Three takeaways from the Brooklyn Nets' offseason: Rebuild and more
Nets forward Cam Johnson. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Nets open training camp on Oct. 1. After an offseason in which they hit reset by trading Mikal Bridges to the Knicks, here’s a look at where things stand.
1. Welcome to the rebuild.
The Nets are all-in on the future after trading Bridges for five first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and Bojan Bogdanovic. It’s a wise outlook, given the limitations of last season’s team and the promise of the 2025 draft class.
“When you’re able to garner that amount of draft assets over the course of the last year, I think that’s going to help us in our trajectory, long term and so forth,” general manager Sean Marks said in July.
But it means the present figures not to be pretty. The Nets’ win totals have ranged from 19 to 22 on various betting sites, placing them near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Eight Nets will be 23 years old or younger when the season tips off Oct. 23 in Atlanta.
It’s a team that’ll be focused more on development under first-year coach Jordi Fernandez. While vets Nic Claxton, Dennis Schroder and Cam Thomas will try to keep things afloat, it could be a long season ahead.
2. More player movement?
The Bridges trade signaled the Nets are sellers. Now eyes are on Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith to see if or when they’ll be traded.
Johnson and Finney-Smith have the greatest value with their shooting and productivity. Finney-Smith has two years left on his contract, with a player option after this season. Johnson has three years remaining.
“I’m on the Brooklyn Nets right now. Dorian’s on the Brooklyn Nets right now . . . so that’s what we’re focused on is that group,” Johnson said in July. “And if something happens, then something happens, but that’s how we keep the main thing the main thing.”
Seven Nets have expiring contracts. With the team looking to add more draft picks, there could be more roster shuffling between now and the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
3. Keep an eye on the draft.
There are familiar questions entering this season.
How much is expected from Ben Simmons after a second back surgery in three years?
Will Cam Thomas average more points than the Nets’ total wins?
But the main question is what college prospects should Nets fans watch for?
The Nets regained their 2025 first-round pick via trade and have four first-round picks in next year’s draft, so fans should keep one eye on college basketball this season.
Duke freshman wing Cooper Flagg is the biggest prize. Other prospects include French point guard Nolan Traore, Baylor freshman wing VJ Edgecombe — the star from Long Island Lutheran — and Rutgers freshman duo Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.
If the Nets add one of those players, it’ll be worth the upheaval this offseason. But it’s a tough path between now and then after saying goodbye to Bridges and hello to starting over.
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
