Should the Brooklyn Nets bring back Andre Drummond and Seth Curry?
The Brooklyn Nets have an interesting offseason ahead of them as they have the choice of going in a variety of directions. The fact that the team made the 2023 NBA Playoffs as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference shows that the current group is good enough to get to the postseason.
However, as most within the NBA space knows, being just good enough to make the playoffs every season and maybe get past the first round is not a recipe for eventually winning a championship. Being stuck in the middle in arguably the worst place to be in the league given the fact that you will never have a chance of drafting a difference-making kind of player and are unlikely to get close to winning a title.
For Brooklyn, if they decide to try to make their team into a championship contender, they will have to figure out who they will go after in free-agency. According to Mike Cruz of ClutchPoints, there are two players that the Nets should not give a second thought to bring back to Brooklyn:
Andre Drummond
Drummond, 29, just finished his 10th season in the NBA as a backup center for the Chicago Bulls. While Drummond isn’t the same guy that he was during his days with the Detroit Pistons, he can still provide some scoring and rebounding. Drummond should also come cheap as his upcoming player option for the 2023-24 season is worth $3.36 million.
Cruz gives his take on why Brooklyn should stay away from Drummond:
“Brooklyn may be enticed to bring back Andre Drummond, who started in all of his 28 appearances, including four playoff games, as a Net during the 2021-22 season.
However, the Nets should stay away from this idea as it could stunt the growth and development of incoming third-year center Day’Ron Sharpe. Sharpe, the 29th pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, has shown potential to become a quality backup big in the NBA. In spurts for the Nets last season, he showed great motor and a willingness to run the floor in transition, which could help open up easy looks for the Nets on the fast break.
With their transition period, it may be best for Brooklyn to focus on the develop of young talent like Sharpe, instead of bringing in a veteran who will only eat up their minutes like Drummond.”
Seth Curry
Curry, 32, just completed his 10th season in the NBA and has been a Brooklyn Net for the past 1.5 seasons. He has been a steady, reliable veteran presence off the bench and has had some big games for Brooklyn during his short time there. Curry is one of the better shooters on the team and he was one of few that could create his own shot when the time came. Cruz feels that the Nets should not bring him back regardless:
“Seth Curry became a key part of the trade that netted them Ben Simmons and sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers. Curry had a solid stint for them during the 2021-22 season, when he started in all of his 29 appearances and averaged nearly 15 points per game. However, he saw a reduced role in 2022-23, with his minutes going down to just nearly 20 a game and his output dipping below 10 PPG for the first time since 2020.
With Curry’s contract expiring, it might be best for the Nets to move on from the sharpshooting guard. Brooklyn might want to give the keys to Cam Thomas to take the reigns as the main shooting guard on the top and focus on his development as they go through this transition stage.
By all means, Curry could still be a valuable piece as a sniper off the bench. But with the Nets no longer legitimate title contenders, he might be better on a team with real championship aspirations.”
Should The Nets Bring Either Player Back?
Since Drummond has a player option for the 2023-24 season, it’s tough to rule on whether Brooklyn should or shouldn’t go after him in free-agency because he may not be available in the first place. Cruz’s point about Drummond taking time away from Day’Ron Sharpe is a valid one, especially since Sharpe’s future is reasonably bright. If Drummond becomes available, Brooklyn should look elsewhere.
Curry has been an important member of the Nets since he came over in the James Harden-Ben Simmons trade. Curry has been productive either as a starter or reserve, but he is who he is as this point as a scorer who doesn’t bring much value on the defensive end. If Brooklyn looks to make the playoffs next season, Curry would be a good person to have coming off the bench.
