The Brooklyn Nets have high hopes for the future after adding Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to a team that made a surprising playoff run a year ago. While Durant likely won’t play at all this season, they’re still expected to back up last year’s run with another playoff experience and will lean on their backcourt and wing rotation to get them there.
That is where the Nets’ strength lies, with Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, Rodion Kurucs, Garrett Temple, and Taurean Prince. It’s a deep group, but they were hoping to lean on another veteran on the wing in Wilson Chandler for some guidance, but now will be without his services for much of the start of the season.
The NBA announced on Thursday that Chandler failed a drug test, testing positive for Ipamorelin, a banned substance, and will face a 25-game suspension under the NBA’s drug policy.
Wilson Chandler (BKN) has been suspended w/o pay for 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program by testing positive for Ipamorelin.
Chandler’s suspension will begin with the next NBA regular-season game for which he is eligible and physically able to play.
It’s not ideal for Brooklyn, but the good news is that they do have plenty of wings on the roster that they can use in his absence and while it takes away a bit of depth, it doesn’t seem like a tremendous blow. What is more interesting is how they’ll adjust the rotation once Chandler comes back, depending on how the rest of the wings have played while he’s been suspended.
