Four years ago, the annual NBA GM survey pages ran thick with ink spelling out “Brooklyn Nets” again and again. Most notably, they were named runaway favorites to take home their first Larry O’Brien, with 72%
of voters predicting them as their 2022 NBA Finals victors, the next closest being the Los Angeles Lakers at 17%.
Kevin Durant earned the most votes to win NBA MVP, polling at 37%. He wasn’t even the only Net to rank either. James Harden tied his eventual teammate that year, Joel Embiid, in fourth place, polling at 7%. Both players were also voted as the best at their respective positions, and as a sweetener, Patty Mills earned the second most votes for the most underrated player acquisition of that offseason.
What can I say? Sometimes I just like to remind everyone that the Nets once ran the league, if not in winnings, then in intimidation.
That said, the key three words in that opening paragraph are “four years ago.” Times have changed. The Nets are in the thick of a rebuild right now and on the dark side of the moon when it comes to league limelight.
However, against the odds, they did find their way into this year’s annual GM survey, which just so happened to be put together by NetsDaily founder John Schuhmann.
Michael Porter Jr. Pulls in Two Kinds of Votes
Curious Mike put the Nets on the survey report in two different ways. With his game, he received “some votes” as the best player at moving without the ball, but not enough to earn a percentage worth listing. Steph Curry ran away with the category, earning 90% of the votes. Other vote receivers included Desmond Bane and Duncan Robinson.
But MPJ also earned recognition situationally. A handful of GMs voted his trade to Brooklyn as the most surprising move of the offseason, but again, not enough to warrant a percent figure. The Bucks waiving and stretching Damian Lillard won that category, followed by Myles Turner to Milwaukee, the Atlanta-New Orleans Draft trade, and the Boston Celtics breaking up their core.
Also worth noting, GMs voted Denver’s acquisition of Cameron Johnson as the second most underrated move of the offseason.
Danny Wolf and Juwan Howard
Sean Marks had more tries than anyone at the “rookies & international players” section of the survey. No nets earned a noteworthy percentage of votes for likelihood to win rookie of the year, be the best rookie in five years, or biggest steal based on position of pick.
Danny Wolf, however, did receive some votes for the latter category. The large vote receivers were Kasparas Jakučionis at no. 20 (17%), Ace Bailey at no. 5 (10%), Carter Bryant at no. 14 (10%), Joan Beringer at no. 17 (7%), Liam McNeeley at no. 29 (7%), and Asa Newell at no. 23 (7%).
Juwan Howard was recognized as one of the best assistant coaches in the league for a second straight year. Like his players, he didn’t receive enough ballots to pull in a percentage, but was listed as a vote-getter.
