Brooklyn Nets Shut Down Brook Lopez, Thaddeus Young

The Brooklyn Nets have decided to shut down veterans Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young for the remainder of the season.

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The Brooklyn Nets have been eliminated from playoff contention for a long time now, as they have an unsightly record of 21-55. At this point in the season, it is not surprising when teams will shut down veteran players to avoid meaningless injury and to get an extended look at younger players. That is what is going to happen with the Nets, as starting center Brook Lopez and starting power forward Thaddeus Young will be shutdown for the remainder of the season.

Both Lopez and Young have been being rested in recent games as the Nets have already begun the evaluation process for some of their other players. Now the decision has been made official, as the Nets’ interim head coach Tony Brown announced the decision prior to tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Nets have only six games remaining in the regular season, but this is a move they have been preparing for all month. Lopez has already sat out three games in March, while Young sat out two and the first game of April against the New York Knicks. Those were the only games each player as missed this season, as Lopez and Young were out there every night despite the lack of team success.

They were consummate professionals on the court and lived up to the contracts that the Nets gave them this offseason. Lopez landed a three-year, nearly $64 million contract, and averaged 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Young also did well this offseason, as he received a four-year, $54 million contract and averaged 15.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

Both players are considered cornerstone pieces and building blocks for the franchise as the Nets will look to improve their roster starting this offseason. That is part of the reason they are shutting down both players; they know what they have in Lopez and Young and want to see what they have in some of the other players on the roster.

With Lopez and Young no longer player, the Nets have 66.7 minutes of playing time just open up. Expect many of those minutes to go to Thomas Robinson and Willie Reed, the two players that had been starting for Lopez and Young whenever they were rested in the past month. Henry Sims should also get an extended chance at displaying what he has, while rookie Chris McCullough will play as much as he is allowed; he is still on a minutes restriction but could see an increased workload.

While some fans may be disappointed that they will not see Lopez and Young at games for the remainder of the season, this is a smart move by the Nets. They need to begin searching for young players to complement Lopez and Young, and without a first round draft pick this season, evaluating the players they currently have and looking there is their best option.

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