It would appear that the Brooklyn Nets trade rumors are validated more than ever this season, as the team is reportedly making all of their roster available for trade. It’s a clear sign that the Nets are looking ahead to next year’s draft instead of remaining competitive from here on out. Sam Amick of The Athletic reports that Brooklyn is entirely open for business.
Brooklyn Nets Trade Rumors Signal Potential House Cleaning
No One Is Off the Table
Looking ahead to next summer’s NBA Draft, the Nets clearly have their sights set on a handful of potential first-round prospects, and the goal of a full rebuild is at hand. Names such as Duke’s Cooper Flagg, Rutger’s Airious Bailey, Dylan Harper (also from Rutgers), and Egor Demin, the Russian out of BYU (Brigham Young University), are all looked upon as highly touted prospects that teams like the Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and now even the Nets will be expected to consider at the draft.
Amick reports that Dennis Schröder, Cam Thomas, and Bojan Bogdanović are three significant pieces expected to move between now and February’s trade deadline. Schröder and Bogdanović will be expected to be of high value for playoff contenders. Nic Claxton is also an interesting name due to his position and talent. Several teams who need depth at the center position will likely inquire about him. He would be a great pickup for most teams, albeit he is injured presently. Dorian Finney-Smith should also be thrown in as a solid 3-and-D threat for a contender, as well as Cameron Johnson. Then there’s Ben Simmons, who is almost certainly to be gone. The question is, who will give him another chance? Simmons is an intriguing player to watch over the next couple of months. His time in Brooklyn appears to be just about up.
It’s rare to see a team go public by basically opening the gates for a free-for-all so early in the season. This shows that the Nets have a plan, and team owner Joe Tsai is implementing it as we speak with no shame.
From Superteam to Fire Sale
In 2020, the Nets attempted to assemble a would-be offensive juggernaut when they added Kevin Durant and James Harden alongside Kyrie Irving. The trio was meant to rip through the league, putting up points no NBA team had put up before. But that experiment crashed and burned—assassinated by injuries to the point where Harden eventually wanted out. As for Kyrie, his off-court distractions loomed over the franchise. His and KD’s relationship also seemed strained, at least from the outside looking in. When Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, the trio was kaput. Eventually, Durant and Irving also moved on.
Since that short-lived era, the Nets have been a largely mediocre team. Additionally, the experiment with Simmons has also failed to work. The roster is comprised of some excellent players. Thomas, Johnson, Claxton, and Schröder are some of them. Unfortunately, as currently constructed, there is no playoff or championship contention in play. So, usher in a total rebuild, which brings us to today, where no Nets player is off the table. To all other 29 NBA teams, come and take your pick.
