Should the Nets Build a Similar Roster to the Spurs?

ESPN's Vincent Goodwill wrote a story last Monday about team-building tips from the four teams in the conference finals, and he believes the Brooklyn Nets should learn from the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014, and their versatile roster is a significant reason behind a deep postseason run. Goodwill titled San Antonio's lesson as "Positions? What Positions?"

San Antonio has multiple players who can shoot, dribble, pass and defend, which mitigates the position overlap on the roster. Four guards get prominent playing time: De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper.

Their multifaceted skill sets have helped lessen the awkward bumps with such an overabundance. They haven't stifled each other's development; they have fit seamlessly around one another.

"What ensued was the Spurs gathering a bunch of switchable, versatile players who still had room to grow without stepping over each other," Goodwill wrote. "And Fox has been great as a younger vet on a big-money contract."

Coach Jordi Fernández aims to mentor the Nets with the same mentality. He employs an offensive scheme that allows his players to play multiple roles on the court.

Brooklyn's draft choices last year were an approach toward maximizing Fernández's scheme. The Nets drafted four guards: Egor Dëmin (No. 8), Ben Saraf (No. 26), Nolan Traoré (No. 19) and Drake Powell (No. 22 via Atlanta Hawks).

While the approach was similar to San Antonio's, the execution was shaky. Dëmin is the best shooter out of the group (38.5% from three), and the other three struggled to shoot beyond the arc.

It was a bumpy season for the rookies, but Fernández spent the season developing them. He gave Saraf and Traoré increased opportunities to handle the ball, sometimes sitting more experienced Nets to continue sharpening their abilities.

Heading into this year's draft, the Nets have another chance to add a versatile player to the roster. Tennessee forward Nate Ament is gaining traction as the sixth overall pick for Brooklyn.

The 6-foot-10 forward can handle the ball and defend. He would be the fourth player on the team, standing at 6-foot-10, joining Michael Porter Jr., Day'Ron Sharpe and Noah Clowney.

Each of those forwards has their unique traits -- Porter Jr. is a knockdown shooter, Sharpe is a high-motor rebounder and Clowney has added a three-point shot alongside his driving ability.

Drafting Ament would add a tall forward who can handle the ball, allowing Fernández to employ lineups with size and length. San Antonio may be reaping the benefits of its elite draft history, but it took several seasons to reach the promised land.

Brooklyn is in the middle of a rebuild with a coach who wants versatile players to mentor. Mirroring the Spurs' team build may not make them a championship-caliber roster, but it would lift them out of the bottom tier.

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