The Big Positive - Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

And now, something totally different - a positive take on the season!

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is the best, the most watchable development on the Nets this season.  Although there was a lot of optimism that some of the free agents signed this summer could prove themselves, they have mostly disappointed.  That could (hopefully will) change, but RHJ is starting to provide dividends.

As our Reed Wallach notes....

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Lopez are the #Nets best two-man lineup. +23 in 69 mins. 12 pts better on O per 100 poss, 18 pts better on D

— Reed Wallach (@ReedWallach) November 9, 2015

The #Nets are -23.5 when RHJ is off the court, by far the worst mark. He is also the only Net with a positive +/- when on the floor, +5.6.

— Reed Wallach (@ReedWallach) November 10, 2015

The numbers are not yet breathtaking but they are solid.  Against the Lakers, RHJ had five points, 11 rebounds, three assists and a steal.  Against the Bucks, it was two points but grabbed seven rebounds and handed out five assists. Other than two missed free throws late in the game vs. L.A., he's done well. So far, among rookies, he's fourth in steals, sixth in offensive rebounds, ninth in total rebounds, 11th in blocks, but 23rd in scoring among rookies

Shooting remains a concern, although he only took five shots in his two starts, hitting two of them.  John Schuhmann thinks there's a easy solution...

BKN needs to invest in a shooting coach for Hollis-Jefferson. Like MKG, an improved jumper would make him a really nice player.

— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) November 7, 2015

The Nets went hard after Hollis-Jefferson in the draft. They had him in the lottery --reportedly No. 12-- in their internal mock draft and as he dropped, they were aggressive in pursuing him. Billy King traded Mason Plumlee (who is five years older) and their second rounder to Portland for him and Steve Blake.  In fact, the Nets had to take Blake, who they turned into Quincy Miller and a $2.2 million trade exception.

As a 23rd pick, RHJ could be a great bargain. He Nets will pay him only about $7 million over the course of his four-year rookie deal. With the cap about to go into the stratosphere, that could turn out to be a real bargain.

• Who’s worth watching on the Nets? Rondae Hollis-Jefferson - Tim Bontemps - New York Post