There is an argument to be made that Andrea Bargnani was destined to become a bust when he was selected first overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2006 NBA Draft. While he will undoubtedly never live up to that selection status, he will have another chance to prove his value with the Brooklyn Nets after signing a two-year deal this offseason.
The Nets believe he can be a valuable piece at a much cheaper price than Mirza Teletovic was for them last season and there is no doubt it is the type of low-risk, high-reward move that could really pay off for them moving forward. Fantasy GM’s will be wary of Bargnani after he flamed out with the New York Knicks the last two seasons but there is reason to think he could make an impact. Here is a look at four reasons Bargnani will be fantasy relevant playing in Brooklyn next season.
Brook Lopez’s Injury History
Starting center Brook Lopez played in 72 games for the Nets last season but he made only 17 appearances for Brooklyn the year before and was limited to just five games back in 2011-12. Lopez has a history of foot injuries and the fact that he hasn’t played a full 82-game season since back in 2010-11 means there is a good chance he misses some time again this season. Factor in that Lopez isn’t getting any younger and that he now has the financial security that comes with a three-year, $60 million deal, and it’s clear that the Nets opening center spot could open up at one point or another this season with Bargnani the frontrunner to step up.
The Nets Are Thin Up Front
Brooklyn’s lack of frontcourt depth means Bargnani is projected to be the first big man off the bench and the favorite to step in to the starting lineup if Lopez is injured at any point. Thomas Robinson, Willie Reed and Cory Jefferson all have the chance to become role players with the Nets this season but none of those guys are projected to have high ceilings. The reality is that despite not being a true franchise center, Bargnani is still much more talented than any of those three players. Bargnani isn’t an excellent defensive player but he can provide some offense and his ability to stretch the floor with his three-point shot is an asset that Brooklyn will try to use to its advantage. This is a team that will be desperate for threes as they finished 26th in three-point field goal percentage and 23rd in three-pointers made per game (6.6).
The Precedent Is There
They might not have identical skill sets but not that long ago in 2012, it was Brooklyn that took a chance on Andray Blatche shortly after he was amnestied by the Washington Wizards and that move certainly worked out for both sides. Blatche became a productive option off the bench for the Nets over the next two seasons when he averaged double-digit point totals and more than five rebounds per game as the backup center. Brooklyn is confident that they have found another solid option that can provide them with some scoring off the bench and after putting the past behind him, Bargnani should be motivated for a big season with the Nets and become a fantasy relevant option once again.
He Offered Quality When He Started
Many people forget just how desperate the Knicks were last season, which led to Bargnani starting 22 games. Considering the Nets have subtracted Deron Williams, Miles Plumlee, Teletovic and other key cogs off of their roster, they will have to rely on Bargnani for sizable minutes. In 22 starts last season, he averaged 16.7 points per game with 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 blocks along with 3.0 made free throw attempts. He’s not likely to start in Brooklyn but he might play in the neighborhood of 20-25 minutes if he’s contributing. That means we should see similar averages but with hopefully a few more threes. That makes him draftable and usable.
