At this time of year, ignore what teams say and pay attention to their actions.
The Nets’ actions show they are moving on from two years of shameless tanking, pivoting to a measured attempt to compete. The Julius Randle trade they pulled off Monday night — on the eve of Tuesday’s draft — was a clear sign of that.
In 10 of his 11 years running the team, Brooklyn GM Sean Marks has made a move at or on the eve of the draft. This year was no different, though the Randle move was important not just in and of itself but for what it signified.
What does it say about the Nets’ goals?
The Nets are trying to win — within reason.
