Brooklyn’s front office is openly positioning the franchise for the 2026 NBA draft, signaling that short-term wins will take a back seat to asset accumulation and player development during the 2024-25 campaign.
The Nets exited the most recent draft with an unprecedented five first-round selections—Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf—setting an NBA record for one team in a single year. Despite the haul, the roster still lacks an established star beyond restricted free agent Cam Thomas, who has yet to sign, and newly acquired Michael Porter Jr., whose ability to anchor an offense remains unproven.
League observers project Brooklyn to finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, a forecast that has prompted questions about the decision to load up on young creators with limited shooting résumés. Columnist Justin Verrier of The Ringer defended the approach, labeling the offseason “perfectly solid” because management views 2024-25 strictly as a transitional year.
Rather than chase a headline-grabbing move—such as a hypothetical trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo—the Nets accepted contracts like Porter’s and Terance Mann’s to secure additional draft capital. The organization now holds multiple first-round picks and maintains ample cap flexibility ahead of what scouts believe will be a talent-rich 2026 draft.
Thomas’s unresolved restricted free agency underscores the patient strategy. With no rival club presenting a significant offer sheet, Brooklyn retains leverage, and the most likely scenario has the guard signing his $6 million qualifying offer for the upcoming season.
While the plan is unlikely to translate into immediate victories, team officials appear comfortable letting the young roster grow while preserving lottery odds and financial freedom for a potentially franchise-altering summer two years down the road.
Source: Hoops Wire
