Official ‘24-25 Off-season Thread

[Hello Brooklyn]

Looking like Mitchell wants to stay in Cleveland. Bummer.

Trae Young is not a bad option. He might cost less.

Bridges/Claxton/Young is a nice core.

Maybe Atlanta wants to get off that money and will take Simmons as an expiring contract?

I think Trae is just as good as Brunson. And weve seen him take his team further in the playoffs. Get it done Marks!

Then use free agnecy and/or trade to add a bigger star.

[vincecarter4pres]

Looking like Mitchell wants to stay in Cleveland. Bummer.

Trae Young is not a bad option. He might cost less.

Bridges/Claxton/Young is a nice core.

Maybe Atlanta wants to get off that money and will take Simmons as an expiring contract?

I think Trae is just as good as Brunson. And weve seen him take his team further in the playoffs. Get it done Marks!

Then use free agnecy and/or trade to add a bigger star.

I’d be cautiously excited with Trae. But still very excited.

This roster is tailor made for him overall too.

I think if ATL decides to move off him and looks at a pick heavy package, you can snag him for something like 2 of the 4 Phoenix picks, the Philly pick and one of our picks in swap years, possibly also the Dallas pick, Whitehead and Simmons.

If that’s possible, I then think you can pivot to the Pelicans and get them to take both the Cams(or Cam T and DFS), a mess of 2nd’s and Schröder for Ingram.

Hang onto two of the Phoenix picks and maybe the Dallas pick.

Trae
Bridges
Ingram
Clowney
Claxton

Full MLE
Cam Johnson or DFS
Sharpe
Wilson
Bates-Diop if he picks up his option
Vet min’s
Unsigned/bought 2nd round rookies

Is a very interesting lineup, with flexibility, draft assets, young guys and desirable fringe All Stars to make the next star trade if someone crazy asks out.

[Netaman]

I’d be cautiously excited with Trae. But still very excited.

This roster is tailor made for him overall too.

I think if ATL decides to move off him and looks at a pick heavy package, you can snag him for something like 2 of the 4 Phoenix picks, the Philly pick and one of our picks in swap years, possibly also the Dallas pick, Whitehead and Simmons.

If that’s possible, I then think you can pivot to the Pelicans and get them to take both the Cams(or Cam T and DFS), a mess of 2nd’s and Schröder for Ingram.

i think the pick return for Trae should be the 25 phoenix pick, 1 unprotected 27/28/29 pick, and the Philly pick. That seems like an appropriate return.

If Atlanta wants Cam Thomas or Jalen Wilson instead of the unprotected 27/28/29 pick, I think that's a choice they can make.

Not sure what kind of salary filler Atlanta would want, but I think the Nets will be able to move Simmons somewhere even if they need to kick in a bunch of 2nds, so in a Trae deal I think that's the simplest path with some TBD 3rd team like Detroit. In here Atlanta is saving $20m+ so i have them kicking in 1 of the 2nds with the nets kicking in another. in the joe harris trade DET ate almost as much money and actually kicked in 2 seconds to the Nets, so this time around they do better.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Looking like Mitchell wants to stay in Cleveland. Bummer.

Trae Young is not a bad option. He might cost less.

Bridges/Claxton/Young is a nice core.

Maybe Atlanta wants to get off that money and will take Simmons as an expiring contract?

I think Trae is just as good as Brunson. And weve seen him take his team further in the playoffs. Get it done Marks!

Then use free agnecy and/or trade to add a bigger star.

I’d be cautiously excited with Trae. But still very excited.

This roster is tailor made for him overall too.

I think if ATL decides to move off him and looks at a pick heavy package, you can snag him for something like 2 of the 4 Phoenix picks, the Philly pick and one of our picks in swap years, possibly also the Dallas pick, Whitehead and Simmons.

If that’s possible, I then think you can pivot to the Pelicans and get them to take both the Cams(or Cam T and DFS), a mess of 2nd’s and Schröder for Ingram.

Hang onto two of the Phoenix picks and maybe the Dallas pick.

Trae
Bridges
Ingram
Clowney
Claxton

Full MLE
Cam Johnson or DFS
Sharpe
Wilson
Bates-Diop if he picks up his option
Vet min’s
Unsigned/bought 2nd round rookies

Is a very interesting lineup, with flexibility, draft assets, young guys and desirable fringe All Stars to make the next star trade if someone crazy asks out.

Bro cautious optimism is the best we can hope for with none of our own picks and the 3 divas leaving us high and dry.

ATL won't get a better off than what you just said.

I don't think we get Ingram for that package though. To be honest

[vincecarter4pres]

There’s a rumor out there the Rockets will engage in trade discussions to swap our picks with the Suns picks.

And then there’s the rumors of us being patient and taking the long approach.

Then also Houston going big game hunting, and having too many young guys on the roster to develop.

So have to wonder if what the end deal could be, is Mikal traded in a separate deal for a blue chip-ish prospect and a pick or two with only one of those picks having real value and lotto potential, and then the precursor trade being something like ‘25 pick swap returned for the Phoenix ‘28 swap, and maybe a stipulation by Houston being, also our ‘26 for one of the other Phoenix or Dallas picks?

So say you trade Mikal to Indy for something like Mathurin and one light or unprotected first, you’re then safe for the organic tank for two drafts.

Or maybe you see if you can get Evan Mobley for him?

Jalen Suggs?

Keegan Murray?

Kuminga?

It just take a bunch of picks from OKC or Memphis?

Initially hated the thought of swapping the Phoenix picks, but if it’s a 2 for 2, with the immediate follow up, to trade Mikal elsewhere, it has a ton of merit.

[vincecarter4pres]

Let’s take it a step further:

Brooklyn sends:
Mikal Bridges
‘28 Phoenix swap
‘29 1st(second best of all 3, top 3 protected, if two of three windup top 3, BK send worst)

Houston sends:
Tari Eason
Dillon Brooks
‘24 3rd overall
‘25 BK swap option returned
‘26 BK 1st returned
‘27 BK swap option returned

[Netaman]

This is an abnormal position, but i have almost no interest in returning the picks from Houston, and DEFINITELY NO interest in swapping PHO picks for them.

If the Nets own their picks, for those picks to be good they have to suck.

Right now, the Nets could be good/watchable/building something fun and still get good picks via PHO, who is the most asset starved disaster since Billy King.

Hold tight to those PHO picks and let the Suns tank for us. Forget about the Nets picks. Having them back isn't a good thing.

I think right now we own 6 unprotecteds between 27-29 (PHOx3, DALx1, BKLx2). I'd give up 1 or 2 to add the right lead guard this offseason but no more than that.

[TheNetsFan]

This is an abnormal position, but i have almost no interest in returning the picks from Houston, and DEFINITELY NO interest in swapping PHO picks for them.

If the Nets own their picks, for those picks to be good they have to suck.

Right now, the Nets could be good/watchable/building something fun and still get good picks via PHO, who is the most asset starved disaster since Billy King.

Hold tight to those PHO picks and let the Suns tank for us. Forget about the Nets picks. Having them back isn't a good thing.

I think right now we own 6 unprotecteds between 27-29 (PHOx3, DALx1, BKLx2). I'd give up 1 or 2 to add the right lead guard this offseason but no more than that.

I'm in agreement. The only pick of ours that I would have any interest in is the '25 swap. It's a presumed excellent draft and near term enough to stomach one more down year. I'd rather focus on landing players from the last 2 drafts, that are cost controlled in '25 via their rookie deal. Guys like Mathurin and Ivey. The product would be more watchable, and you could still be attractive to FAs in '25 if the team can be play-in caliber.

[vincecarter4pres]

This is an abnormal position, but i have almost no interest in returning the picks from Houston, and DEFINITELY NO interest in swapping PHO picks for them.

If the Nets own their picks, for those picks to be good they have to suck.

Right now, the Nets could be good/watchable/building something fun and still get good picks via PHO, who is the most asset starved disaster since Billy King.

Hold tight to those PHO picks and let the Suns tank for us. Forget about the Nets picks. Having them back isn't a good thing.

I think right now we own 6 unprotecteds between 27-29 (PHOx3, DALx1, BKLx2). I'd give up 1 or 2 to add the right lead guard this offseason but no more than that.

I'm in agreement. The only pick of ours that I would have any interest in is the '25 swap. It's a presumed excellent draft and near term enough to stomach one more down year. I'd rather focus on landing players from the last 2 drafts, that are cost controlled in '25 via their rookie deal. Guys like Mathurin and Ivey. The product would be more watchable, and you could still be attractive to FAs in '25 if the team can be play-in caliber.

To both of you, I value the Phoenix picks over ours, but this is the only way for Tsai and Marks to force their own hands into an organic rebuild, and to be a bit more patient to eventually make the splashy advantageous and opportunistic move for a superstar in a few years, really let that sustainable timeline happen.

You still hold most of the Phoenix picks, including the ‘25 and 2 of 3 years when they’re nearly a lock to be bottom 5 record in the league.

You take a crack at a high potential project with the 3rd pick this year in one of Castle, Risacher, Shepard or Cody Williams. That player has zero extra pressure to perform and no matter how good they eventually become, probably doesn’t negatively affect draft position in ‘25, or necessarily’26.

And FA and star trade request destination will mainly always come down to this market, assets and future flexibility and can said player pair up with a star pal, while having young, smart, athletic guys up and down the roster to complement.

You let Cam T flex, Clowney and Whitehead get major minutes and attention from the staff to develop.

You trade some of the vets for picks at the deadline.

You clear cap for the future.

Gimme the immediate rebuild without hinderance.

[Netaman]

To both of you, I value the Phoenix picks over ours, but this is the only way for Tsai and Marks to force their own hands into an organic rebuild, and to be a bit more patient to eventually make the splashy advantageous and opportunistic move for a superstar in a few years, really let that sustainable timeline happen.

forcing an organic rebuild isn't necessary.

owning their own picks only incentivizes doing a worse job building a competitive team - which they are undoubtedly going to try to do regardless of what picks they own (their own or others).

no gm is going to embrace tanking, especially if on the hot seat, nor is any first time coach. so owning their own picks has zero strategic benefit beyond insurance against failure.

and if we think the phoenix picks are better any way, giving up phoenix picks with upside just to insure our downside is making moves out of fear.

my view is that scared money doesn't make money. Nets are in a unique spot right now where they can have their cake (make moves to build a competitive team, the right way) and still retain massively valuable extra picks in the future thanks to the phoenix picks. I want to go big and build a team that is competitive in the way the NYK are right now by 2026, and still have some of those extra picks left over to make that final move to get over the top.

Marks has shown he can add quality players through draft wherever he picks. Clowney would almost certainly be a top 10 picks this year, and depending on who goes #3 im not even sure i'd swap him for that player/pick - so that may already be a 2023 phoenix pick being more valuable in the end than the highest Net pick sent to Houston so far. Stay that course. Give Fernandez, Bridges, Claxton, a shot by getting them a guard who can effectively close out games.

[Skybox]

Being ORL-centric...why would Claxton choose to remain in BRK (unless a big overpay)? No offense, but maybe the best (painful) direction is to trade Bridges, let Simmons expire, and start over without being burdened by a big contract on an elite defensive role player (Claxton). Obviously, Claxton is an excellent player, but maybe not a building block for a rebuild.

On the other hand, if Bridges could bring back Garland, you guys might be off and running with him and Claxton as a complementary foundation. Bridges is an extremely attractive player, but I think national consensus is now that he's not a foundational building block and might be worth more to another contending team.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Being ORL-centric...why would Claxton choose to remain in BRK (unless a big overpay)? No offense, but maybe the best (painful) direction is to trade Bridges, let Simmons expire, and start over without being burdened by a big contract on an elite defensive role player (Claxton). Obviously, Claxton is an excellent player, but maybe not a building block for a rebuild.

On the other hand, if Bridges could bring back Garland, you guys might be off and running with him and Claxton as a complementary foundation. Bridges is an extremely attractive player, but I think national consensus is now that he's not a foundational building block and might be worth more to another contending team.

I think the Nets are looking to trade for a star player. In which case Claxton would be valuable.

There is no point in rebuilding without picks for 3 years.

[Keith Van Horn]

Being ORL-centric...why would Claxton choose to remain in BRK (unless a big overpay)? No offense, but maybe the best (painful) direction is to trade Bridges, let Simmons expire, and start over without being burdened by a big contract on an elite defensive role player (Claxton). Obviously, Claxton is an excellent player, but maybe not a building block for a rebuild.

On the other hand, if Bridges could bring back Garland, you guys might be off and running with him and Claxton as a complementary foundation. Bridges is an extremely attractive player, but I think national consensus is now that he's not a foundational building block and might be worth more to another contending team.

I think the Nets are looking to trade for a star player. In which case Claxton would be valuable.

There is no point in rebuilding without picks for 3 years.

Yeah, if we trade Bridges, it should be to Houston for the Brooklyn picks/swaps in return.
Send Cam Johnson with him too.

Maybe get Green, books etc back in the deal

[vincecarter4pres]

Being ORL-centric...why would Claxton choose to remain in BRK (unless a big overpay)?

This is a legitimate question, and I think it comes down to what non-Nets teams have big cap space, are willing to make a huge offer to Claxton, and then how much better is the overall situation there to here for Claxton himself.

Like he’s probably not getting max money or anything silly like that, but does he prefer going to Detroit for say $90 over 4, if the offer is 5/$100 here?

Does someone offer him 4/$100-120? Can he pass that up? Do we match or come close?

No offense, but maybe the best (painful) direction is to trade Bridges, let Simmons expire, and start over without being burdened by a big contract on an elite defensive role player (Claxton). Obviously, Claxton is an excellent player, but maybe not a building block for a rebuild.

None taken.

But what’s the alternative to paying Clax?

You have to pay someone under this CBA, like more than ever. It’s not where you have as long to meet minimum salary requirements anymore, and iirc you are penalized more seriously then in years past when the remainder was just spread out equally to the rest of the players on payroll.

And with a rising cap, what’s a burdensome contract look like for a young DPOY candidate type of player like Clax when he is an asset, or at least an easily dumped neutral value attractive player?

Even if you trade Bridges, whatever said deal would look like, why wouldn’t you keep Clax on a market value contract as long as he obliges? Can always deal him in the future if he becomes unhappy with sustained losing.

On the other hand, if Bridges could bring back Garland, you guys might be off and running with him and Claxton as a complementary foundation.

This is a very interesting deal to me if Mitchell re-ups in Cleveland, and if the asking price is exceptionally high for Trae Young, assuming he’s even on the block and the Nets are interested.

Bridges is an extremely attractive player, but I think national consensus is now that he's not a foundational building block and might be worth more to another contending team.

I think that was always the consensus, it was only some kooky fans thinking he had suddenly morphed into prime Paul George.

But he’s still similar to the prime Al Horford of wings.

There’s still going to be a ton of interest in a low usage, efficient, high bbiq, low maintenance, well rounded 20/5/3 guy who plays stellar defense as a third option, who is an ironman, on a bargain contract, in the beginning of his true prime.

Let’s not let this be your precursor for the, well you know, he should only return a couple lotto protected picks and a C rate second round prospect in his 4th and final season of rookie scale…

[Netaman]

Pretty much agree with VCP across the board there.

Further re Bridges, off the court he appears to be everything Brooklyn is ready to full embrace culturally - hard worker, plays defense, not situation hopper.

I've always hoped he could be Middleton, and I think that's still within reason. A milwaukee team with Jrue, Middleton, Lopez, and a bunch of young guys/picks (no giannis) wouldn't have been a championship contender but it would have been fun. I think this offseason should be about assembling that kind of group and laying a competitive foundation and culture that can hopefully show it's worthy of taking a next step that's worth trading some more of the future picks in 2025.

[vincecarter4pres]

To both of you, I value the Phoenix picks over ours, but this is the only way for Tsai and Marks to force their own hands into an organic rebuild, and to be a bit more patient to eventually make the splashy advantageous and opportunistic move for a superstar in a few years, really let that sustainable timeline happen.

forcing an organic rebuild isn't necessary.

owning their own picks only incentivizes doing a worse job building a competitive team - which they are undoubtedly going to try to do regardless of what picks they own (their own or others).

no gm is going to embrace tanking, especially if on the hot seat, nor is any first time coach. so owning their own picks has zero strategic benefit beyond insurance against failure.

I think sometimes you have to face reality, that just because you’re trying to do something, and want something, does not mean it will happen.

They tried being competitive this year and it didn’t end well.

Who are we leap frogging next year?

Can we? Just off the coaching change, a full season of Schröder, minus some of the bad Dinwiddie vibes, incremental internal improvements, a small move here and there, healthier Mikal, etc.?

Of course we can, but it’s a lot more likely we wind up in a very similar place record-wise.

And this is all before the point of this, trading Mikal for a rebuild package, with the separate premise Houston would trade us back our ‘25 swap and maybe our ‘26 pick for one or two of the Suns picks, if they would no longer seek a Bridges for all picks returned trade themselves.

If we trade Bridges for anything other than a guy like Garland, or someone else borderline AS, we’re almost certainly taking a step back, no matter what many detractors estimate Mikal’s on court impact is to wins and losses.

and if we think the phoenix picks are better any way, giving up phoenix picks with upside just to insure our downside is making moves out of fear.

Don’t think it’s fear at all, it’s calculated one step back for two steps forward.

my view is that scared money doesn't make money. Nets are in a unique spot right now where they can have their cake (make moves to build a competitive team, the right way) and still retain massively valuable extra picks in the future thanks to the phoenix picks. I want to go big and build a team that is competitive in the way the NYK are right now by 2026, and still have some of those extra picks left over to make that final move to get over the top.

That Knicks model includes landing a once every 15ish years free agent. The specific rare kind who is unrestricted, or unlikely to be matched, but has massive untapped and super realistic perennial All Star potential.

These moves don’t just fall out of the sky.

The better way to get in that position is 2-3 years of building organically, in the exact way you mention, without stunting said growth repeatedly gifting high lotto picks to another team from a past failed trade.

The Knicks were also stuck in this endless loop of instant gratification chasing until they settled on doing things the right way.

There are many ways of team building, many right ways, but there are some that are either proven wrong, or will have obvious near future consequences.

You say you want to keep some of the picks, but we both know that’s unlikely. They’ll use 2 of the Suns picks and other picks, and the Cams, etc., to land a flawed cap clogging star like Trae, then turn around a season or two later in desperation and trade the other two and additional future unprotected BK picks for someone at the very end of their prime like Giannis, for a 2-3 year pseudo run and nightmare again.

How bout instead we wind up with our next Luka/LeBron/Wemby/Curry/Giannis and have 8-12 years of hope and contention, etc.?

Marks has shown he can add quality players through draft wherever he picks. Clowney would almost certainly be a top 10 picks this year, and depending on who goes #3 im not even sure i'd swap him for that player/pick - so that may already be a 2023 phoenix pick being more valuable in the end than the highest Net pick sent to Houston so far. Stay that course. Give Fernandez, Bridges, Claxton, a shot by getting them a guard who can effectively close out games.

Honestly, this logic always highly annoys me.

It’s like saying the tech/mechanic who builds local record breaking Hondas has no use for a Porsche or a Ferrari.

It’s like saying this great chef makes dope ass jailhouse meals out of ramen and canned Spam, so we should never give that chef A5 Wagyu beef, organic fresh vegetables and herbs and high grade starches, cause it’s such a waste.

The trade I’d be most excited by tbh, is Mikal for a rebuild package, get a top 7 pick this draft for Cam T, trade either the ‘27 or ‘28 Suns pick for the ‘25 swap back and have at it.

Or if Houston will do the Mikal for all picks returned and maybe Tari Eason, and then explore Cam T trades while keeping all the other future picks.

Also I know this draft keeps being parrroted as awful, and to an extent it’s probably true, but I think there will be a few very special players out of this draft in hindsight. Not like Luka or SGA level special, or even Mitchell special, but like Mikal Bridges, Al Horford, Jrue Holiday, Franz Wagner, Jamal Murray, maybe Aaron Gordon level/type special.

Brooklyn is a destination, make it so sustainably.

KD and Kyrie you always do, the Harden trade was understandable, but criminal the picks went that far out with no protection and the Harden to Philly one way too light on value.

But what was recouped puts us in the unique position for a proper total reset in some fashion, and then in two or three summers look primed for a huge splashy move to complete things.

Been meaning to reply to this for a hot minute, kept forgetting or didn’t have time lol.

[vincecarter4pres]

Pretty much agree with VCP across the board there.

Further re Bridges, off the court he appears to be everything Brooklyn is ready to full embrace culturally - hard worker, plays defense, not situation hopper.

I've always hoped he could be Middleton, and I think that's still within reason. A milwaukee team with Jrue, Middleton, Lopez, and a bunch of young guys/picks (no giannis) wouldn't have been a championship contender but it would have been fun. I think this offseason should be about assembling that kind of group and laying a competitive foundation and culture that can hopefully show it's worthy of taking a next step that's worth trading some more of the future picks in 2025.

My thing is, Middleton has a good handle, can create for himself and others off the dribble, can mainly run a half court offense.

Mikal is not at all any of this.

And that said above group is a 30-35 win perennial lotto team. I’m not even sure it it would have been fun.

It would have been VC/Lopez/Harris for the most part.


I want upside to be the next Dallas, Minnesota, Boston, Denver, OKC, Warriors pre-KD, etc., or even Memphis

Legit top of the league franchise player from the draft, great young and athletic supporting cast mixed from draft, trades and free agency, then one big move away from a contending powerhouse.

And the advantage we have with location and an owner willing to spend and take risks, is we’d eventually have a much easier time completing the roster with free agents or stars making trade demands from their team.



What we don’t need to aspire to be is current Cleveland, LAC, Phoenix, etc., or even much worse, the Bulls, Hawks or New Orleans.

[Netaman]

They tried being competitive this year and it didn’t end well.

when i get time i'll go through this reply and the next one in more depth, but just wanted to quickly zero in on this one first because i dont think it's right.

they were competitive for most of the year.

when they got good play from a lead guard (be it Ben, or early season/play in tourney Dinwiddie) they won and took some good teams down to wire.

when they had terrible play out of their lead guards and put too much on Bridges, they didn't win.

re Middleton's handle, if he had the kind of focus a #1 option gets, which Bridges had for too much of last year, he'd have struggled the same way.

FVV and Ime got Houston from the bottom of the barrel to competitive. For all the high draft picks they've made, they are window dressing. Brooklyn needs Fernandez to not make us continue rue'ing not getting Ime and they need to find a lead guard at or above the FVV level (basically all the guys we've talked about).

[vincecarter4pres]

They tried being competitive this year and it didn’t end well.

when i get time i'll go through this reply and the next one in more depth, but just wanted to quickly zero in on this one first because i dont think it's right.

they were competitive for most of the year.

when they got good play from a lead guard (be it Ben, or early season/play in tourney Dinwiddie) they won and took some good teams down to wire.

when they had terrible play out of their lead guards and put too much on Bridges, they didn't win.

re Middleton's handle, if he had the kind of focus a #1 option gets, which Bridges had for too much of last year, he'd have struggled the same way.

FVV and Ime got Houston from the bottom of the barrel to competitive. For all the high draft picks they've made, they are window dressing. Brooklyn needs Fernandez to not make us continue rue'ing not getting Ime and they need to find a lead guard at or above the FVV level (basically all the guys we've talked about).

It’s possible to take a competitive leap without trading Bridges or future picks.

I’d also be quite happy if they can find a way into this lottery-late teens twice using a combo of DFS, Cam J and if necessary Cam T or the Philly pick.

I’m not fully up on all the prospects in this draft, but there are some less talked about intriguing kids such as:

Isaiah Collier
Devin Carter
Tidjane Salaun
Cody Williams
Ron Holland
Tristan da Silva
Ja’Kobe Walter
Jared McCain
Matas Buzelis


In a draft where it’s so reported teams want to trade out, with our team having so much redundancy at the wing/forward/3&D spot with positive value players, and needing to shorten up some of said long term money, it would really be a crime not to land a couple of the above. We need talent injection, some long term potential, a kid who can run the offense a little, athleticism and shooting, this is the time, with this hired coach to make these moves.

[Netaman]

It’s possible to take a competitive leap without trading Bridges or future picks.

possible over time, not likely next year.

marks draft record is as good as anyone - in hindsight redrafts almost all of his picks would have been top 5-10 selections. and as we've seen even those players - Levert, Allen, Claxton, CamT, Clowney - haven't been the central piece in any team taking a competitive leap (and certainly not in their rookie seasons).

like i said above thibodeaux and ime led far bigger competitive leaps for their respective teams than any of those team's top 5-10 picks did.

but generally i agree, there isn't just 1 path to this team taking a leap. I think they need to keep their eyes open to all paths. if the right deal comes along it may mean trading bridges or anyone else, this team doesn't have any sacred cows.

and the first leap starts with Fernandez.