For the first time in years, the Nets will report to training camp without a superstar on their roster, but they have plenty of assets ready for when the next one becomes available, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Brooklyn is in a transition phase after shipping out Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in separate deals last February. Those trades gave the team a foundation built around Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson, along with a parcel of draft assets that can match any team in the league.
The Nets have seven tradable first-round picks through 2030, along with four others that could be involved in swaps. They own unprotected firsts from the Suns in 2027 and 2029 and one from the Mavericks in 2029. Lewis points out that those picks could greatly increase in value as the core in Phoenix becomes older and especially if Irving and Luka Doncic eventually decide to leave Dallas.
Lewis doesn’t expect Brooklyn to use any of its assets to chase players who are currently on the market such as Damian Lillard, Tyler Herro or James Harden. The front office wants to be fully stocked in case a major star such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Donovan Mitchell or Doncic eventually becomes available.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks risk missing out on other opportunities if they decide to wait for the possibility of an Antetokounmpo trade, Ian Begley of SNY.tv states in a mailbag column. He points to Raptors forward OG Anunoby as an example of a useful talent who might be available through trade, but New York can’t make a bid for him if the front office is determined to preserve its assets for a run at Antetokounmpo. Begley also notes that Antetokounmpo could ultimately decide to stay in Milwaukee or force his way to another team.
- The Knicks appear to have Josh Hart penciled in as their backup power forward, Begley adds. New York hasn’t signed anyone to replace Obi Toppin after trading him to Indiana, and using Hart in that role could open up playing time for free agent addition Ryan Arcidiacono.
- The attention being focused on a potential Lillard deal is holding up any progress the Sixers could be making on a Harden trade, Derek Bodner states on the latest PHLY Sports podcast. Philadelphia talked to the Trail Blazers about a Lillard deal this summer, Kyle Neubeck adds, but he cautions that doesn’t mean the teams were ever close to a deal.
Seriously, New York just need to trade for Mikal, Saddiq and Robinson-Earl to have the Villanova Knicks on the floor this year.
As a Knicks and Nova fan, I’m not complaining in the least, Jay Wright did a great job with the kids. It’s just funny to me that there are already four of them on the current Knicks roster, and another one the Knicks drafted and traded the rights to the Thunder.
If the Nets truly aren’t players for Lillard or Herro…
KPJ and their FRPs back for Royce and Cam Thomas. Or if need be, DFS and Cam Thomas.
Houston has no need to give up our valuable Picks to dump Kevin Porter Jr. If a trade is made, expect it to be with several 2nd Round Picks.
No need for us to sacrifice Thomas either, unless Marks and Vaughn truly dislike his game.
Because of how much money is left on his contract, I hope we can trade away Dorian Finney-Smith and allow Royce’s contract to expire
I can see the Knicks being sneaky contenders. Maybe not this year, but soon.
Harden and salary for Lillard?
Begley has to stop trying to think, and learn the league a bit. Nobody is waiting for anyone. Right now, neither Giannis or Anunoby are available by trade. Anunoby might become available prior to the deadline (50/50 maybe), or not at all (contract is up). Giannis won’t be available until next offseason at the earliest (50/50 he moves at all, and most likely if he does it’s at the 2025 deadline). The price points are so different between renting Anunoby (a role player) and acquiring Giannis (a superstar) that the notion that one would impact the ability of a team to do the other is laughable.
Greater minutes for Hart at the 4 spot have absolutely nothing to do with Arch (who’s roster filler, if he’s even on it come the season’s start). It’s about the backcourt logjam, which was exacerbated by the signing DiV as a FA. I understand that Arch and DiV are both ex-Villanova guards, of similar size and complexion, with long last names, so confusing the two might be OK for the most casual fans; but more should be expected of an NBA reporter.
I think getting DiVincenzo. Was getting insurance for a potential big trade. Cause now you can move RJ, Grimes, Quickley, McBride. Or a combination of them. Not a fan of Hart at the 4. I find it farcical they call it playing PF. When that player doesn’t really exist except in playoffs. For this generation.
DeM DeR is the best fit for this team right now. He gives us legitimacy as a contender for next 2-3 yrs. But imo Knicks want to go younger. So a Mitchell or Giannis is more in tune here. I just don’t see how you get them. I don’t see any trade out there. That would help make us a contender now. Except the DeM DeR trade. Knicks could get DeR and Rudy. For price of other guys.
1) Super-Stars don’t demand trades on their current contract, so the Nets haven’t had a Super-Star.
2) Why is Sean Marks hoping for Joel Embiid? He can’t even get a legitimate inexpensive Center on this team when he had a good chance to win with Durant and Irving. If I’m Embiid, I go to the knix since he always s***s on us.
3) I hope Joe Tsai is talking with Bob Meyers because if the Nets look more like sellers than buyers by the trade deadline, Tsai should FIRE Sean Marks and hire Meyers to build the Nets appropriately
For the Knicks,
I think it’s about upgrading from RJ or Mitchell Robinson in the hope your three “stars” are enough and you get a good run but realistically against star studded teams it’s going to be really really difficult without the best and second best player on your side.
OG would be nice, as would maybe a DeAndre Hunter/Jerami Grant/ Sadiq Bey/etc etc type 3 and D small forward. However if your serious about being a true title contender you need a real big name like Paul George or Kawhi Leonard, someone of that ilk.
Realistically Giannas, Joel and Luka all aren’t moving this season and funnily enough both PG and Kawhi have player options end of this season.
So for them it would probably be best to not do anything and this coming offseason then try make a move. Hence why there hasn’t been any chat about an IQ extension and hence why they haven’t been desperate to move Fouriner (has a team option).
Maybe the opportunity comes before free agency at the deadline and you have a chance for Kawhi..
RJ Barrett, Fouriner, IQ, 4 first and 2 swaps.
Then your ready to be a true contender:
Brunson Grimes Kawhi Randle Robinson
McBride DiVancenzo Hart Hartenstein
As For the Nets,
It’s going to sound ridiculous but me personally I’m hoping to build Ben Simmons back up to his best. According to all reports he’s fully fit and playing extremely well and can’t wait for next season. If he can regain the confidence and health to play like he did a couple seasons ago that would be amazing. We are talking about an all NBA level talent, one of the best defenders in the league, one of the best playmakers, a 6’10 point guard. Around him your going to want high IQ guys, people that can shoot, people that can switch around on defence and he’s got that with Mikal and Cam. Both solid shooters, not ball dominate, can switch on defence and smart high IQ guys. Around that you have good role players in Dinwiddie, ONeale, Finney-Smith and so on.
I wouldn’t be in a rush to do anything if I’m them either. I think you also need to spend time developing Cam Thomas, he’s Uber confident and ready waiting for his opportunity he just needs to right guidance and development but he could be one of the best young offensive SG’s just like a Tyler Herro/Jordan Poole. Instead of Brooklyn looking to acquire Herro they should be developing Thomas into him.
All of a sudden you have a big playmaking lead guard, a go to scoring option, 2 all round amazing switchable forwards and have a solid centre in Nic Claxton to lock it all together.
Don’t go looking for trades, work with what you have and really develop those bits cause I think there’s some diamonds in the rough there