Half the Nets roster to learn their fate this weekend…
On Friday afternoon, as expected, the Brooklyn Nets announced they have waived Maxwell Lewis. The 22-year-old had been traded to the Nets by the Lakers in December as part of the trade that sent Dorian-Finney Smith to the Lakers. In his first game, he fractured his left tibia and although he returned in six weeks, he barely played. He’s owed a $100,000 guarantee.
The move was the first of many this weekend that could effect half the Nets roster. Here’s the basic breakdown:
—Sunday: Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin and Drew Timme have team options for 2025-26. Johnson has a $271,000 guarantee, Wilson $88,000. Qualifying offers must be extended to restricted free agents: Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams as well unrestricted free agents D’Angelo Russell and Trendon Watford for Brooklyn to retain their negotiating rights. Thomas and Sharpe’s qualifying offers are small, $5.9 million and $5.8 million, respectively. Because he was a high draft pick — No. 10 in 2021 — as opposed to Thomas who was taken 27th and Sharpe 28th — Williams qualifying offer is higher at $8.4 million. Once the offer is extended and accepted by the player, the amount is added to the salary cap.
—Monday: NBA teams may begin negotiating with other teams’ free agents (starting at 6:00 p.m. ET). The Nets have had exclusive bargaining rights with their own free agents — restricted and unrestricted — since June 23. They have an estimated $37.5 million in cap space following their acquisition of Terance Mann and the 22nd pick in Wednesday’s draft which became Drake Powell. That’s still more than any other team. Brooklyn can tender offer sheets to restricted free agents starting Monday as well, as they did in Sean Marks first rebuild, all unsuccessfully. Of course, other teams can do the same with the Nets RFAs but unless a player is willing take no more than the MLE, a little more than $14 million, it’s going to be difficult because so few teams have anything other than the MLE to offer and the Nets can match any offer.
So with the Draft over, the next spate of news will deal with free agents.