2021-22 Brooklyn Nets season preview: Roster changes, depth chart, key storylines and games to watch

The 2021-22 NBA season is set to tip off on Oct. 19 (ET). In preparation for the upcoming season, we're dedicating one day between now and the start of the season to each team in the league.

Next up? The Brooklyn Nets.

2020-21 season record

48-24, 2nd in the Eastern Conference

Notable additions

Patty Mills, free agency

James Johnson, free agency

LaMarcus Aldridge, free agency

Paul Millsap, free agency

DeAndre' Bembry, free agency

Sekou Doumbouya, trade

Jevon Carter, trade

Cameron Thomas, No. 27 pick in 2021 NBA Draft

Day'Ron Sharpe, No. 29 pick in 2021 NBA Draft

Notable departures

Jeff Green, free agency

Mike James, free agency

Tyler Johnson, free agency

DeAndre Jordan, trade

Spencer Dinwiddie, sign-and-trade

Landry Shamet, trade

Depth chart

3 key storylines 

Can the Big Three stay healthy?

Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving are the reason the Nets are title favourites heading into the season. If all three remain on the floor, they loom as an unstoppable force that may well blast its way through the Eastern Conference.

Year one hardly went to plan, with the trio logging just 202 minutes together during the regular season. Those minutes were split across eight games, with the Nets recording an offensive rating of 119.6 during that time. Our own Scott Rafferty outlined just how impressive that number is.

Chemistry hardly appeared to be an issue, with Brooklyn utterly dominant on the offensive end in that stretch. Good health isn't promised, however, with Harden's dodgy hamstring causing him major issues late in the regular season and Durant set to turn 33 later this month. 

Brooklyn has acquired a household list of names in its supporting cast, but ultimately it comes down to the big three. Injuries bit them at the wrong time in 2021. They will be hoping for a reversal of fortunes heading into this season. 

Who starts at the five?

Blake Griffin was a revelation in the postseason. Starting at the five, Griffin was often tasked with the job of defending Giannis Antetokounmpo and for the most part did a respectable job. In addition, he was a constant source of energy, flying around the paint for rebounds and creating second opportunities. 

Hobbled for most of his time in Detroit, it was refreshing to see Griffin showing glimpses of his old self. Joining him in the big man rotation will be the returning LaMarcus Aldridge, who is back out of retirement. Medically cleared to take the floor after dealing with a heart issue, Aldridge will look to build on his five appearances with the team last season.

The most curious of the trio expected to battle for minutes is Nicolas Claxton, who is by far the most athletic of the bunch and quite possibly the best option. At just 22 years of age, Claxton will look to secure regular minutes for the first time in his career playing in 32 games last season. Claxton averaged 10.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per 36 minutes in 2021 and serves as a genuine lob threat in the pick-and-roll with either one of the big three. 

Claxton fell out of the rotation in the last three games of the second-round series against Milwaukee as Steve Nash went small with Griffin and Jeff Green. Out of respect to veterans Griffin and Aldridge, I expect Claxton to start third in line as the season tips off, but it will be an intriguing battle to watch.

Can Joe Harris rebound?

Harris was absolutely lethal during the regular season, burying 47.5 percent of his 6.4 3-point attempts. He then carried that form through to the first round against the Boston Celtics where he knocked down 51.5 percent of his long range shots.

Then, the Milwaukee series happened.

Harris went 16-for-49 (32.6 percent) against the Bucks, with the numbers looking even worse if you count just the five games that followed the Nets taking a 2-0 stranglehold on the series. From Game 3 onwards, the 30-year-old went 8-for-32 (25 percent).

Cast in the role of a fourth option alongside the superstars in Brooklyn, Harris will have to wait until the postseason for redemption.

5 games to watch

Oct. 19 at Milwaukee Bucks

Do you think James Harden is going to enjoy watching Giannis Antetokounmpo collect his first NBA championship ring?

The Bucks will tip-off the season by hanging a banner in the rafters as the Nets watch on. Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals was a classic and the true beginning of what could become a testy rivalry over the next few seasons. 

I couldn't think of a better way to get the season started.

Oct. 27 vs. Miami Heat

Kevin Durant vs. PJ Tucker is on the slate once again.

The pair went head-to-head and literally nose-to-nose at one stage during the postseason and always provide an enthralling battle. Stopping Durant is impossible, but Tucker has consistently done as good a job as anyone when it comes to attempting to physically impact the Brooklyn superstar.

With Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo alongside him, this game should be one you won't want to miss.

Dec. 25 at Los Angeles Lakers

Christmas Day. Durant vs. LeBron. A potential NBA Finals preview? It doesn't get much better than this. 

Jan. 21 at San Antonio Spurs

The Nets and Spurs meet earlier in the season, but this outing will be Patty Mills' return to San Antonio.

A champion with the Spurs and a much-loved figure within the organization, the return of Mills is sure to be an emotional night.

Feb. 16 at New York Knicks

The Knicks made their long-awaited return to the postseason in 2021 but remain overshadowed by the superstar presence in Brooklyn. With the Knicks hoping to continue their rise, you can be sure they have any meeting with the Nets circled on the calendar. 

This February game will be the first between the two at Madison Square Garden. You already know the atmosphere is going to be absolutely electric.

Then all we need is a playoff series between the Knicks and Nets...

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.