Easily the most surprising outcome of the 2022-23 NBA season thus far is the performance of the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn was considered title contenders once again, but they have struggled out of the gate as they are off to a 2-5 start.

The first victory the Nets have picked up was over the Toronto Raptors then most recently against the Indiana Pacers (without Ben Simmons). Brooklyn got trounced by the New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, and Milwaukee Bucks. Right now, the Nets don’t resemble anything close to a contending team.

They are disjointed on both ends of the court. The way their offense is struggling with two players of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s caliber is unacceptable. What they are doing defensively is even more embarrassing as they are last in the league in points allowed per game and defensive rating.

One NBA scout that spoke to NBA Analysis Network believes some major changes are needed if the Nets are going to turn things around. Right now, their lineup combinations just aren’t working.

“The Nets’ offense looks clogged up with Ben Simmons and Nicolas Claxton out there together. It’s making the game come more difficult for their superstars. That can’t happen for a team to win at a high level. They aren’t getting stops on defense even close to the rate needed to make up for it, either. … Brooklyn needs to find a stretch-five, preferably one that can protect the rim. The simplest option seems to be Myles Turner, but I’d imagine others are out there as well.”

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Usually, the recipe to success when making a lineup around players as offensively gifted as Durant and Irving is spacing. You need players that can take advantage of teams giving too much attention to the stars and make them pay with efficient 3-point shooting. Having one non-shooter on the court is passable, but the Nets are starting two in Ben Simmons and Nicolas Claxton, which is leading to some issues.

With Seth Curry still recovering from injury, the Nets are down one sharpshooter but Joe Harris is back and working off the rust. Brooklyn is close to being fully healthy, which will help Steve Nash find lineup combinations that work.

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Defensively, the Nets are going to struggle all season once again. Simmons is considered an elite defender and Royce O’Neale was a good pickup as well in the offseason, but it will take more than two players to get the job done on that end of the court. Brooklyn has a lot of poor defenders in their rotation and not enough players to make up for it.

Acquiring Myles Turner would solve a lot of their issues on both sides of the court, but it will not be cheap acquiring him. Multiple draft picks or a combination of picks and young players will be sought by the Indiana Pacers in exchange for him.

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The off-the-court issues Irving continues to find himself embroiled in will not help the team either. Nash looks in over his head in his position as well, as this could be a disastrous season in Brooklyn without some big changes occurring.