Report: Nets have 'beautiful' situation heading into the offseason

USA Today

05-03-2025

Report: Nets have 'beautiful' situation heading into the offseason
The Brooklyn Nets came into this season hoping to put themselves in the best position to get the first overall pick in the top-heavy 2025 NBA Draft. While Brooklyn did not do the best job of getting to that goal given how many games the franchise won in the beginning of the season, their rebuild with the big picture in mind is something that is considered "beautiful."
NetsDaily recently reported that a source indicated that "as one NBA source has told NetsDaily, 'the beauty of the Nets situation is that they can move in any direction.'" This reporting comes off the backdrop of NetsDaily pointing out that the Nets have the most tradeable first-round picks in the league at this point of the season, according to data from RealGM.
While many have made the point that the Nets did not take advantage of getting their own pick back for this season given that Brooklyn's pick heading into Tuesday's slate of games is sixth, putting them behind teams like the Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans. More to the point, the Nets have the same record as the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that began the season looking to be a title contender in the Eastern Conference before shutting down superstar center Joel Embiid.
"According to a RealGM survey published Friday, Brooklyn currently has access to 10 first rounders that can be traded, nearly twice as many as the next team, the Utah Jazz, who have six," NetsDaily wrote. "They also have than two, three and even four times more than every other NBA team besides the Jazz." As NetsDaily points out, the Nets have more draft capital that they can trade than any other team, something that could prove pivotal if Brooklyn decided to go after a player that would require multiple first-round picks to acquire.
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported on Monday that "the availability of Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is one of the stars several executives who spoke with HoopsHype will be monitoring on the trade market this summer," when discussing players that could be available this offseason. Ball is already in the middle of a five-year, $203.85 million contract with the Hornets, but if Charlotte decides to go elsewhere, Brooklyn could use their cap space to absorb his contract.
While talking about Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, Scotto wrote that "The question on the mind of executives around the league is whether or not Atlanta will commit a long-term extension to Young this summer or look to move him before having to pay him more money." Brooklyn's rebuild is still in the early stages so time will tell if they decide to go all-in on a short rebuild or remain patient enough to build the team through the Draft.