By landing All-Star Julius Randle and a dynamic rookie backcourt, Brooklyn eyes a climb from the Eastern Conference basement toward a surprising postseason play-in push.
The Brooklyn Nets' front office was very active this offseason, adding multiple players through free agency, trades, and the 2026 NBA Draft.
After winning just 20 games last season, the team should improve and even compete for a play-in spot in the very competitive, new-look Eastern Conference.
On Monday, The Athletic's David Aldridge ranked his first ten rankings of each NBA team's offseason, with Brooklyn ranking No. 22 - the second-highest of the released teams.
"Brooklyn has a ways to go, but at the very least, this group should be more competitive most nights next season for Jordi Fernández — and get out of the league basement in offensive rating," Aldridge wrote. "It’s a start."
Julius Randle was the most-notable player added before the draft, as the Nets made a move the night before the draft to acquire the three-time All Star.
In his second season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Randle scored 21.2 points per game, adding 6.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists on solid 48.1-percent shooting.
After a solid first-round showing against the Denver Nuggets, Randle struggled immensely against the San Antonio Spurs' length and size, which had many analysts and fans calling for Minnesota to look to move the bruising forward.
Aldridge expressed his concern that Randle may not want to stick around for long, as he has a $35.8 million player option in the 2026-2027 season.
But, Randle has been very positive about him being back in New York, and has already taken on a leadership role with the Nets younger players.
Brooklyn's backcourt is an intriguing prospect for the future as well, as Egor Dёmin and rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr. looked dynamic in the Summer League.
The former Louisville standout averaged 16.7 points, 4.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, while looking like a difference-maker on the defensive end.
Brown did well using his length and size to pressure opposing guards and force turnovers.
Dёmin, on the other hand, was one of the best players in the entire tournament, posting stellar averages of 21 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.
If Dёmin can carry over the comfortability he showed on the offensive end into the regular season, he could be the X-factor for how much the Nets can improve.
Additional free agent signings like Keon Ellis and Moritz Wagner are good value pickups for Brooklyn's bench unit as well, as both players bring different elements to both sides of the ball.
Ellis played 48 games for the Kings last season before being dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to the trade deadline.
In Cleveland, Ellis took advantage of more minutes, increasing all his scoring, rebounding and assist numbers while shooting nearly 10 percentage points higher than he did with the Kings.
Ellis' defense shined, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
As a career 40.7-percent 3-point shooter, Ellis' spacing will be a benefit to Brown and Dëmin, who are both elite playmakers.
Wagner is a high-energy big man who can provide intensity and offensive spark to the Nets' bench unit, having signed with the team for two-years and $19 million.
Following the Randle move, which saw Brooklyn part ways with longtime starting big man Nic Claxton, the center position is the biggest question mark on the roster.
Sixth-year center Day'Ron Sharpe will have his first opportunity to be a full-time starter, which mean Wagner could be in for significant run off the bench.
These additions to Brooklyn's bench unit combined with the acquisitions of Randle and Brown give head coach Jordi Fernández plenty of depth and options to experiment with.
