Bleacher Report ranked the Nets' projected starting lineup 29th in the NBA, but that feels far too low. With proven veterans, promising lottery picks, and a breakout candidate at center, Brooklyn has a stronger case than several teams ranked ahead of it.
Bleacher Report recently released its rankings of every projected NBA starting lineup following LeBron James' move to the Philadelphia 76ers, placing the Brooklyn Nets at No. 29, ahead of only the Milwaukee Bucks.
While expectations remain low for Brooklyn entering the 2026-27 season, that ranking feels a bit harsh.
The outlet projected the Nets' starting lineup as Mikel Brown Jr., Egor Dëmin, Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle and Day'Ron Sharpe, noting that Brooklyn's two top-10 picks need to be on the floor together while Porter and Randle are the obvious veteran starters. It also highlighted Sharpe's strong production in seven starts last season after the departure of Nic Claxton.
There is plenty of uncertainty surrounding this group, but there is also more proven talent than a No. 29 ranking suggests.
Randle and Porter immediately give Brooklyn something many rebuilding teams simply do not have: accomplished veterans who have produced at a high level in meaningful games. Randle is a three-time All-Star who has been the second-best player on multiple deep playoff teams, while Porter played a key role on Denver's 2023 NBA championship team and has spent years as one of the league's better floor spacers.
That type of experience matters, especially when surrounded by young players still finding their footing.
Then there is the upside.
Brown may be a rookie, but he was drafted inside the top 10 for a reason. Dëmin, meanwhile, enters his second NBA season looking to build off a promising rookie year and continue developing into a cornerstone piece for Brooklyn. The Nets view both as foundational players, and while there will undoubtedly be growing pains, they have the potential to form one of the most intriguing young backcourts in the NBA.
Their size, versatility and playmaking should allow Jordi Fernandez plenty of lineup flexibility from day one.
Sharpe could also be in line for the biggest season of his career.
After spending the past few years behind Claxton, the 24-year-old is finally expected to receive full-time starting minutes. He showed flashes whenever given extended opportunities last season, averaging 11.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks across seven starts. If he carries that production into a larger role, Brooklyn's frontcourt becomes much more formidable than many expect.
He will finally have the opportunity to prove he can be more than just a backup center.
The biggest issue with Bleacher Report's rankings may not even be where the Nets landed, but who finished ahead of them.
The Memphis Grizzlies came in at No. 27 with a projected lineup of Ty Jerome, Jaylen Wells, Cedric Coward, Cameron Boozer and Zach Edey. It is certainly an intriguing group loaded with young talent, but there are also plenty of questions entering the season.
Jerome had an impressive stretch in limited action last season, posting career-best numbers across 15 games, but the small sample size leaves questions about how he handles a full season as a starter. Boozer looks like a future star, and Edey continues to develop, while Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward have already shown they can be valuable pieces after earning All-Rookie First Team honors in their respective rookie seasons.
However, Brooklyn still has the edge when it comes to proven NBA talent.
Randle and Porter have both been key contributors on playoff teams, with Porter winning a championship in Denver and Randle earning multiple All-Star selections throughout his career. Memphis has a fascinating young core with plenty of upside, but Brooklyn's combination of veteran experience and high-level young talent gives them a stronger argument for a higher ranking.
If the goal is ranking projected starting lineups entering this season, not three years from now, Brooklyn has the stronger case.
The Nets combine two proven veterans, two high-upside lottery picks and a center who appears ready for a breakout opportunity. That blend of experience and potential gives Brooklyn a higher floor than several rebuilding teams around the league.
No one is arguing this is one of the NBA's better starting lineups. There are still legitimate concerns about defense, consistency, and relying on young players in major roles.
But placing Brooklyn 29th feels more like an overreaction to its youth than a true evaluation of the talent on the floor. The Nets are not a finished product, but a spot or two higher, particularly ahead of Memphis, would have been much easier to justify.
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