Nets reset with picks, avoid full rebuild

After a difficult 2024–25 campaign, the Brooklyn Nets find themselves in a favorable position heading into the offseason.

By reacquiring their 2025 first-round pick from the Houston Rockets in a trade last June, the Nets allowed themselves to reset without the downside of losing a valuable lottery asset.

Now, they’re poised to make use of a high draft pick and are equipped with the league’s most salary cap space this summer.

Despite their struggles this past season, Brooklyn doesn’t appear to be entering a prolonged rebuild. The roster is relatively flexible, with only Cameron Johnson and Nic Claxton under long-term deals.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, there’s growing skepticism among rival executives that the Nets will commit to a drawn-out tanking process.

“The buzz from rival teams has been the Nets aren’t planning for a true long-haul tank, even after reacquiring their own picks last summer,” Woo reported.

Brooklyn still owes a 2027 first-round pick swap to Houston stemming from the James Harden trade, but with general manager Sean Marks, who has led the front office since 2016, in charge, the focus appears to be on building a competitive team sooner rather than later.

Their ample cap room gives them flexibility to pursue talent via free agency or trades as they look to fast-track their return to relevance.