As a part of our series detailing which players the Charlotte Hornets should target in NBA free agency, our attention shifts to Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets finished with a 44-38 record, which earned them a 7th-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
Despite having two of the most talented scorers in the league, Brooklyn had an incredibly controversial, disappointing, season-ending sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.
Any team with Kevin Durant and Irving should not get swept in any round of the playoffs, let alone the first round. Unfortunately for Nets fans, this season was a circus that revolved around Kyrie, James Harden, and later, Ben Simmons, who never suited up for the squad.
Brooklyn went all-in on competing for a championship this season, and that will cost them in free agency. The Nets have a haul of free agents coming this summer, and the Hornets may be interested in several of the veterans hitting the market. In Charlotte, the Hornets are looking to get over the hump, make the playoffs, and try to advance to the second round for the first time in 20+ years. There would be one key Nets free agent that could help the Hornets get over the hump.