The Nets project to have significantly more cap room than any other NBA team this offseason — they’re in position to open up more than $60MM in space. However, they’re unlikely to take the same approach as last year’s top cap-room team, Philadelphia, which spent big on win-now free agents.
As Brian Windhorst of ESPN writes in an Insider-only article, the Nets signaled when they reacquired control of both their 2025 and 2026 first-round picks that they might require at least a two-year rebuild. Some rival teams believe Brooklyn will end up rolling much of its 2025 cap room over to the 2026 offseason, according to Windhorst.
“They’re going to use it in trade because they’re not going to have anyone to pay in this free agent market,” one executive said of the Nets’ cap space. “They could end up right back in this spot next year.”
Here are a few more items of interest from Windhorst and his ESPN colleague Tim Bontemps:
- While the hope in Philadelphia is that better health luck next season will result in a bounce-back year for the Sixers, there’s still no update on what the treatment plan for Joel Embiid is and no assurances that he’ll be back to 100% in 2025/26, as Windhorst and Bontemps note. “Until they know what is happening with Embiid, there is no way to project what they will be next year,” a league executive told ESPN. “They will have a hard time changing that roster.”
- The Pelicans are just 9-19 in games that Zion Williamson has played this season and project to have an expensive roster next season, so even though Williamson has been healthy and performed well as of late, rivals continue to wonder if he’ll end up on the trade block, Windhorst writes. “The question about the Pelicans is whether they would consider trading Zion,” a rival general manager told ESPN. “It hasn’t really been an option over the last couple of years because he’s been injured, and his value hasn’t been high enough. Even now, I don’t think they could get great value. So they will probably see if he can carry this play over into next year.”
- Multiple executives who spoke to Bontemps lauded the Wizards for their work at the trade deadline, including bringing in veterans like Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart while taking a flier on 2024 first-rounder AJ Johnson. “I like what they are doing,” an executive said. “They’re doing things the right way.” Conversely, there’s some skepticism around the league about the way in which the Raptors – who traded a first-round pick as part of a package for Brandon Ingram – are attempting to accelerate their rebuild, says Bontemps. “I don’t like what Toronto is doing,” one exec told ESPN. “Trying to flip it quick is dangerous.”
Sure, the Nets aren’t going to hand out a $200M deal to a 34 year old who’s long past his prime. But players like Ty Jerome and Naz Reid available at 28 would very much fit what they’re doing.
Ty isn’t even close to the class of FA that Naz is.
Toronto suck and tried to get better but no.
Wizards also sucked but were young and promising they traded out old has beens for a couple solid vets and it should only help the development of the young guys on the roster.
If they win the race for Cooper then that’s awesome. Smart and Poole make a real decent backcourt. Experience and youth, offence and defence mix. Cooper, Coulibaly and Middleton with Sarr in the centre as the 6 main men. After that again good mix of talents Bey, George, Champagine and Carrington.
Again sticking with how they’ve rebuilt so far I’d add an experienced centre they’ll be respected. Andre Drummond would be good for that. Especially because they lack size and with him at the 5 your going to get a lot of rebounds.
They could do with another back up guard to partner Bub.
Idk I like they way they are going but it is slow
Pels need to trade Zion to the highest bidder and rebuild…
He’s not enough to carry a team and may never have a healthier season…
Raptors I don’t like either… A far better move than 2 teams out west made, but still one that is far too risky…
The Raptors sucked by choice this season. They could’ve made a run for a play in spot. With Quickley, Barrett, Dick and Barnes they have a decent core. Now they add a proven veteran scorer in Ingram. This team if they play their cards correctly could challenge the Knicks for the third seed next season.
Embiid is the worst contract in the league. A flopper
who injures himself in his flopping is a person who should be playing in China at best. You get scammed every time you watch him play.