Nets' summer includes decision on Russell after playoff run

D'Angelo Russell was an All-Star and the Brooklyn Nets became a playoff team. Neither looked likely four months ago.

So it was a surprisingly successful season, though there's plenty for the Nets to build on — including a decision on whether Russell will have a role.

Nets players were proud of their accomplishments but realistic about the future Wednesday, a day after they were routed by Philadelphia in Game 5 of their return to the postseason.

Brooklyn Nets' Caris LeVert, left, makes his move against Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons, right, of Australia, during the second half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2019, in Philadelphia. The 76ers won 122-100. (AP PhotoChris Szagola)

Changes are necessary if the Nets want to contend with a team like Philadelphia. So players heading into free agency can't be certain of their futures in Brooklyn.

Not even Russell, the former No. 2 pick, who had a breakout season.

"Hell yeah, I definitely want to be here," he said. "But I also know it's a business too, so I'm not going to play that role like I don't know what could possibly happen."

Early in the season, Caris LeVert was the Nets' best player and Russell sometimes sat on the bench in the fourth quarter. But with the Nets at 8-18 in December and LeVert sidelined with a dislocated right foot, Russell began to find his form. Brooklyn surged up the standings, eventually finishing sixth in the East at 42-40 after missing the postseason the last three years.

Keep the young core of Russell, LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie and Jarrett Allen, and the Nets can probably keep contending for spots toward the lower half of the East. But they might not get much farther without adding one of the superstars who'll be available this summer in free agency.

"We're a young, talented group, but you've also got to bring in a really, really talented player or players," veteran forward DeMarre Carroll said. "And that's the reality of the thing, because the young guys are going to continue to keep getting better — they were great this year. Then you've got veteran leaders who are going to definitely help those young guys out, but sometimes you've got to have a game-changer and I think what's what Brooklyn's going to try to do this year."

Some of those potential game-changers, such as Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker, play Russell's position. The point guard would be a restricted free agent, allowing the Nets to match any offer for him, and he gave them plenty of reasons to want him around.

But he's seen enough to know nothing is certain, so he was careful to not even say much about what he hoped would happen. For now, he settled for being proud of his and the team's accomplishments, after rebuilding his reputation as more of a leader since arriving in Brooklyn after a trade with the Lakers.

"I talked to Kobe once and I remember him saying make new headlines," Russell said. "Whatever your old headline is or what people think about you, make new ones and I took pride into doing that."

Some other things to know about the Nets:

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE

Like Carroll, fellow veterans Jared Dudley and Ed Davis knew the Nets will want and need to upgrade in the summer, rather than keeping the team intact.

"You have to improve, some way, somehow," Davis said. "I've never been on a team where you brought back the same group. So that's not going down. That ain't happening."

POST TO PERIMETER

Allen said part of his offseason focus will be working on his 3-point shot. The center was 6 for 45 (13.3 behind the arc this season.

BETTER PLACE

After winning 21, 20 and 28 games the last three seasons, the Nets believe their leap to an above-.500 finish came at the perfect time heading into free agency.

"The story before this was the Nets were the worst team in the NBA," Allen said. "Even when we weren't the worst team, we still were in the eyes of the public. So just coming in here, just showing that we made the playoffs and have a lot of talent, young talent, I think we made it a more attractive destination."

REGARDS FROM RUSSIA

Team owner Mikhail Prokhorov issued a statement congratulating the Nets for landing a playoff spot that few people believed they would.

"More importantly, it's clear that the Nets are a team building a winning culture and our future is bright," Prokhorov added.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)