All the talk about this summer's NBA free agency has been centered around the Knicks and their ability to add two max free agents. But how might the Nets impact their plans?
Brooklyn GM Sean Marks said in a letter Thursday, shared by NetsDaily, that the Nets will be "active and aggressive" this offseason in an effort to improve the roster after a surprising season in which they finished 42-40 to earn the Eastern Conference's No. 6 seed in the playoffs, seemingly accelerating their rebuild.
Sean Marks message to Nets fans. pic.twitter.com/4HBECtsyPX
- NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) April 25, 2019
As Marks notes, the Nets will have a lot of cap space, along with two first-round picks and the first pick in the second round. So the Nets do have an opportunity to get significantly better.
But even though they have roughly $54 million in space, the Nets have some hurdles to clear that the Knicks don't.
Firstly, D'Angelo Russell is a restricted free agent and will have to get a nice payday after emerging as an All-Star in 2018-19. Secondly, Allen Crabbe has a player option for next season at about $18.5 million. Assuming Crabbe opts in, Marks might have to find a way to dump Crabbe's salary to be as aggressive as he says he wants to be.
SNY contributor Anthony Puccio reported this week that the Nets will be considered by marquee free agents. Whether that means they can land a Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving is uncertain, especially since reports all season long have said the duo will end up with the Knicks.