Who Will Return First: Caris LeVert or Jeremy Lin?
This offseason, the Brooklyn Nets did a great job of going out and getting guys who fit their culture. Two of those guys were Jeremy Lin and Caris LeVert. Both have not seen much or any on court action yet due to injuries.
With December now upon us, we’re starting get a sense of how the chips will and have fall into place for the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets had a good summer for the first time in a long time. We have gotten a good look at how the development of young guards, Isaiah Whitehead and Yogi Ferrell is coming along, how much of an impact Jeremy Lin has made on the team when he is on the floor, and of course, the offense that Kenny Atkinson is trying to run in Brooklyn.
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However, one thing that we have not heard much about is the 6-foot-6 shooting guard out of the University of Michigan, Caris LeVert.
LeVert was an intriguing pick up for the Nets this offseason. He was the young man who the Nets drafted with the draft pick gained in the Thaddeus Young trade. With much upside and a laser sharp shooting ability, it’s hard for Nets fans not to be excited about this draft pick. LeVert proved in college he could very well do it all. He proved he’s a gifted scorer as well as rebounder and passer. The 22-year-old was all over the floor for the Michigan Wolverines.
It’s now a little less than six months since LeVert has been drafted and well, we haven’t seen or heard much about the guy. All we know is that according the Atkinson, he’s progressing well and now even practicing. That’s definitely a good sign for the Nets and their fans, but is also definitely irritating and nerve racking for all involved. I say that because as the Nets rebuild continues on, this is starting to become a sense of deja vu.
Dec 8, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jarrett Jack (2) works the ball during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at Barclays Center. Brooklyn Nets won 110-105. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
The 2015-16 Season
Last season, the Nets suffered injuries to their starting point guard, Jarrett Jack. This is similar to Jeremy Lin’s injury, although Lin’s injury isn’t season-ending like Jack’s was. The Nets also had injuries suffered by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Chris McCullough, their draft picks from last year’s draft. Similar to the current and ongoing situation with LeVert, McCullough was out in the early portions of the season. Nets fans had to wait wait months to witness his debut on the hardwood at the Barclays Center.
This is why it’s so aggravating to have Lin (who the Nets spent $36 million on in free agency) and Caris LeVert (who the Nets traded Thaddeus Young for) both out. Meanwhile, the Nets are beginning to slip after starting the season with a 2-3 record.
The question on many fans’ minds is: when will LeVert and Lin return to action donning a black-and-white jersey? Better yet, which one will return to the court first?
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Caris Levert (Michigan) greets supporters in the crowd after being selected as the number twenty overall pick to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
It’s Only Speculation, But…
As it’s currently looking, LeVert may actually return before Lin. As previously mentioned, Kenny Atkinson said that LeVert is currently practicing, as Lin is not at the moment. So that’s why it’s a little tricky to guess, especially after Lin was initially said to be back about two weeks after the injury, which occurred on November 2nd. One month later, and Lin is still not back. There have not even been any signs of him returning or any timetable given by the Nets.
With plenty of question marks all around both players, it’s not easy to guess when either will be back, let alone who will be back first. However, it’s most likely going to be LeVert. He’s practicing, working hard, and has had at least some type of information given on what he’s doing and how he’s progressing, unlike Lin.
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Both of these players will be key in the Nets’ rebuild and have potential to be low-risk, high-reward players for Sean Marks, Kenny Atkinson, and the entire Nets organization. It all comes down to health, however. Injuries and health concerns seemed it would not be a problem for a Nets team that didn’t have many players with a history of injuries. In fact, the media and many fans were actually concerned about the health of the cross-town rival Knicks after their recent pickup of players this offseason.
The Nets can very well have 10 wins at this point. They did a very good job of staying in games at the start of the season. With two of the Nets’ big key summer pickups on the bench, they’ve begun to take a dip in the standings.
However, it’s not hard to erase a bad month in the NBA. As soon as Lin and LeVert return to action for the Nets, they will need to play extremely good basketball if they want to even be in the hunt for a final playoff spot. Both players are likely to return this month. For now, all Nets fans can do is grit their teeth, sit back, and wait for two guys they think highly of to return to action for their team.
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