Plumlee wants to start for Nets in 2014-15

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Mason Plumlee is looking to carve out his role on the World Cup roster for Team USA, but he'd undoubtedly like to be starting for the Brooklyn Nets when the 2014-15 season gets underway this fall.

“Oh yeah,” Plumlee said, via ESPN. “What player doesn’t wanna start?” 

As a rookie, Plumlee started 19 consecutive games from March 1 to April 4 while Kevin Garnett was sidelined with a back injury, averaging 7.4 points and 5.7 rebounds in 21.1 minutes. Though he said his role hasn't been defined yet, he's confident he'll find out soon enough.

"[The coaches] are working on it," Plumlee said. "They were out [there], they watched every [USA] practice out in [Las] Vegas, the whole staff was out there. They’re on the job, so if I don’t know, I’ll know soon. 

“But [Lionel Hollins is] a very positive coach. He gave me something after each practice to look at. And then the same with, I met Paul Westphal, Jay Humphries, [John] Welch was out there. It was cool for me because they were doing the … I don’t know what you’d call it, their little coach’s retreat or whatever. I got to talk with them all week.” 

Plumlee told ESPN he's shooting a lot with Humphries, and the coaching staff wants him to "really open up" his game. He aims to break out of his 0-for-9 slump on shots outside the paint.

Brooklyn will have big men Brook Lopez and (likely) Garnett to work with, but with the former returning from foot/ankle surgeries, and the latter in his 20th season, Plumlee should see more floor time.