LAS VEGAS — On the spreadsheet, newly acquired DeMarre Carroll — like Timofey Mozgov a month ago — is a salary dump for his previous team and a means to an end.
But on the court and in the locker room, the Nets expect both to be leaders.
“I’m a player advocate. Bad contract? Every guy that comes onto our roster is an NBA player. That’s the way I look at it,’’ Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said after Sunday’s 88-83 summer league loss to the Bucks. “Bad contracts? I don’t look at it that way. We have to push whoever that person is and get him to play better.”
Atkinson knows all about Carroll playing his best. He was an assistant with the Hawks when Carroll was one of the NBA’s best 3-and-D players. Even if he’s never that good again, the Nets are confident Carroll — acquired Sunday from Toronto — will be good enough to earn his keep, earning $30 million over two years.
“He’s going to be so instrumental because we desperately need somebody [like him],’’ Jeremy Lin said. “He can definitely shoot the 3 and he can definitely play defense, which we really, really need help with. And he can do more than that. But just veteran leadership, toughness, grit. I’m hoping he comes in and is a vocal leader. Those are some things that we need.”
With Brook Lopez gone, Lin is the only returning starter over 22 years old. But he expects Carroll, 30, will help him provide a much-needed veteran presence.
“Oh, he’ll definitely help me,’’ Lin said. “We have to collectively keep each other accountable and push each other. That’s just what we’re trying to get towards, and I’m sure he’ll help, with the things I’ve heard about him. I don’t know him personally, but I’ve heard and talked to someone on the Raptors [on Saturday]. He was talking about his personality, how he is, and he was raving about him.”
Carroll and Mozgov (three years, $48 million) may be salary dumps, but one thing that has gotten Nets general manager Sean Marks’ moves high grades is he’s found salary dumps who can still play.
“Sure, when we look at Timofey, we look at him as a player,” Marks said. “It’s a big contract, but Kenny and I are excited about getting him on the floor and getting him in our system and obviously D’Angelo [Russell] as well. Both those guys, welcoming them to the family and watching them contribute and grow.”
Caris LeVert had a team-high 18 points and invitee Milton Doyle added 13 points in 16 minutes. But the Nets’ defense was a sieve, allowing 31 points to Milwaukee guard Rashad Vaughn and 53 points — on 19-of-33 shooting — in the second half.