Nets might have eyes on Damian Lillard with Sean Marks not ruling out a splash

With the Nets nonetheless stinging from a first-round sweep, basic supervisor Sean Marks wasn’t about to label this staff a contender.

However he additionally wouldn’t rule out a transfer to show it into one, be it this summer season or at subsequent 12 months’s commerce deadline.

For the Nets, to purchase or to construct is the million-dollar query.

“It’d be means too quickly to name [us a contender]. We have to let the mud settle just a little bit,” Marks mentioned. “However we’ve all the time been ready. These days, we’ve all seen gamers demand trades … groups change — whether or not it’s possession teams or entrance places of work, and subsequent factor you recognize they pivot. So we simply must be prepared for no matter comes our means, and if we are able to make a change that [means] we are able to compete, then we’ll be strategic about it.”

The Nets noticed their Massive 3 of James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant all power strikes.

The rebooted roster went simply 12-15 and bought swept by Philadelphia.

Mikal Bridges is a stable constructing block, however wants a operating mate.

What did Marks be taught this 12 months about the necessity to choose the fitting star — or the hazards of banking on the unsuitable one?

“It’s an important query and one thing we’ve considered lots and can proceed to consider as we go,” mentioned Marks, who praised the present roster however added, “that doesn’t imply we don’t look again and say, ‘What if? Had we performed this? Ought to we’ve performed this?’

“So it offers us a second to mirror and say, ‘Nicely, did we’ve the fitting course of in place? Had been we actually, actually prepared for that group? Was the borough of Brooklyn prepared? Was the staff prepared? Was the encircling prepared while you herald Kevin, Ky and James and that group?’ However on the similar time, that period is gone and we’re onto one thing new right here.”

This new period nonetheless has a glut of 3-and-D wings like Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith that drew provides of first-round picks this season.

And with 11 first-rounders between now and 2029, the Nets have the fourth-most draft capital ought to they decide to chase a star like Damian Lillard.

“Can we construct fast and expedite this factor?” Marks requested rhetorically. “As a result of a participant comes round that we all know, ‘Hey this participant or gamers would match inside a bunch and provides us a chance to actually get again in and be contenders once more.’

“That might occur, however on the similar time, I don’t assume we’re in any hurry. We’re not going to be pushed to make adjustments only for the sake of constructing adjustments.”

That’s in fact the prudent response.

However Marks is aware of he has to strike when the iron is scorching — and the iron could possibly be heating up on Lillard, whom league executives imagine the Nets might pursue.

The Portland star has mentioned he’s not occupied with staying for one more rebuild, and was in Barclays Middle for Thursday’s Sport 3.

He’s shut with Bridges — video confirmed them leaving the constructing collectively — and advised Yahoo Sports activities two years in the past that the Nets wing was his favourite small ahead within the league.

“I do know folks,” Bridges mentioned coyly.

Spencer Dinwiddie has been caught up in these machinations earlier than.

However what he sees earlier than the Nets are good selections to must make.

“You may have two very distinct paths. You’re taking a look at a staff that mirrors a Milwaukee with out Giannis [Antetokounmpo],” Dinwiddie mentioned. “If you happen to assume you will get a Giannis then are you in all probability or a really, superb staff at that time? Probably. If you happen to don’t, you do have a bevy of draft picks and a number of other guys that might web you extra picks. To allow them to go both route. Shoot, they may additionally stand pat and roll the cube.

“It’s all there for you. That’s why I mentioned they’ve performed an outstanding job of giving themselves the potential for even doing that. There’s not many organizations which have ever blown up a superstar-studded group that was in championship competition in a single 12 months and have the potential for championship competition once more the very subsequent season relying on their offseason choices.”