The Brooklyn Nets could pair Harrison Barnes and Rajon Rondo once free agency starts, forming a formidable starting lineup to contend in the East.
The Nets have plenty of things to address in their roster, especially the point guard and small forward spots. With ample cap space to pursue top free agents, Brooklyn has a great chance of becoming legit contenders in the East.
According to the latest rumors around the league, the Nets could pursue Golden State Warriors wing Harrison Barnes and Sacramento Kings point guard Rajon Rondo, with Brooklyn having a glaring need to fill the mentioned positions.
SB Nation's Jay Siskin explore the possibility of the Nets making a run at Barnes, who enters the summer market as a restricted free agent. Siskin noted that the Nets, who have a projected max cap space of more than $40 million, can sign Barnes to a substantial deal, but not too close of a max contract, which the one-time NBA champ is reportedly seeking this summer.
"Outside the poor performance in the NBA Finals against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, I would say that Barnes is worth chasing, but not with a max contract," Siskin wrote.
"Signing Barnes sounds like a good move in hindsight, but Marks will need to surround him with talented players because Barnes cannot be the main option."
Barnes has had an up and down stint with the Warriors last season, having struggled to shoot the ball and play consistently, especially during the most crucial moments in the team's NBA Finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. But despite his inconsistency, the Warriors fully intend to keep
"I know we're all measured in those (NBA Finals) moments, but both of those guys have been great for us and have helped us get where we are," Warriors general manager Bob Myers said, reports the SFGate. "You can't forget all the things they did to get us here. We're going to be careful how we evaluate things and not evaluate things on one game or four games or six games."
If the Nets truly has a genuine interest in adding Barnes to their roster, they must come up with a lucrative offer the Warriors cannot match.
Meanwhile, Rondo is another piece the Nets could pursue in free agency, with the team lacking a reliable starting point guard to run Kenny Atkinson's playbooks. According to Bleacher Report's Josh Martin, Rondo to the Nets is a possibility, with the All-Star guard reportedly want to play ball in the Big Apple.
With Derrick Rose already set to take the bright lights of the New York Knicks, it makes the Nets a likely option for Rondo come July.
The Nets only have Jarrett Jack, who is coming off a torn ACL, and rotational players like Shane Larkin and Isaiah Whitehead as candidates to be the team's floor commander. Adding Rondo would give the Nets a bona fide starting PG, who could maximize Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young with his excellent court vision and passing skills.
It is undetermined whether Rondo would prefer joining a contender or taking a lucrative deal. But after a disappointing season with the Kings, Rondo could certainly consider a new start with a team like the Nets.