Brooklyn Nets: Iman Shumpert waived after 9-4 stretch

As of yesterday, the Brooklyn Nets have waived their recent acquisition, Iman Shumpert. Here are the factors that came into play when the Nets made this decision.

Although it may not seem puzzling as to why the Brooklyn Nets decided to release veteran guard Iman Shumpert after thirteen games, there are a few factors that come into play. Aside from those factors that will be mentioned, one primary reason as to why the Nets waived Shumpert is that they already have full roster guarantees.

In thirteen games with the Nets, Shumpert averaged 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 32.8 percent from the field, 24.2 percent beyond the arc, 57.1 free-throw percentage in 18.5 minutes a game.

None of these numbers are eye-popping, mostly because Shumpert impacts the game outside of his numbers. He is highly regarded around the league and will always leave his effort all on the floor.

Here are the factors revolving around the Nets’ decision to waive Shumpert.

1. Wilson Chandler is set to return on December 15th

When Wilson Chandler returns in two days, he is expected to provide decent production on both ends of the floor from the second unit. The Nets need a boost from their second unit as they are currently twenty-fourth in bench scoring (32.4) and still have Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert recovering from the sidelines.

On the other hand, David Nwaba has provided a spark off the bench in December, doubling his points per game (4.5 to 8.6), which is an area the Nets need more consistency. Garrett Temple is another player who stepped up in the starting lineup, increasing his points, rebounds, and assists per-game averages each month (4.8, 10.7, and 13.6 in ppg, respectively).

Additionally, the Nets’ second unit is twenty-third in net rating (-2.7), which further calls for Chandler to be an immediate contributor when he returns. The Nets will not have much success this season if their bench can’t increase their overall production throughout the season.

Thankfully, Chandler is a combo-forward that will fill in both forward slots that have been lacking in depth through twenty-four games.

2. The Nets needed the defense

Before Shumpert’s arrival, the Nets were sitting at seventeenth in defensive rating (108.9) in November and are currently twenty-first in defensive rating (111.7) in December.

In the thirteen games that Shumpert played in, the Nets rose to fourteenth in defensive rating (108) and went 9-4 after a poor start to the season (4-7).

With the support that Spencer Dinwiddie has been receiving from his teammates, parting ways with Shumpert will not harm the Nets in the long run. Especially when Wilson Chandler and Caris LeVert are set to return to action.

3. Shumpert will draw interest from other teams due to his defensive impact

While Iman Shumpert was nothing more than a temporary addition to an ailing Nets roster, he will provide defensive intensity, hustle, championship experience, and a veteran locker room presence to any other legitimate contender in the NBA.

Disappointing as it may seem, both parties had a mutually beneficial parting, as the Nets are now seventh in the Eastern Conference, and Shumpert is likely to find another job with a contender.

In today’s NBA, players who produce satisfactory results in a short period are not commonly waived.

Frequently, both the player and the team do not have a mutually beneficial separation. So Shumpert having a positive impact on a struggling Nets team was a breath of fresh air and a perfect example of transparent use of a player’s talents. So don’t be surprised if the Nets sign Shumpert again if he’s available soon.

Hats off to the Nets brass for treating this situation with transparency and professionalism not commonly seen throughout the NBA.