Brooklyn Nets have significant cap space. Will they re-sign their own talent, pursue star free agents, or orchestrate a game-changing trade?
The Brooklyn Nets are entering the offseason with the third-most cap space in the league and must determine how they will use it to field a competitive team next season.
Brooklyn is projected to have $44.6 million in cap space, according to NBA cap expert Keith Smith. The Nets trail the Los Angeles Lakers ($48.1 million) and the Chicago Bulls ($58.4 million).
Figuring out how to spend their cap space is crucial because the Houston Rockets own their 2027 pick swap and the NBA proposed new changes to the lottery to combat tanking.
Brooklyn can use what cap it has available in various ways: to re-sign players set to enter free agency, sign new free agents or use it to offset the remaining money of an unbalanced trade.
The Nets have nine free agents: Ochai Agbaji (restricted), Josh Minott (team option), Day'Ron Sharpe (team option), Ziaire Williams (team option), Jalen Wilson (restricted), E.J. Liddell (restricted), Tyson Etienne (restricted), Chaney Johnson (restricted) and Malachi Smith (team option).
BleacherReport's Grant Hughes on Thursday published his take on all 30 teams' toughest free agency decisions. With regard to the Nets, he said out of the team's nine free agents, Agbaji is the priority.
"The 25-year-old wing is a low-stakes concern," Hughes wrote. "Brooklyn has the leverage of matching rights if retaining him is in its plans."
Brooklyn received Agbaji from a three-team trade with the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers.
The former Raptor averaged 6.7 points and 2.3 rebounds on 43.6/34.9/78.6 shooting splits in 20 games for his new team.
Agbaji earned $6.38 million in the final year of his rookie contract, and as a restricted free agent, it's unlikely the Nets will decline to match an offer sheet within their preferred salary range.
Chasing free agents like CJ McCollum and Peyton Watson are also ways Brooklyn can spend its cap space.
McCollum, an unrestricted free agent, could command a multiyear deal above the midlevel exception (valued at $15 million next season).
Signing the 34-year-old would bite into a significant portion of Brooklyn's cap space, but he is a savvy veteran who can score in bunches and mentor the young players.
Watson is a restricted free agent and could command a multiyear deal worth up to $30 million annually. The 6-foot-8 wing would provide shooting and defensive versatility on a young Nets team and reunite Watson with former teammate Michael Porter Jr.
However, if Brooklyn sends an offer sheet to Watson, their cap will be tied up for 48 hours until the Denver Nuggets decide to match or decline.
Denver's cap space is limited with Christian Braun's five-year, $125 million extension kicking in next season, becoming the fourth player on the team paid over $20 million annually.
The last way Brooklyn could use its cap space is by offsetting the remaining money of an unbalanced trade.
For example, Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose future with the Milwaukee Bucks is uncertain, will earn $58 million next season.
If the Nets sent Michael Porter Jr. ($40.8 million) and Egor Dëmin ($7.2 million) -- a successful trade, according to Spotrac's trade machine -- they would absorb the remaining $10 million of Antetokounmpo's contract into their cap space.
An Antetokounmpo trade is extremely unlikely, as this is a hypothetical mapping out how absorbing contracts into cap space works.
Brooklyn has various ways to utilize its cap space this summer, and they must spend it to field a competitive team next season in light of the Rockets owning their 2027 pick swap and the NBA's anti-tanking proposal.
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, and stay even more connected!