After a stagnant trade deadline, Brooklyn must leverage draft capital and significant cap space to land a foundational star and ignite a stalled rebuilding process this summer.
Outside of a quiet final stretch leading up to it, the Brooklyn Nets’ biggest move in this year’s trade deadline was a waiver.
Without a trade partner, the Nets waived Cam Thomas, making him an unrestricted free agent. All trade candidates on the table, including Michael Porter Jr. and Terance Mann, stayed put and the team gained two wings, Raptors Ochai Agbaji and Celtics Josh Minott, without having to give up core assets.
The rebuild is clearly underway but there are still a few things missing.
While being tied with the Washington Wizards and the Indiana Pacers for the best odds going into the lottery, Brooklyn walked away disappointed with the sixth pick. It's a setback but not one that will completely stop the rebuild. The Nets could still potentially trade up, even as high as Washington's No. 1 pick.
With a stockpile of future first-round selections, the Nets still have the flexibility to move up the board if the right opportunity presents itself. The Nets should be looking to pursue a foundational player through the draft, the type of player capable of changing the long-term direction of the franchise.
Even as one of Brooklyn’s most tradeable assets with a $38.3 million salary, Michael Porter Jr. isn’t getting any younger. Porter’s contract made it difficult for luxury-tax teams to construct a budget-friendly deal at the deadline. Although Brooklyn held onto Porter at the deadline, the offseason will have teams scrambling for playoff runs and in turn, paying for the players that will get them there.
With more financial flexibility in the offseason, an offer for an unprotected first-round pick in addition to a young player who hasn’t surpassed a rookie-scale deal yet is what the Nets should be waiting for.
The Nets’ current roster lacks a clear star, but they have the youth and depth to facilitate a trade for one. Although Egor Demin and Noah Clowney have shown promise, inconsistency is the last thing the team needs in a leader.
With nearly $45 million estimated in cap space this offseason, Brooklyn has the financial capacity to find a face of the franchise, whether it’s through a sign-and-trade or free agency. An aggressive draft night decision should also be on the table.
The Nets have the infrastructure and assets to pull off one of the league’s biggest moves and this summer may provide the perfect opportunity to do so. Now, the pressure is on Brooklyn to capitalize.
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