BROOKLYN — Brooklyn sits firmly in rebuild mode. The Nets are 7–18 and 13th in the East. Results reflect intent. As trade season opens, the Nets know exactly who they are. The focus remains future value, not short-term optics. June’s draft confirmed that direction. Brooklyn selected five rookies in the first round. That decision signaled patience and long-term planning. The Nets’ biggest goal this trade season is to convert veterans into future assets.
Trade Season Begins: Breaking Down The Nets’ Options
December 15 Changes Everything
December 15 unlocked flexibility. The first wave of free agency signings saw restrictions lifted. Ziaire Williams, Day’Ron Sharpe, Cam Thomas, and Haywood Highsmith now become movable.
With cap flexibility intact, Brooklyn can absorb contracts creatively. Trade season rewards teams like the Nets willing to facilitate three-team deals. With nearly two months before the deadline, even fringe veterans can build value. Highsmith, in particular, profiles as a useful playoff piece but he is yet to play this season, due to a knee injury. 3-and-D wings always find buyers.
Sellers Despite Pick Abundance
Brooklyn already owns more draft picks than any team. That reality will not stop selling. Their logic still favors liquidation. Accumulation creates leverage. It also preserves optionality.
That mindset places Michael Porter Jr firmly on the table. He is Brooklyn’s most valuable asset. Porter Jr averages 25.6 points and 7.3 rebounds. He adds a career-best 3.2 assists. His efficiency remains elite across all three levels.
Porter earns $38 million this season. His contract expires next year. The Pistons and Warriors loom as favorites. Both teams can match salary and offer picks. Nets Trade season often rewards teams willing to move first. Brooklyn has no incentive to wait.
Sorting the Secondary Market
After Porter Jr, clarity fades. Sharpe, Williams, and Highsmith each carry situational value. Sharpe offers rim protection and rebounding. Williams brings athleticism and two-way upside. Highsmith fits playoff rotations immediately.
Thomas presents a complication. He remains the least attractive asset. Injuries have limited him to eight games this season. He averages 21.4 points, but perception matters. Teams label him a “black hole” offensively. Fair or not, that reputation depresses value.
Thomas also took his qualifying offer. He earns $5.9 million this season. That contract eases matching but complicates long-term planning.
Keeping the Wheel Turning
Brooklyn’s objective stays simple. Extract value. Maintain flexibility. Protect development minutes. Trade season allows incremental progress for the Nets without forcing timelines.
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