By pairing All-Star Julius Randle with high-upside draft picks, Brooklyn has replaced a depleted roster with legitimate rotation depth to ignite a versatile, youth-driven rebuilding phase.
The Brooklyn Nets had an active offseason, making multiple trades and acquisitions, while supplementing the roster through the 2026 NBA Draft.
Spotrac's Keith Smith spent 11 days in Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League gathering intel on some of the teams in attendance, and noted some of the biggest stories about Brooklyn - one being the roster's improved depth.
"What we’re excited about is the depth of legitimate NBA rotation players and potential rotation players we have now," a Nets assistant coach told Smith. "Not to speak ill of last year’s team, but we were down to rookies and non-NBA-level players by the end of the year. This year, we’ve got depth and the kids are improving too."
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.
Moving forward, a starting lineup of Randle and Michael Porter Jr. on the wings, with Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. in the back court, and Day'Ron Sharpe down low is very intriguing for this young Nets team, as you get a little bit of everything.
Brown, who the Nets selected No. 6 overall, showed flashes in the Summer League, displaying his 3-point shooting and playmaking abilities.
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.
Demin, Brown's presumed backcourt mate, also looked like he has taken a big step entering his second professional season.
In Summer League, Demin was Brooklyn's No. 1 option and played like it, posting multiple scoring performances of 20 or more points.
Overall, Demin averaged 21 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.
Additional free agent signings like Keon Ellis and Moritz Wagner are nice pickups for Brooklyn's bench unit as well, as both players bring different elements to the team.
Ellis played 48 games for the Kings last season before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to the deadline.
In Cleveland, Ellis played seven minutes more per game, increasing all his scoring, rebounding and assist numbers while shooting nearly 10 percentage points higher than he did with the Kings.
Ellis has also taken on a large role defensively, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
As a career 40.7-percent 3-point shooter, Ellis' spacing would be a benefit to Brown and Egor Demin, who like to get downhill and find perimeter shooters for kick-outs.
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.
With Sharpe entering his first season as a full-time starter, having a proven rotation player like Wagner will be a big boost to the front court.
Expect Brooklyn to look much more composed thanks to these veteran additions.
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