in his young career thus far.

The former Michigan Wolverine has improved his scoring average every season since entering the league and shot a career-best 36.4 percent from three-point range last season. He’s also hit multiple game-winning shots over the years as a closer for Brooklyn.

Next season, his role will change, with the ball primarily in Durant and Irving’s hands. Durant has publicly praised LeVert as a player and trained with him previously before becoming his teammate. Irving and LeVert are both represented by Roc Nation and have a bond off the court.

Due to LeVert’s selfless attitude, ability to be a playmaker or slasher off the ball, and willingness to defend the opponent’s best wing scorer, there’s a belief he could mesh well with Durant and Irving from some talent evaluators.

“I think you can win with LeVert,” one Eastern Conference executive told HoopsHype. “They need that third scorer. I think it’s up to him to learn how to adjust and play with KD and Kyrie. KD is efficient enough and learned a lot playing with Golden State. If KD is on the bench and LeVert is on the floor, you’ll need Caris to score more. KD learned how to co-exist with Steph (Curry) and Klay (Thompson) on the floor. I think he’s grown in that area. KD probably can help LeVert in that area showing him how he can score on the floor with him and Kyrie.”

To help balance out the trio, LeVert could become a playmaker and scorer off the bench carrying Brooklyn’s second unit. In doing so, he could be a potential Sixth Man of the Year candidate.

“I think they can build with LeVert,” one Western Conference scout told HoopsHype. “He would be an ideal third option given his skill set. He might be better suited coming off the bench when Durant and Irving are back. With his ability and competitiveness, he can spearhead the second unit. That would be a tremendous luxury to have him leading your second unit. He is a very talented player who can score, and he also gets everyone involved. I would try and find a way to keep him since he is so impactful and effective.”

Off the court, LeVert has made a positive impression with teammates who’ve shared the locker room with him.

“I wouldn’t trade Caris; he’s great, especially at the price range he is at right now,” one of LeVert’s former teammates told HoopsHype. “He can take over a ball game and is loved by everyone in the organization, especially his teammates. The East still isn’t overly great. No need to take on the extra salary and personality when they should have no problem getting to the finals out of the East.”

LeVert, who just turned 26 years old, is signed through the prime of his career. He’s signed for the next three seasons for $52.5 million, as noted on Brooklyn’s salaries page.

His manageable salary, and the upcoming free agencies for Dinwiddie and Allen, could make him more valuable to keep long-term.

“I think they’ll do what they can to achieve both,” one rival Eastern Conference executive told HoopsHype. “ Keep LeVert and use other pieces to achieve another potential star around their current two or three, if you include LeVert. It’s definitely going to be interesting to see how it plays out. Their window is now.”

TRADE LEVERT FOR A THIRD STAR

LeVert has been a proven playoff performer when given a primary role for the Nets averaging 20.7 points, 5.9 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in nine postseason games over the past two seasons. Coming off his best year, some view it as the perfect time to sell on LeVert’s stock.

“LeVert’s assist totals in the bubble have likely opened some eyes throughout the league,” an Eastern Conference executive told HoopsHype. “However, his career sub 35 percent from deep and foot issues aren’t ideal. The Nets are somewhat in a tough spot as the third star needs to be non-ego, defensive-minded, and a floor spacer, which is easier said than done.”

During both playoff runs, we’ve seen LeVert act as a primary playmaker either in isolation or pick-and-roll sets at the top of the key. With Durant and Irving, Levert will have the ball in his hands dramatically less.

“He is not a third star,” a Western Conference executive told HoopsHype. “He needs the ball and takes away from KD and Kyrie. He can’t shoot when he’s off the ball. In crunch time, he won’t be guarded if all three are on the floor.”

By comparison, there may be better fits on the trade market that would be worthwhile for the Nets to explore.

“I love Caris, that’s my guy, but if you can get Bradley Beal, you make that trade,” another of LeVert’s former teammates told HoopsHype. “Maybe even Jrue Holiday. Anybody besides that, I keep him.”

Beal, 27, is signed for $63.3 million combined over the next two seasons. Following that, Beal has a $37.3 million player option for the 2022-23 season, per our Wizards salaries page. Washington’s goal, however, is to get back in the playoffs next season with Beal and the return of five-time All-Star John Wall anchoring the backcourt. The Wizards have also made re-signing Davis Bertans, one of the league’s top three-point shooters, their top priority in free agency, which shows a further commitment to winning next season.

Holiday, 30, is signed for $26.1 million with a $27 million player option for the 2021-22 season. Having shared the backcourt with Lonzo Ball in New Orleans this past season, he’s shown the ability to handle either guard position on offense while being named a two-time All-Defensive Team member by locking up on defense as a primary on-ball defender. Former Nets assistant general manager Trajan Langdon is the general manager for New Orleans, which is also worth noting.

“Caris to me is a really good third star that continues to get better on both ends,” one Eastern Conference executive told HoopsHype. “However, Jrue Holiday would be a great compliment for those guys on the floor playing with the ball, creating, playing off the ball, making shots when needed, and defending the best players, as well as a locker room balancer.”

Acquiring either Beal or Holiday in a trade would be costly, but worth it for a team competing for a championship now. Washington is reluctant to move Beal and would need to be blown away by an offer. New Orleans could look to sell high on Holiday, but his veteran presence is invaluable to the team’s young core.

Both players have dealt with injury issues in their careers, similar to LeVert.

“If Caris can stay healthy, he’s good enough, but health as always is the key,” one Eastern Conference scout told HoopsHype.