Nets Planning How To Use Cap Space Before Randle Trade

The Brooklyn Nets traded for Julius Randle on June 24, but have yet to make the trade official, as they decide how to use the remaining cap space in free agency.

Brooklyn has $24.7 million left in cap space to make additional moves. However, the team cannot take forever since the Randle trade involves three other teams: the Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets.

Delaying the Randle trade allows general manager Sean Marks to sign or trade for another player, and sign Mo Wagner and acquire Randle via exceptions. One player commonly linked to the Nets is Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson.

Watson is a restricted free agent, and Denver is scarily close to the second apron. The 6-foot-8 forward is looking to earn $25 million annually in his next contract, and the Nuggets cannot afford that price tag without multiple cost-cutting measures.

The Nets have the cap space to offer Watson the money he wants and give Denver assets in return. Signing and trading for Watson would have to happen before other moves.

For cap space teams, the order of operations is important. If Brooklyn made the Wagner signing and Randle trade official, then it would have dipped into its remaining cap space.

An underlying issue with delaying the trade is Joshua Jefferson's playing time in the summer league. Because he was the No. 28 pick via Minnesota by Brooklyn, he cannot play in the summer league until the trade is official.

Mikel Brown Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau have played two summer league games. Jefferson is lagging behind his peers, and on a roster where all the young players are competing against one another, it's detrimental to Jefferson's growth.

Brooklyn has had a solid, active offseason with multiple moves. The team added Randle, three new rookies, signed Keon Ellis and Wagner, and re-signed Day'Ron Sharp and Josh Minott.

Michael Porter Jr. could be on the trading block, as he and the Nets have not agreed to a contract extension. However, Porter Jr.'s fate with the organization is not the worst of its worries.

The Nets do not have all the time in the world to ponder how they want to use their cap space. There are other teams involved, and they are delaying Jefferson's development in the team's system.

Whether it's a sign-and-trade to acquire Watson or dipping into their cap space to make the Wagner and Randle trade official, Brooklyn must make a decision sooner rather than later.

Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.

Download the free Roundtable APP, (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/roundtable-rtb/id6450423049) and stay even more connected!