3 issues for Brooklyn Nets to address in Kyrie Irving's absence in the 2021-22 NBA season

#1 The Brooklyn Nets backcourt needs a new starter alongside James Harden

Kevin Durant #7 Kyrie Irving #11 and James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets.

Obviously, the Brooklyn Nets are now in a situation in which they have to replace Kyrie Irving, assuming that if the situation has already reached this level, he isn't likely to get vaccinated any time soon.

For the 2021-22 NBA season, the Brooklyn Nets are already loaded with another stacked roster to compete for the NBA championship and hopefully have health on their side during the NBA Playoffs.

Patty Mills was the big signing of the Brooklyn Nets in the 2020 NBA Free Agency, as the team spent its $5.9 million midlevel exception on the Australian, who is already an NBA champion and a great veteran presence for the Brooklyn Nets' bench.

Not only is Mills an experienced player, he is still one of the best bench players and shooters in the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets are Mills' third team in his 13-year career, and he has made 38% of his three-pointers throughout his NBA journey. Now, can he take on the starting role alongside James Harden? He could, but that probably will debilitate the bench a bit and it also doesn't seem to be coach Steve Nash's plan.

In the NBA preseason, Bruce Brown has usually been James Harden's partner as he was in the 2021 NBA Playoffs when Kyrie Irving was injured.

Mills has started just three games over the last three NBA regular seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. Obviously, the best plan for the Brooklyn Nets' backcourt without Kyrie Irving would be to insert Brown with Harden and leave Patty Mills leading the charge off the bench.

Everything could also change if the front office is willing to trade Kyrie Irving and receive value from another team and possibly a guard who is ready to start.

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