Any team that has soon-to-be free agents with undefined market values better beware the Brooklyn Nets. They have mountains of cap space, plus the incentive to overpay fringe stars both in the short and long term as they schlepp their way through an extensive rebuild.
The assumption has always been they would throw max offers at restricted free agents, such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Otto Porter, in hopes incumbent squads fail to match. That’s what they did for Tyler Johnson and Allen Crabbe. But they missed out on both, which could prompt general manager Sean Marks to focus more on unrestricted talents who can sign right away.
Like George Hill.
As ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst said on a TrueHoop Podcast (via Nets Daily):
There is a belief that the Brooklyn Nets might have interest in going there. And even if George Hill isn’t interested in playing for the Brooklyn Nets, the Nets could make the offer is what is dangerous part for the Jazz … and for the Spurs. They can drive the price up.
“The Nets have shown they’ve put out these two gigantic offer sheets and their cap position is essentially the same. They are going to chase … they are going to be major players for Kantavious Caldwell-Pope. They are going to go after Otto Porter.
Hill might seem like an odd fit alongside the ball-dominant Sean Kilpatrick and Jeremy Lin, but the Nets are targeting high-character guys who can play a variety of roles. He fits that bill. Both he and Kilpatrick can play off the ball anyway, so there won’t be this positional tug-of-war. Hill also satisfies head coach Kenny Atkinson’s thirst for defensive-minded guards; he might end up being a really good mentor to Isaiah Whitehead, who has flashed defensive promise as a rookie.
The Utah Jazz will probably be willing to pay whatever it takes to keep Hill if they re-sign Gordon Hayward. Should he leave for the Boston Celtics (or, less likely, another team), it becomes open season on Hill. And you better believe the Nets have both the cap space and gall to insert themselves into that conversation.
