Brook Lopez: Nets have no incentive to tank, just guys who want to win
The Brooklyn Nets finished with a 21-61 record last season, but didn't have a lottery pick to ease the pain, as they had to relinquish the No. 3 selection to the Boston Celtics as part of the 2013 trade involving Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
It's the gift that keeps on giving for their Atlantic Division rivals, who can switch picks for next year's draft and also own Brooklyn's 2018 first-rounder.
With no carrot dangling in front of the club to encourage it to rack up losses, Brook Lopez and his teammates are focused on winning.
"Sometimes, obviously it's an incentive to tank if you have the opportunity to get those high draft picks," the 7-foot center told Fred Kerber of the New York Post. "We don't have that. We have guys who just want to win."
Among those high-character additions who want to help the team succeed are Jeremy Lin, Luis Scola, Greivis Vasquez, Justin Hamilton, Trevor Booker, Randy Foye, Joe Harris, Anthony Bennett, and draft pick Caris LeVert.
Clearly, the Nets have been active this offseason, overhauling both their personnel and team culture under general manager Sean Marks and head coach Kenny Atkinson, both of whom joined earlier this year.
Lopez, who's been with the organization since the Nets drafted him in 2008, can attest to the sweeping changes - and approves of them.
"I know they've been harping on the culture and all but it's a completely unique feel this time, like we're moving in that right direction," he said. "It's something people actually want to be a part of. ... It's the way it should be now."