The 2023-24 season was the first after a failed Brooklyn Nets era. Fans dreamed of not one, but multiple championships headlined by Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. That wasn’t the case as the Nets didn’t even reach the NBA Finals with them in tow. Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in February of 2022. Durant was sent to the Phoenix Suns and Irving to the Dallas Mavericks in February of 2023.
2024 NBA Off-Season Preview: What’s Next For The Nets?
Season Recap
For the first time in six seasons, the Nets did not qualify for the playoffs. They finished 2023-24 with a 32-50 record, 11th in the Eastern Conference. In February, Brooklyn underwent a coaching change when they fired Jacque Vaughn after a 21-33 record. Kevin Ollie was the interim coach for the rest of the season with the team going 11-17.
While it wasn’t a banner season for Brooklyn, they did receive a breakout season on the offensive end from Cam Thomas. The 22-year-old more than doubled his scoring average from 10.6 in 2022-23 to 22.5 in 2023-24. He finished seventh in Most Improved Player voting. Mikal Bridges kept his ironman streak alive as he is still yet to miss a game over the course of his first six seasons.
To the surprise of no one, Ben Simmons barely played for the Nets. Numerous injuries kept him sidelined, and he was shelved for the rest of the season in late February with a nerve impingement in his back. The Nets will have a new head coach for the 2024-25 season. They hired Jordi Fernandez, who spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings.
Projected Cap Space and Draft Picks
7 Million Under
How much cap space Brooklyn has depends on what they do with their own free agents. They likely will not be able to go after the free agents who are after big contracts.
No Draft Picks For 2024
The Nets first-round pick went to the Houston Rockets from their 2021 trade involving Harden. Houston experienced ping-pong ball luck as that selection they acquired from Brooklyn will be the third pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Notably, the Nets also don’t have their second-round pick. As a result, there have been reports that Brooklyn could look into trading into the draft.
Pending Free Agents and Possible Departures
Free Agents
- Nic Claxton (Unrestricted)
- Dennis Smith Jr. (Unrestricted)
- Keita Bates-Diop (Player Option)
- Lonnie Walker IV (Unrestricted)
- Trendon Watford (Restricted)
- Keon Johnson (Restricted)
- Harry Giles (Unrestricted)
- Jacob Gilyard (Restricted)
General manager Sean Marks has made it clear that the number one priority is bringing back Claxton to the fold. The 25-year-old center is the longest-tenured Nets player at five seasons. While he didn’t necessarily take a step forward from his breakout 2022-23 this season, he still is an excellent rim protector and efficient scorer.
Originally seen as a draft bust, Smith Jr. has become a reliable backup point guard over the last couple of seasons. In his first season with Brooklyn, the 26-year-old averaged 6.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals over 18.9 minutes per contest. While he is a well-below-average three-point shooter, the seventh-year pro did shoot a career-best 43.5% from the field.
Trade pieces
- Dorian Finney-Smith
- Day’Ron Sharpe
- Ben Simmons
There have been rumors out there of the Nets trading Bridges. Recent reports though seem to believe that Brooklyn will hang on to the 27-year-old who was their second-leading scorer at 19.6 points per outing. With 2023 first-round pick Noah Clowney coming on late this season, perhaps the Nets look for a new team for Sharpe. There would be value for a 22-year-old who is an excellent rebounder. Sharpe averaged 15.2 rebounds per 36 minutes in 2023-24.
Perhaps the most likely player to be moved on from is Finney-Smith who is currently the elder statesman of the team at 31 years old. There were numerous trade rumors involving him at the 2024 trade deadline, but the eight-year veteran ended up staying put.
Nobody would trade for Simmons thinking he would be an asset for next season. He’s making an absurd $40.3 million next season, but he is an expiring contract which will be off the books the following season. Simmons could be traded in a salary dump type of deal. Someone like Cameron Johnson could be dealt if Brooklyn looks to acquire a big-name player.
Realistic Off-Season Targets
Trade
Reports have stated that the Atlanta Hawks are likely to trade one of Young or Murray. The Nets could use an upgrade at the lead guard, as Dennis Schroder is a solid, but unspectacular option. While the Nets don’t have their own picks they have several of the Suns’ future picks to offer in a possible trade for a star guard.
Free Agents
Since reports are that the Nets will likely re-sign Claxton, it will somewhat limit what they can do in free agency. If Brooklyn does not acquire a point guard via trade, Jones could be a solid signing. The 28-year-old has always done a wonderful job taking care of the ball, and this season had an absurd 7.35-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
The 26-year-old Marshall could be a player the Nets look into that wouldn’t break the bank. The 6-7 forward has averaged over seven points in three of his first four seasons. While still just 22 years old and a restricted free agent, the Chicago Bulls may decide to move on from Williams, who hasn’t quite lived up to his draft billing of fourth overall in 2020.
