The Brooklyn Nets have struggled over the past two seasons, but they have done a commendable job acquiring draft assets to aid their rebuild. The Nets own four 2025 first-round picks and one second-round selection. What will the Nets do with them?
Brooklyn has a 58-106 record over the last two seasons as they have gone through a complex rebuild. Since the 2022 NBA trade deadline, the Nets have made nine trades as they “sold off” Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Mikal Bridges. As a result of the deals, Brooklyn owns as many as 30 draft picks between 2025-2031, including 17 first-rounders.
Analysing Rockets and Raptors Interested In Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson? Plus, Potential Nets Draft Targets
Brooklyn has just nine players under contract with salaries totaling a salary cap hit of $63.4 million. However, the Nets have several upcoming decisions, as they have five players with guaranteed contracts. Nic Claxton, Cam Johnson, Noah Clowney, Maxwell Lewis, and Dariq Whitehead are those players. Lewis’s contract doesn’t fully guarantee until June 29, and there is definitely a chance that the Nets will release the
Keon Johnson, Jalen Wilson, Tyrese Martin, and Drew Timme all have team options, meaning a decision on their status must be made before July 1. All four players have shown flashes of being NBA-caliber players, but none of them have been overly efficient. Johnson, Wilson, and Timme’s contracts don’t fully guarantee until January 10, so the Nets may exercise one of the trio’s deals if not all three. Even if the Nets decide to decline the player’s options, it doesn’t mean they won’t return to Brooklyn this summer after the Nets determine their offseason strategy.
Meanwhile, Day’Ron Sharpe, Cam Thomas, and Ziare Williams are all potential restricted free agents. The Nets will certainly extend a qualifying offer to Thomas ($5.99 million), although they will likely want to work a multiple-year deal with the 23-year-old guard. The Nets will also likely do the same with Sharpe ($5.9 million) and Williams ($8.3 million). However, it remains to be seen if Brooklyn would sign Sharpe and Williams.
Nets Offseason
“The Nets are in the driver’s seat this offseason with cap flexibility,” ESPN’s Bobby Marks said about the Nets offseason. “Including the free agent holds of Thomas, Sharpe, and their four first-round picks, Brooklyn projects to have $45 million in cap room. The $12 million hold of Thomas allows Brooklyn to use room first and then exceed the cap to sign the guard. The Nets do have a $23.3 million trade exception, but that goes away once they act as a room team.”
“The Nets have until June 29 to exercise the team options of Johnson, Timme, Martin and Wilson,” Marks continued. “The four contracts are not guaranteed even if the options are exercised. Besides cap space, Brooklyn has the $8.8 million mid-level exception, a second-round pick, and the veteran minimum exception. From now until June 30, Brooklyn is $2.3 million below the first apron and is not allowed to exceed the threshold.”
Brooklyn needs to upgrade their talent. Thomas and Johnson are solid offensively, while Claxton has some potential, though consistency is an issue. The Nets starting five was one of the worst units in the league, while their bench was average.
Besides re-signing Thomas to a multi-year deal, choosing whether to sign D’Angelo Russell will likely shape the Nets offseason. Russell had a few big games after being dealt from Los Angeles, but inconsistency plagued the 29-year-old. Russell, who earned $18.6 million last season, averaged 12.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 1.0 steals, although he shot just 36.7% from the field and 29.7% from deep. If the Nets do re-sign with Russell, expect it to be at a significant discount.
Will The Nets Make A Trade?
While Brooklyn could keep all five of their 2025 draft picks on the roster. However, that wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense, as NBA teams must spend 90% of the cap by opening night.
“Because teams have to spend 90% of the salary cap by the first day of the regular season, expect the Nets to be active in free agency even if they are not targeting marquee players,” Marks added. “Including their four firsts, the Nets have $79 million in salary and will need to spend an additional $60 million.”
Therefore, expect the Nets to make one or two trades. The Lakers have been linked to Claxton, though that is doubtful. However, the most recent rumor is that Brooklyn is packaging Johnson to either Toronto or Houston for their top-10 pick in the 2025 draft.
“Hearing Nets may want to move up from #19 to the lottery, offering CamJ and #19 to Raptors or Rockets for either Raps 9th or Rockets 10th plus a bad contract,” per the Nets Daily. “That would give Nets two picks in top 10.”
Johnson is coming off a career season, averaging 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. The 28-year-old also set a career-best 2.8 threes while shooting a personal-best 47.5% from the field and 39.2% from the field. While Johnson is the Nets’ best offensive player, he has two years and $43 million left on his deal and has not played more than 66 games in his career. He is slated to make $20.5 million in 2025.
Why Would Houston Want Johnson?
Johnson is one of the most efficient and versatile scorers in the league. The 6-8 forward is capable of playing four positions, everywhere except point guard, though he does his best on the perimeter. He averaged a career-best 1.43 points per shot last season.
Johnson is a proverbial bucket-getter. Johnson scored in double figures in 54 of his 57 appearances last season, scoring at least 20 points 21 times, and had three games of 30+ points. He is a three-level scorer who finishes well around the rim and can create for himself and others. He is
Johnson attempts 60% of his shots from beyond the arc and makes 2.8 treys at a 39% clip for his career. Johnson is excellent in transition, off cuts, as a spot-up shooter, off screens, and in isolation. He is also an underrated defender.
Houston is coming off its best regular season this decade, winning 53 games and finishing second in the Western Conference. But the Rockets were bounced in the first round by the Golden State Warriors.
The Rockets, the 13th-oldest team in the league, didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline. The Rockets had seven players in double-figures in the regular season, led by Jalen Green’s 21 points. However, they ranked 21st in field goal percentage and three-point percentage while finishing 22nd in three-pointers made and 20th in three-point attempts.
Houston struggled offensively during their series against Golden State. The Rockets ranked 11th in the playoffs with 104 points as they were ninth in shooting percentage. They were also third in 3-point percentage, though just 13th three-pointers made
(10.6) and 16th (28.3) during the playoffs.
Rockets Salary
Houston has 13 players under contract with salaries totaling a salary cap hit of $190.28 million. Therefore, the Rockets are $16 million under the second apron. The Rockets do have a big upcoming decision with Fred VanVleet‘s $44.8 million team option. It would be a surprise that they don’t exercise it, especially after VanVleet’s playoff performance.
Houston does also have some flexibility with Aaron Holiday ($4.9 million team option). If the Rockets decline Holiday’s option and release Jock Landale and Nate Williams, that would free up an extra $15 million. So, the Rockets would be able to acquire Johnson and remain under the second apron.
Unless Houston wants to get out from under the $105.3 million remaining on Green’s deal, the Nets would likely have to include other pieces, such as another draft pick other than the 19th selection, for the Rockets to make a trade.
Toronto Raptors Interest
Toronto has missed the playoffs the last three seasons. While the Raptors have struggled on the court and with injuries, General Manager Masai Ujiri has done an excellent job of acquiring talent. In other words, if the Raptors decide that this is the season they want to compete, they do have the potential, and Johnson would fit nicely at power forward or coming off the bench.
Toronto has 15 players under contract with a salary cap hit of $181.9 million. The Raptors really don’t have a bad contract, with the possible exception of Brandon Ingram. Ingram has three years and $119.9 million left on his contract, which includes a $41.9 million player option in 2027-28.
Nets 2025 Draft Picks
Brooklyn owns the No. 8, No. 19, No. 26, No. 27, and No. 36 picks. The Nets need offensive playmakers and shooters, though they have plenty of holes.
Brooklyn has reportedly worked out 17 players thus far, according to HoopHype. However, a couple of the players have withdrawn from the NBA draft and returned to college.
Jeremiah Fears
Jeremiah Fears is a possible draft pick for the Nets at No. 8. Fears showed that he could make plays in his lone season at Oklahoma, averaging 17.1 points and 4.1 assists. But the 18-year-old struggles shooting the ball from the perimeter and with turnovers.
Kon Knuepel
Kon Knueppel would also be an interesting pick for the Nets. Rated as the consensus No. 14 recruit in 2024, Knueppel had a fantastic freshmen campaign at Duke, averaging 14.0 points with shooting splits of 47.9/40.6/91.4.
Niquel Clifford
Niquel Clifford had a fantastic super senior campaign at Colorado State, averaging 18.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. Clifford projects as a mid-round draft pick.
Chaz Lanier
Chaz Lanier is a bucket-getter who had a great season at Tennesee after spending four years at North Florida. Lanier averaged 18.0 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 43.1/39.5/75.8 with the Volunteers. The 6-4 guard projects as a late-to-second-round draft pick.
Johni Broome
Johni Broome is a fantastic low-post scorer, rebounder and defender. The 2024-25 Karl Malone Award recipient averaged 18.6 points on 51% shooting, 10.8 boards, and 2.1 blocks this past season at Auburn. The 6-10 athletic forward is somewhat limited offensively and is not a reliable free throw shooter.
Hunter Sallis
Hunter Sallis is a borderline second-round draft prospect.
Javon Small
Javon Small is an intriguing late second-round prospect. Small is a three-level scorer who can also create for others.
Miles Kelly
Miles Kelly will likely go undrafted, but the 6-4 guard could get a two-way deal due to his defense and 3-point shooting.
Jahmai Maschack
Jahmai Maschack is an elite-level defender who is unlikely to be drafted.
Isaac Nogues
Isaac Nogues played this past season for the G-League’s Rop City Remix. Nogues, known for his defense, is unlikely to be drafted.
Taelon Peter
Talon Peter is an interesting prospect who shot 57.8% from the field and made 2.2 threes at a 45.3% clip at Liberty last season. Don’t expect Peter to be drafted, though he could earn a two-way deal.
J’Wan Roberts
J’Wan Roberts is a defensive-minded forward who likely won’t get drafted, though there is a chance he earns a two-way spot.
Aaron Scott
Aaron Scott is a big athletic guard who spent last season at St. John’s after spending the previous three years at North Texas.
Steve Settle
Steve Settle had a strong season at Temple the past two seasons after spending three years at Howard. Settle isn’t expected to be drafted.
Wade Taylor IV
Wade Taylor IV has shown the ability to score in college, but he is a high-volume scorer. Taylor likely won’t be drafted.
Three European prospects
Noa Essengue, Ben Saraf, and Hugo Gonzalez have not been able to work out for the Nets due to their overseas commitments. But they are definitely possibilities for the Nets.
Photo Credit: © Daniel Kucin Jr., Imagn Images
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