Brooklyn Nets GM Sean Marks has decided to shut down center, Brook Lopez, and power forward, Thaddeus Young, for the remainder of the NBA season. Lopez told the media Marks wanted to shut them down due to the possibility of an injury in a meaningless game. An example of such a devastating and unnecessary injury is Derrick Rose tearing his ACL during a playoff game in which the Chicago Bulls held an insurmountable lead. The injury has hindered Rose ever since and has prevented him from returning to his MVP form.

Personally, I think Mark’s decision to rest these players for the balance of the season is a smart move. The Nets have been eliminated from playoff contention for a while and have nothing to play for. Marks is thinking about what is best for the Nets in the long term, rather than their short term interests. It is wise to protect Lopez and Young so they are healthy for the upcoming season, which will hopefully be better than this year’s effort. Lopez broke his foot in the preseason a few years ago in a meaningless preseason game, so the Nets would like to avoid an issue that would harm their future prospects for success.