The Nets are going to spend the summer trying to give free agents their money and to lure a point guard to run their offense. They put on a pretty good show for target Rajon Rondo, showing exactly what that offense can do in running the Kings off the floor in a 128-119 victory Friday night at Barclays Center that was nowhere near that close.
Rondo — who The Post reported also could be a target for the Knicks — came in leading the NBA in assists and steering an offense leading the league in pace. But the Nets (13-38) gave the Kings a taste of their own up-tempo medicine, easily surpassing their season-high of 118 points set in a Dec. 23 overtime loss to Dallas.
Brook Lopez had 26 points and 12 rebounds. Resurgent point-forward Joe Johnson, on fire since interim coach Tony Brown replaced Lionel Hollins, had a game-high 27 points and season-high 11 assists. And when it was over, the Nets had season-highs in points, shooting percentage (55.8) and 3-point shooting (64.3).
“That’s the way we need to play, very unselfish,’’ Lopez said. “We really wanted to get this team moving from side-to-side, defending for the entire shot clock. We achieved that.’’
That was more defending than the Kings were interested in. The Nets took advantage, moving the ball, getting clean looks and hitting 18-of-28 from deep.
“We have good shooters, we just need to get them rhythm shots,’’ Brown said. “Look at Joe, look at [Bojan Bogdanovic], incredible from 3. That was a big reason why we won.’’
Sure, Kings All-Star DeMarcus Cousins had a triple-double (24 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists), while Rondo had 15 points and 15 assists. But the Nets seized control in the third quarter, and for a change they didn’t blow it in the fourth.
“The thing I’m most proud of about [Friday] is the way we closed it out. We stayed focused,’’ Lopez said. “They had a lot of opportunities to start making runs or closing the gap, they hit some big shots. We stuck with it. We closed the game. We need to do that more often.’’
Clinging to a 65-61 lead at halftime, Brooklyn opened the third quarter on a 21-10 run.
Thaddeus Young had eight points in the run, with Johnson’s 3-pointer putting the Nets ahead 86-71 with 6:22 left in the quarter. Donald Sloan’s 3-pointer padded it to 101-79, and they easily held Sacramento at bay from there for their third home win since Dec. 10.
“It feels great, man, great to get a win, see everything click on all cylinders,’’ said Johnson, who had just seven points after halftime, but didn’t mind the change in focus. “Whatever [Brown] wants. That’s my guy, and I roll with him. I never question the coaches, or any decision they make.’’
One decision the Nets have to make is how to spend their $40 million in cap space this summer, and what point guard to get. Rondo (along with the Grizzlies Mike Conley) is a top target, and said more than years or dollars, he wants a free-flowing, up-tempo style that fits. The Nets couldn’t have put on a better recruiting display.
“Coach. And the style of play,’’ Rondo said of what would influence his next signing. “The biggest thing for me is the style of play. I don’t want to go to a system where I don’t really have the ball in my hands, and they have you standing in the corner shooting 3s. That’s not my style of play yet. I haven’t turned into J-Kidd. … That’s about it. Style of play is the biggest thing: Personnel on the court and coaches.’’
Is it fair to say Rondo — a ball-dominant point guard who, until the past season-and-a-half, had been a wretched 3-point shooter — isn’t a fit for the triangle offense the Knicks are wed to?
“Triangle is not really a good look for me, I don’t think,’’ he said.