Brooklyn Nets: Wilson Chandler suspended 25 games for PED use

As of today, Wilson Chandler has been given a 25-game ban by the NBA for testing positive for a PED. How would this suspension impact the Brooklyn Nets rotation after missing a portion of the upcoming season?

Wilson Chandler is set to miss thirty percent of the 2019-20 season due to testing positive for the PED Ipamorelin, which is disappointing news for the Brooklyn Nets.

In his eleven-year career, Chandler has only played in more than seventy-game mark four times due to injuries. Which in this case, won’t happen this upcoming season due to his suspension. His career averages are 12.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 44.4 FG%, 34.3 3PT%, 76.8 FT% in 30.5 minutes a game.

The Brooklyn Nets now have another forward who will miss significant time and Coach Kenny Atkinson will have to place more trust in his younger players to fill in for Chandler, who couldn’t have seen more than twenty minutes a game on a crowded roster.

Here’s what Chandler had to say to ESPN about the suspension:

"During my injury rehab process, before I signed with the Nets, I was prescribed a treatment that included small doses of a substance recently added to the NBA’s prohibited substance list,” Chandler said in a statement to ESPN. “I did not realize this substance was banned, and neither did the doctor.“I accept responsibility and apologize to my Nets teammates, coaches, front office and fans for this mistake. I will continue to work hard to prepare for the upcoming season.”"

Despite this mistake, Chandler knows he will have to pay for the consequences and potentially lose out on earning himself a key role with the Nets.

Impact on the frontcourt

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Wilson Chandler must put this suspension behind him upon his return on December 15th and try to earn himself some decent playing time from then on. Also, he should aim to stay healthy and attempt to play in each of the fifty-seven games that he will be eligible to play in.

Hopefully, Chandler is able to return to action and become a vital role to Coach Atkinson’s rotation in KD’s absence, since he has struggled with health throughout the course of his eleven-year career. One question that arises is will the Nets choose to sign Carmelo Anthony (after November 1) because of this situation? It seems unlikely.

If the Nets decide not to sign another forward, they are well-equipped to handle the temporary yet lengthy loss of Chandler, since they have at least eleven out of fourteen players (sans KD) who can play more than one position.

Although the Nets can rely on Chandler’s veteran presence on and off the floor, they will continue relying on Kyrie Irving and their young core to have a successful season, which is certainly inevitable.