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As if the Brooklyn Nets weren't already the immediate favorites to come out of the NBA's Eastern Conference this year, their latest signing has the whole league quaking in their boots.
Veteran big man LaMarcus Aldridge signed a one-year veteran's minimum contract with the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday evening. Brooklyn already caused shockwaves earlier in the season when they partook in a blockbuster trade that saw superstar shooting guard James Harden pack up and head to New York's most populous borough, forming a superteam with the likes of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
In that very same trade, the Nets traded Jarrett Allen to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Allen was considered to be the big man of the future for the Nets, and after his departure Brooklyn was left with a huge hole in the middle of their frontcourt. It was up to a declining DeAndre Jordan and a very young Nicolas Claxton to pick up where Allen had left off. Although Claxton has a promising future, he's not ready to be relied on in the clutch - not to mention that he is coming off of an injury plagued offseason, where he underwent shoulder surgery just prior to the 2020 playoff bubble, and most recently, a hamstring strain that saw him sidelined until February of 2021.
After the Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to a buyout with their veteran center Andre Drummond on March 26th, the Celtics, Knicks and Lakers were rumored to be the front runners for Drummond. It was never confirmed whether or not the Nets were in on Drummond, but it was believed that there was some interest being drawn from the team. It was also reported that LaMarcus Aldridge was receiving interest of his own from a slew of teams.
The Nets and Aldridge came to an agreement, the "Scary Hours" Brooklyn Nets are even scarier, and are primed for a run at the title. Brooklyn is currently the favorites to win the NBA Championship at +270.
Sean Marks and the Nets made another surprising veteran signing that has paid off so far, when they signed Blake Griffin to one-year, $1.2 million contract earlier in March. Brooklyn eagerly awaits the return of Kevin Durant, who has been sidelined for the last few weeks with a hamstring injury. Kyrie Irving and James Harden have been just fine without him, however, as Brooklyn is currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 31-15 record, 1.5 games back of the 32-13 fist place Philadelphia 76ers.
Follow me on Twitter for all your latest Brooklyn Nets news, updates and rumors. @NY_cth.
-Chris
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