The Trade Market Isn’t Optional Anymore
The Athletic’s reporting makes it clear: there are shooters out there, guys with real perimeter skills who are either available or about to hit the market. For the Nets, these aren’t luxury moves to make anymore; they’re must-haves for the team to improve and try to at least reach the play-in tournament.
Brooklyn’s internal development isn’t enough to fix an offense that ranks 24th in shooting and looks nothing like a modern NBA attack.
Ayo Dosunmu: Plug-and-Play Shooting, No Assets Needed
Ayo Dosunmu from Chicago stands out as the simplest fix. He’s hitting a wild 45.9% from deep; that’s elite company, as he’s top 10 in the league from three-point range. Drop him in Brooklyn, and he instantly becomes their best shooter. At 26, he fits the timeline for both now and the next few seasons.
He’s an unrestricted free agent, so the Nets don’t have to burn picks or young players to get him, which could potentially go to a figure of 3 years, $36–42 million ($12–14 million a year). For a team with Brooklyn’s needs, that’s a smart investment.
Plug Dosunmu in, and defenses have to change. Pairing him with Michael Porter Jr. gives Brooklyn at least two shooters that opponents can’t ignore. Suddenly, driving lanes open up, and the offense doesn’t have to rely on isolation every trip. Dosunmu’s defense means he doesn’t kill you on the other end, either.
Bennedict Mathurin: Long-Term Stability
Bennedict Mathurin from Indiana is a different type of piece. He’s not quite Dosunmu from three (36.6%), but teams still have to respect him. At 23, he lines up with a youth movement if Brooklyn decides to go after RFA in this upcoming off-season. If the Nets want an early start, they can offer the Pacers something to obtain him and offer an extension. He’s a restricted free agent and extension eligible. Expect him to land a deal in the $88–100 million range over four years.
Mathurin can attack closeouts, draw fouls, and finish through contact, skills this Nets roster badly needs. He keeps defenses honest and gives Brooklyn a new way to score when their shooters get run off the line.
You can potentially stick Mathurin in with the second unit and watch the offense settle down. He keeps the floor spaced while also adding some juice going downhill, which helps the Nets—no more stagnant, dud bench minutes, and you have a possible consistent scorer on the floor while Michael Porter Jr. sits or for when a top draft pick needs some rest.
Quentin Grimes: Glue Guy Who Raises the Floor
Quentin Grimes, now with the Sixers, isn’t a headline name, but he fits perfectly. He’s hitting 35.3% from deep, knows how to find space, and thrives in catch-and-shoot situations. He’s 25, an unrestricted free agent, and will likely command a contract of around 3 years, $33–39 million ($11–13 million per year).
Grimes matters most on defense. The Nets have struggled to balance shooting and perimeter defense, but Grimes provides both. He helps the bench and/or starters instantly, which would mean no more lineups with multiple non-shooters dragging the offense down. His presence keeps the floor higher and the offense steadier.
RJ Barrett: Swing for the Fences
RJ Barrett is the bold play. He’s shooting 35.5% from three, which is not elite and around the average mark, but for him, it’s real progress. He’s still a physical, attack-first scorer, and he’s only 25. Barrett’s under contract and would cost assets in a deal, but he brings real value: rebounding, attacking, and creating his own looks even when spacing is tight.
Put Barrett in Brooklyn, and you can play bigger without sacrificing shooting. He takes pressure off the small-ball lineups and gives the Nets another option when the shots just aren’t dropping.
