TORONTO — D’Angelo Russell is back for a Brooklyn encore.
With Russell on the floor, the Nets will have a different speed.
A different style.
Maybe even different starters.
They’ll be just plain different.
Brooklyn will miss Dorian Finney-Smith’s toughness and defense.
But they’ve lacked playmaking, a pick-and-roll threat, and end of game execution.
Russell — acquired Sunday along with Max Lewis, and joining the team in Toronto before Wednesday’s tilt — can provide some of those things.
How much that benefits the Nets in the long run is a separate argument.
“Yeah, [Russell’s] seen so much in this league. He’s been in so many different types of environments, winning environments,” Cam Johnson said. “He’s a really capable player, capable scorer, capable leader in those ways. So it’s going to be big for us.
“He’s somebody that can kind of control the game and is able to pass, is able to score. And I think he’ll be a good voice for us. So I’m looking forward to starting to figure this thing out with him.”
The Nets have a lot to figure out.
Since trading Dennis Schroder, the Nets have lacked a pick-and-roll threat and a player who can break defenders down off the dribble.
They’ve been over-reliant on the fast break behind Ben Simmons, who was Russell’s teammate for two years at Montverde Academy, where they went 45-2 and won consecutive national titles.
Now they’ll bring disparate skill sets that should make the offense more complete.
“Yeah, we could definitely use him for sure,” Ziaire Williams said. “He’s a great on-ball guy, can shoot, play-make. That’s what we need.
“We need a guy who could put pressure on the rim, get a 2-on-1 and play 3-on-4 on the back side. And he’s real good at that when he has the ball in his hands and has confidence. So, definitely looking forward to meeting him, and winning some games for sure. We definitely could use him.”
But how does coach Jordi Fernandez plan to use him?
Simmons had largely been the backup behind Schroder, only stepping into the starting job once the German got dealt.
Does Russell’s arrival send Simmons back to the bench?
Both are motivated, on expiring deals and needing to perform heading into unrestricted free agency this summer.
“Relationships are important,” Fernandez said. “It’s good that these two guys know each other. They played together. I’m pretty sure that’s going to be some good memories that they can share. And we’ll go from there.”
There are 96 backcourt minutes nightly even without three-guard lineups.
Cam Thomas is the two guard and it’s easy enough for Fernandez to platoon Russell and Simmons, especially since Simmons can soak up some of the frontcourt minutes vacated by Finney-Smith’s departure.
Even though backup guard Shake Milton was dealt away with Finney-Smith, guard Keon Johnson could still see his minutes dip.
He has started the past 11 games and averaged 26.4 minutes over the past 15, but shot just 26.4 percent from deep in that span.
Of course, it bears repeating that the Nets are tanking, and have struggled mightily post-Schroder whenever Simmons is off the floor.
Russell, 28, will help in those moments — help the pro-tank crowd might find counterproductive.
“Very excited to coach [Russell and Lewis],” Fernandez said. “I’ve heard great things and trying to get them up to speed with some film … simplifying the playbook and the rules and everything so they can learn before we see them.
“So, we’ll see if they play or not, but at least they start learning our system and we’ll just go from there.”
Russell spent 2017-19 in Brooklyn, earning his only All-Star berth.
This season he’s averaging 12.4 points and 4.7 assists despite coming off the bench in 19 of his past 21 appearances.
“We know the type of player he is: A primary ball handler, very good shooter, a player that’s going to be important for us. Good pick-and-roll player, good playmaker out of pick-and-roll,” Fernandez said. “So, very excited to get to coach him. And he’s going to help this team because it gives us a different dimension with his ability to handle and organize players.”
