After a disappointing 2023-24 showing, Nets fans got what they unanimously wanted this offseason: a concrete sense of direction.
Brooklyn traded Mikal Bridges across the river for a bounty of picks, and traded for control back of their own future draft selections, kicking off a full rebuild in time for a historic draft class.
The basketball may not be pretty, but the Nets still boast plenty of promising talent and how they perform this year will dictate those to come.
Here’s what to expect as Brooklyn ushers in a new era...
Capture the Flagg
While nobody on the court will be throwing away games, it’s evident by trading Bridges -- and not entertaining flipping those assets for a new star -- that the Nets are putting themselves in the race for Cooper Flagg.
The No. 1 recruit currently playing for Duke is expected to go first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, and is widely regarded as a franchise-changer for whichever pro team can tank their way into selecting him.
Given this context, if Brooklyn is playing more competitive than expected near the trade deadline, don’t be surprised if they trade some of their veteran talent in pursuit of future picks and present losses.
Dorian Finney-Smith has been in rumors for two seasons now and is of more value to a competitive team, Dennis Schroder could return value, and Ben Simmons’s large expiring deal may be of use around the league.
Still, front offices and fans alike would likely prefer a team, even in the early stages of rebuilding, to avoid being under-20-wins bad. The foundations of a successful culture can start to form even during these down seasons, but that’s hard to do when a team is simply a vehicle for a high draft pick.
The good news is that Brooklyn can be both.
They have real intriguing pieces in Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton, and even if they miss out on Flagg, this class is so stacked with talent a pick further down in the lottery can still propel their team forward.
The Cam Thomas factor
If there’s one man standing between the Nets and either a top draft pick or surprise Play-In Tournament run, it’s Thomas.
Arguably the most polarizing player in the league, Thomas is more cut and dry to anybody that has paid attention over the last couple of seasons -- an elite bucket-getter with massive upside at just 23 years old.
Last season, Thomas’s first with any real reign over the offense, he averaged 22.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists on 48.1 percent shooting from two and 36.4 percent shooting from three. He opened the season with three consecutive 30-point outings, and had four 40-point games on the year, a mark only shared by 14 other players.
He made tangible strides with his playmaking -- his assist rate has jumped from 9.7 percent as a rookie to 12.7 percent in 2023 to 15.7 percent last season -- while his turnovers remain flat. His catch-and-shoot efficiency also exploded to a career-high 43.6 percent from three in 2023-24.
