To get us through the late-Summer doldrums of the NBA, we’re reviewing teams from around the league and how their offseasons went.
Brooklyn Nets
Key Additions:
Bojan Bogdanovic
Ziaire Williams
Shake Milton
Key Losses:
Mikal Bridges
Dennis Smith Jr
Offseason Review and 2024-25 Season Outlook:
The Brooklyn Nets made the biggest trade of the NBA offseason when they sent Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks. In return the Nets received Bogdanovic, Milton, Mamadi Diakite, and a whole slew of draft picks. The Nets received five 1st-round picks, four of them being unprotected picks, and one being a top-4 protected Bucks pick. They also got an unprotected swap in 2028, and a second round pick. This trade was huge for the Nets, who were stuck floundering in the middle of the East following the breakup of the Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving/James Harden experiments. The Nets now have draft picks again, and are free to fully rebuild themselves.
The Nets now find themselves with a ton of options and opportunity. Ben Simmons is finally in the final year of his contract, giving the Nets a $40 million expiring contract. They could move him at the deadline to some team desperate to get under an apron, or let him expire and be players in free agency next summer. Bogdanovic is also an expiring contract, on the books for $19 million. The Nets have more options too. Dennis Schroder, Ziaire Williams, Cameron Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Trendon Watford are also all expiring. Williams, Thomas, and Sharpe will be restricted free agents, increasing their value to teams who may be acquiring them. Sharpe in particular should be a compelling trade asset. Whether Brooklyn chases trade or free agency, they have a very clean cap sheet moving forward, with only Nic Claxton, Cam Johnson, and Shake Milton guaranteed for next season. Dorian Finney-Smith has a player option after this season.
Why We Hate Them:
They took Jordi Fernandez from us. While we’re happy for Jordi, we absolutely hate Brooklyn for it. And then they have the nerve to not trade us Cam Johnson for cheap? What jerks.
So the Nets have all those picks from the Durant trade and the Bridges trade. They have set them selves up nicely like OKC did a few years back and Utah has just done. The difference is those other two teams had a young all-star to build around in SGA and Lauri. The Nets do not have that foundational piece…as of yet.
All that being said, I bet the move DFS and Cam Johnson by the deadline for more assets. They have no reason to compete this year and may too find themselves in the capture the Flagg sweepstakes.
If Brooklyn called up and asked for Huerter and a pair of 2nds for DFS, do you do it?
Huerter and 2nds for Cam I’d do in a heartbeat. I’d be a little more concerned about DFS since he could walk after this season, but I think I still might do it.
Totally with you on Cam, but I imagine he’d cost a bit more. Salary matching could also be an issue.
I guess I’m in a holding pattern in terms of Huerter’s future. I want to see how the rotation plays out, and especially want to see if Ellis is the real deal. If Huerter begins to get relegated to the Duarte/Terrance Davis role in the rotation, but still need defensive help on the wing, then I’d be all aboard for DFS.
Full agreement – Kevin Huerter had an off season and it’s still a mystery as to how/why. And there is still the 2023 playoffs vs. GSW to consider. To be that off for that long is disconcerting. Taken in the context of career, it is easier to expect more and better this season. Having the injury allowed Red Velvet to come in for this season as a vet reset.
His engaging personality and potential were such a nice fit for the 2023 regular season – he shined brightly enough to get his 3 point contest invite to the Utah ASG (yes, he did not excel at that time). However, that was a season and a half ago.
I dunno – we fans are all ready to write him off; maybe more and better is ahead. We can discuss all of what he doesn’t or all of what he does. If GM McNair can find that (apparently) elusive long, athletic, rim protecting, rebounding, 3 and D PF who is 6’10 or taller, it’ll be time to put away the Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
As for the Nyets – they are likely the Top Tank Team. Flagg, Bailey and Maluach give them 3 chances for a building block. Jordi is going to have a long rough year ahead.
I still think we need a power forward who can rebound and somewhat stretch the floor. I’ve come to the conclusuion the 2 , after spending a lot of time looking at all the strengths and weaknessess of basically PF like J. Collins, Z Collins Naz Reid, Tari Eason, Isaiah Stewart. Robert Williams, Bobby Portis Kyle Kuzma and a couple more not mentioned. I have come to a conclusion on 2 of the above. I might be wrong so be it. My 2 are John Collins or Isaiah Stewart. IMO both fit, Collins a little more, and I think we could get either one without using Huerter as a trade chip. The Jazz really don’t want Collins and if traded to Kings IMO because we are a contending team he would come in and revitalize his game. He doesn’t have to be a top scorer but he rebounds over 8 per game in 27 minutes of playing time. He can shoot the 3 as he has always done. IMO a almost perfect fit with Domas. If we had to include Huerter I really wouldn’t mind.
Stewart is my second choice. Great motor. Can play center or power forward. I like him next to Sabonis as a PF first. He also can stretch the floor and shoot the 3. I saw a fanspo trade(3 way) where we eventually trade Lykles and 2 seconds and would get Stewart and Kris Murray. We still keep Huerter on this one.
PS. If Monty goes for offense and I’ve also done research on this Cam Johnson IMO would be a great fit. Here we are sacrificing offense for defense although Johnson can do some things on the defensive side.
No but I would for Johnson.
OT: Interesting little tidbit I had not heard before. Orlando Robinson’s deal has just a $500K guarantee. It would be interesting to see what the guarantee date is.
https://x.com/MikeAScotto/status/1821614081432023278
Off topic: Can’t get over how gratifying it was to watch Bobo make two dumb turnovers in crunch time to let the US go ahead and stay ahead for the win.
At least this allows him to get a jump on missing thirty NBA games for Atlanta this season.
Who is Bobo?
Ex-King Bogdan Bogdanovic (spelling might be wrong)
That is what I thought.
Strange to bash him. He was a great player here and still a solid player in Atlanta. Pretty sure he played almost every game last year and has consistently put up good numbers?
Badge Legend