Nets predicted to finish dead-last in Eastern Conference in NBA.com power rankings
The Brooklyn Nets are embracing a full rebuild entering the 2025-26 NBA campaign. A rebuild often entails a focus on draft positioning and, in turn, losing. That's why many analysts expect the Nets to finish towards the bottom of the league next season. NBA.com ranked Brooklyn dead last in the Eastern Conference in its latest offseason power rankings.
General Manager Sean Marks laid a potential foundation for the Nets' next era in June's draft, making a record five first-round picks. He also traded Cam Johnson, Brooklyn's top player from last season, to the Denver Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick.
While the Nets' roster has been torn down nearly to the studs, will they be the East's worst team next season?
Will Nets be Eastern Conference's worst team following busy offseason?
That should be the goal after last season's disappointing draft outcome. The Nets paid a steep price to reacquire their 2025 and 2026 first-round picks from the Houston Rockets last summer. Yet, they held onto several veterans, such as Johnson, Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith, into the season and opened the year 9-10.
That hot start put them behind the eight ball in the tank race, as they finished with the sixth-best lottery odds. The Nets fell to the No. 8 pick in the draft, just two spots ahead of the Phoenix Suns' pick, which was one of four they traded to the Rockets to regain control of their 2025 and 2026 first-rounders.
The good news for the Nets is that the 2026 draft features several highly-touted prospects such as Darryn Peterson, A.J. Dybantsa and Cam Boozer. Brooklyn's veteran production should take a step back this season, with Porter Jr. and Terance Mann replacing Johnson and Finney-Smith.
Most importantly, the Nets replaced veteran point guards Dennis Schröder and D'Angelo Russell with rookies Egor Demin, Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf. While all three boast intriguing potential, it'll take time before they can run an NBA offense efficiently.
The Washington Wizards are the only team that should realistically compete with Brooklyn for the East's worst record. However, Brian Keefe's squad has far more talent on paper. The Wizards have promising young pieces in Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington and Bilal Coulibaly. They also traded for veterans CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton, as well as a talented young scorer in Cam Whitmore.
Barring injuries to McCollum and their other lead ball-handlers, the Wizards should have a good chance to finish ahead of the Nets in the standings. Such an outcome wouldn't be a bad thing for a Brooklyn team in desperate need of a top draft pick.
Related: Insider declares tanking a necessity for Nets during win total prediction
Related: 3 way-too-early Brooklyn Nets trade candidates in 2025-26 season
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Daniel Schneemann's two-run triple
Daniel Schneemann lines a triple inro right-center field and extends the Guardians lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the 4th
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bengals reportedly have been listening to trade offers for Trey Hendrickson as contract talks stall
With contract talks between the Cincinnati Bengals and star defensive end Trey Hendrickson at a standstill, the Bengals are reportedly listening to potential trade offers. The NFL Network reported Sunday that Cincinnati is open to trade discussions, while The Athletic reported that the team has been listening to trade offers for weeks. The asking price for Hendrickson is reportedly significant, as the Bengals seek defensive players as well as draft capital, per The Athletic. Dianna Russini of The Athletic also reported that Hendrickson may have netted a better return if Cincinnati had moved him earlier in the offseason, such as when the defensive end was given permission to seek a trade in March. Tension between the Bengals and Hendrickson first emerged at the end of last season, as Hendrickson looked for a landing spot that would give him a better contract. Though the trade never materialized, Hendrickson said in May that he would not play on his current deal after expressing his frustrations that the Bengals had not been communicating with his representation. When it came time for training camp, Hendrickson was initially a holdout, but eventually reported to camp despite not making progress on a new deal. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Hendrickson told reporters in July that the situation had remained "exactly the same" in terms of contract talks, but he decided to attend training camp so he wouldn't be a distraction to his teammates. "I want to help the guys, the guys that have helped me along the way. Demario Davis, Cam Jordan, even Sam Hubbard helped me a lot when I was here. To be that, right now, I think that's what's most important. This [contract] narrative will kinda iron itself out as we continue to progress towards the season," he said at the time. Hendrickson's hold-in comes as defensive stars are getting significant money. In July, Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt signed a record three-year, $123 million extension; in March, the Las Vegas Raiders and Maxx Crosby agreed to a three-year, $106.5 million deal, while Myles Garrett signed an extension with the Cleveland Browns that gives him $40 million per year. Hendrickson, meanwhile, is set to earn just under $16 million next season under the current deal. The four-time Pro Bowler earned his first All-Pro selection last year, and is considered one of the best defensive players in the league — and certainly on the Bengals.
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Decisions, decisions: Headlining quarterback competitions around the NFL
NFL teams' hopes live and die with the play of their quarterbacks. For every Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen, there are franchises with signal-callers at the other end of the talent spectrum. The preseason is a time for some squads to try to decide who their quarterback will be (at least, for Week 1). That's not a great look when one doesn't know who the most important player on the team will be without watching "meaningless" preseason contests. Then, there are the Los Angeles Rams, who thought they had a franchise QB but ... The Matthew Stafford quandary There is all sorts of mystery and drama surround the Rams' Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Stafford. Los Angeles had a chance to part ways with him in the offseason but stuck with the veteran. Now, in the preseason he has a bad back and after saying he threw 60 practice passes and looked great, coach Sean McVay is supposed to address the Stafford situation on Monday. If Stafford is lost for any amount of time, that puts Jimmy Garoppolo or Stetson Bennett taking snaps. Not a good look for the defending NFC West champs. Colts close in on decision Shane Steichen says he is close to making a decision between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones as Indianapolis' starting quarterback. The fact that it is any sort of decision between the former New York Giants' No. 1 pick and a guy who was supposed to be a franchise QB when chosen fourth overall in 2023, is ominous. Richardson started all of 13 games at Florida. Beginning to feel like NFL teams should put more emphasis on quarterbacks who actually play a lot of college football then potential. Is Richardson simply the next Trey Lance? Will Trey Lance be Justin Herbert's backup? Lance flubbed in San Francisco and didn't get much run in Dallas. The former No. 3 overall pick, who had all of 17 college starts -- sounds like Richardson -- is looking like the backup for the Bolts. He has played well in the preseason, for what it is worth. Easton Stick somehow isn't a Chargers backup anymore. He seemed destined to live in that role, but is now a Falcon. Taylor Heinicke is also in the running. He's a nice body to have around, but that's about it. Jim Harbaugh best hope that Justin Herbert remains upright. Giant decision for Brian Daboll Will Jameis Winston stick with the Giants behind Russell Wilson as the New York Giants' backup QB? All the buzz is the second, first-round pick Jaxson Dart looks like he will be the second-stringer behind the veteran. Wilson has to know he is nothing but a stop-gap until the Giants play poorly enough for coach Brian Daboll to hand the team to Dart. But will they simply have the rookie from Ole Miss at the ready if the former Seahawk, Bronco, and Steeler isn't cutting it? For all of Winston's charm and humor, at this point, he is a career backup. And that's a guy who was a No. 1 overall pick years ago. Kevin Stefanski's choice The quarterback carousel never stops in Cleveland. Never. Kevin Stefanski will name his No. 1 quarterback this week. Let's take a stab and say it will be Joe Flacco. Kenny Pickett has not played in the preseason. Dillon Gabriel saw action in Week 2. Shedeur Sanders played well in Week 1 and then hurt his oblique. No matter who Stefanski chooses, the Browns' situation overall is bleak. This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: NFL quarterback carousel around the league heats up as Week 1 nears
