Nets 2023-24 midseason report card: Grading how BKN has performed thus far

With the NBA season at its midpoint, it’s a good time to take stock and see how each individual Nets player has performed through 40 games. 

We’ll grade them on their current season production and how much they’ve impacted winning relative to expectations, and won’t include those with only spot appearances – sorry, Ben Simmons.

Nic Claxton: A-

As has been true over the last few years, Claxton’s been a hugely dependable Net, and All-Defensive Team candidate when the team is performing well. Unfortunately between the losses piling up and Day’Ron Sharpe’s breakout year, Claxton’s offensive and rebounding strides won’t prevent him from being shopped this trade deadline.

Dorian Finney-Smith: B

It’s nice to see DFS back to hitting 40% of his threes, while still bringing that front-court toughness on defense and attacking within the arc better than he did to close last season. 

To start the season, Finney-Smith came out extra aggressively, averaging 15 points on 55% shooting, but has slowed down dramatically since, and is currently amidst a bad slump.

Cam Johnson: C

Johnson hasn’t been bad this season, but after he took a step with his increased role in Brooklyn last year, many hoped he’d continue that momentum this season. Not only has he plateaued, he’s regressed in some developmental areas, and has ultimately had a lesser impact on the team than his contract extension calls for.

Mikal Bridges: - C+

The key return from dealing Kevin Durant has had a disappointing season, but only relative to heightened expectations after a breakout post-trade season and first round series. His shooting averages are slightly down across the board, but he’s had to navigate giving up offense control to Cam Thomas and playing through half an offseason because of Team USA obligations.

Spencer Dinwiddie: C-

After a wholesome return to the black-and-white, Dinwiddie’s first full season of his second Brooklyn stint is off to a mixed start, with his three-point shooting still in the dumps, and some of his other contributions like slashing and playmaking falling off. 

The Nets simply don’t have a lot of options at the position, and shouldn’t have to rely on Dinwiddie to be his old self, so he’s earned some slack given his availability and production.

Cam Thomas: B-

For two seasons, Nets fans clamored for Thomas to get a real chance to start and run the offense after numerous flashes of elite bucket-getting off the bench. He received that opportunity this year, getting off to a smoking hot start, but simmered out from there.

On the year, he’s averaging 25.5 points per 36 minutes on 46.3 percent shooting on two's and 34.7 percent from three, nothing at all to scoff at out of a third-year guard manning an offense. 

The problem remains his lack of contributions everywhere else, and Brooklyn’s -7.2 net rating with him on the floor, the worst of all their rotation guys.

Royce O'Neale: B-

It’s no secret why O’Neale is one of the hottest names being dangled in trades off this roster. He shows up, does the little things, defends, averages 10-7-4 per 36, hits threes and calls it a day - no more, no less.

Dennis Smith Jr.: B

Smith Jr.’s production has been about on par with last season’s in Charlotte, bringing nice energy off the bench when healthy but not enough to save Brooklyn’s creation problems on his own.

Lonnie Walker IV: B+

Speaking of offseason acquisitions of young, springy guards, Walker IV has been awesome when he’s played, averaging 12.8 points on 45.5 percent shooting from downtown. Unfortunately, he’s only been able to suit up for half the games, and outside of the deep ball isn’t exactly breaking new ground with his play.

Day'Ron Sharpe: A

Are we on board the Sharpe train? It’s unclear if he can stay out of foul trouble for long enough to be a full-time starter, what is clear is he’s a beast around the rim, putting up 17 points and 16 rebounds per 36 minutes, making a claim for that top spot in the long-term.

Trendon Watford: B+

Watford’s been a sneaky, quiet great signing for the Nets, who’ve used him to fill in the frontcourt as guys miss time due to injury. Will be interesting to see if they play him more after the trade deadline and whatever comes of it.

Jacque Vaughn: B-

It’s no easy task to judge a coach on a deeply flawed roster. There’s no creation, too many pieces to experiment with, and no adjustment can make up for the talent disparity at the top versus other teams.

There are definitely some legitimate gripes with certain decisions Vaughn’s made, and we’ll see how Thomas going to the bench ultimately plays out, but the roster seems to like, trust and play hard for him. That’s a solid first step for a fresh rebuild.

Overall team grade: C-

Ideally a team as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but the opposite might be true of these Nets. Bridges, Thomas, Claxton, and others have undeniable talent that would flourish in most situations, but they’ve been awkwardly clumped together and the results are the results.

For those hoping Brooklyn would make another postseason this year, maybe the performance thus far would be more of a D or F. But they’re actually not far off from how they fared post-trade last season, unfortunately, that’s just not a super inspiring team.