The Nets will not be able to replace their All-Star center Brook Lopez. Not through trades. Not through their existing lineup. Not through any means.
Now that we’ve established the obvious, that the Nets are worse off without Lopez, let’s turn our attention to life without the big man.
Who will fill Lopez’s shoes?
The seemingly obvious answer is Nets’ sixth man, Andray Blatche. Since last season, Blatche has been the steadiest and most effective bench player for the Nets. Now, the former Washington Wizard will be asked to do even more with Lopez out the rest of the season. Blatche will miss at least the next two games at San Antonio and Oklahoma City for personal reasons, but he will see an increase in minutes and be expected to produce more on both ends of the court when he returns.
Blatche will be counted on to deliver more, but it doesn’t look like he will take Lopez’s starting role. That spot will likely fall to Mirza Teletovic. The swingman can certainly stretch the floor and knock down the three-ball, but will he be able to clog the lane as Lopez did on defense?
There is also last year’s de facto starter, Reggie Evans. Reggie can defend, rebound, and get under opponents’ skin with the best of them, but on the offensive end of the floor he becomes somewhat of a liability.
The wild card of the group is Andrei Kirilenko. It appears Kirilenko is close to returning from back spasms, which have sidelined him for nearly the entire season. Kirilenko has the experience as a starter and can contribute at both ends of the floor.
There is not one answer. That is clear. All frontcourt reserves will need to step their game up if they want any hope of filling the void left by the big center.
It will not replace Lopez, but it might be just enough to win the Atlantic Division.
Tom Lafe is a 6-foot-5 sports-world insider with a middling high school basketball career who believes the Nets will be driven by the success of the team’s big men.
