When the 2023-24 NBA season concluded and the Brooklyn Nets finished with a 32-50 record, their worst record since the 2017-18 season, it became evident that general manager Sean Marks and his front office were going to be making some major roster changes. The experiment with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden never turned into what the Nets had imagined, leaving this organization in financial purgatory with no sense of direction. That is why making the right moves in free agency and being strategic with their signings this offseason was vital for the foundation of Brooklyn's future.
Of course, the big move the Nets made this offseason was trading star wing Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, an unprecedented move given that both teams are major in-city rivals. Bridges is now reunited with his former Villanova teammates as the Nets enter what looks to be yet another rebuild.
However, the one difference this time around for the Nets as they prepare to flip their roster around and focus on the future is that they aren't going to go all-out for star talent. In 2013, Brooklyn doomed themselves by trading for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, two Hall of Famers who would drive ticket sales up. In 2019, the Nets decided to bring in Durant and Irving to escalate what would've been a multi-year rebuild.
Both instances of pursuing stars blew up in this organization's face, which is why Marks is prepared to start fresh after dealing Bridges.
“We were weighing the situation we found ourselves in as a team, as an organization, the timing of such. It's a difficult decision because Mikal was a focal point of this organization for the last year since we did the trade,” Marks said this offseason, via ClutchPoints' Erik Slater. “But at the same time when you have an offer like we did from New York, I think that sets us up on a very, very clear direction and pathway to continue to build this team with sustainable success, and that's that's the ultimate goal here.”
The path forward for the Nets involves Cam Thomas, for the time being, and a plethora of draft picks that they have accumulated. The Nets own their own, the Milwaukee Bucks', and the Phoenix Suns' 2025 first-round picks, but this Suns pick could be swapped to the Houston Rockets in what has become a complicated scenario. Brooklyn also owns the Knicks 2025 first-round pick.
There is an immediate chance that the Nets could build a strong, youthful core through the 2025 NBA Draft, especially if they end up with at least one pick inside the top 10. Between the future drafts and the moves the Nets made in free agency, there is a legitimate path to them becoming a threat once more.
Nic Claxton
The only move that was a given for the Nets as they approached free agency was re-signing Nic Claxton. Amid interest starting to form from other teams, Claxton and the Nets were able to come to a verbal agreement on a new contract before the free agency period opened for other teams to speak with him.
The Nets now have their center locked up through the 2027-28 season after rewarding him with a four-year, $97 million contract. The best part about this deal from Brooklyn's perspective is that Claxton's new contract is front-loaded. This means that his contract will decline by roughly $1.3 million per season, giving the Nets flexibility to build their roster moving forward.
It never seemed like there was doubt that Claxton was going to be looking elsewhere in the offseason. He has turned himself into one of the better defensive centers in the NBA, and the Nets big man is the longest tenured player on their roster, as he was drafted 31st overall by Brooklyn in 2019.
This past season, Claxton played in a total of 71 games, averaging 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 62.9 percent from the floor. Claxton has ranked among the best centers in the league over the last couple of seasons when it comes to defending the rim and finishing in the paint on offense.
Re-signing Claxton was a given for the Nets, as he won't be leaving Brooklyn any time soon.
GRADE: A-
Shake Milton
When the Nets decided to trade Bridges to the Knicks, there was a massive holdup due to New York trying to figure out their financial situation. After extending OG Anunoby on a new contract, the Knicks were searching for ways to remain under the first apron tax line, which is why additional names were included in this trade. The Nets not only landed Bojan Bogdanovic from New York, but they also acquired Mamadi Diakite and Shake Milton, who was added late as a sign-and-trade.
Diakite was later traded by Brooklyn to the Memphis Grizzlies for Ziaire Williams.
Milton has been in the league for six years and will now play for his fifth team. The 27-year-old spent the first five seasons of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers before bouncing around between the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and Knicks this past season. Although he proved to be a valuable sixth man during his time with the Sixers, Milton's role has decreased through the years to the point where he was eventually waived by the Pistons.
While there is an opportunity for him to see minutes with the Nets given their messy backcourt situation, it is hard to see where Milton can fit into the picture with this team. Milton is not a young player that Brooklyn can build with, and his offensive game can be shaky at times, no pun intended.
As a result of being included in this Bridges trade by way of a sign-and-trade from the Knicks, Milton finds himself on a three-year, minimum contract. He will make $2.87 million this upcoming season, followed by $3 million during the 2025-26 season, and $3.28 million during the 2026-27 season. Essentially, he is a small contract that the Nets could potentially package with other assets in a trade at some point.
Overall, this isn't terrible for the Nets, as Milton's salary can easily be an extension of another trade made at some point during the 2024-25 season. However, his style of play would clash with that of Cam Thomas, and he isn't the type of player the Nets want on a three-year deal.
GRADE: C+
Trendon Watford
Trendon Watford joined the Nets ahead of the 2023-24 season after proving to be a very strong bench option over the last two years with the Portland Trail Blazers. In his first two seasons with the Blazers, Watford averaged 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 54.7 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from three-point range.
The big man's all-around game and ability to step up in place of Jusuf Nurkic when he suffered injuries were what caught the Nets' attention.
With Brooklyn, Watford continued to be an efficient scorer in the paint this past season, and he also proved to be a durable frontcourt option behind Claxton. That is why the team ultimately rewarded him with a new one-year contract in free agency.
Watford now rejoins the Nets, where he is expected to hold a key role off the bench yet again. In fact, it seems like he could have a slight edge over Day'Ron Sharpe for the backup center spot on the team's depth chart.
It is no secret that the Nets are rebuilding right now, which is why Watford holds some value in Brooklyn. The 23-year-old is young enough to continue developing, and he has a higher understanding than most big men when it comes to knowing where to be on the floor at all times. The Nets know what they are getting with Watford, which is why a one-year, minimum contract is a strong deal for Brooklyn.
GRADE: B+
Keon Johnson
The most recent free agency signing that the Nets made was Keon Johnson, one of their standout players at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Johnson, who was drafted 21st overall in 2021 and began his career with the Los Angeles Clippers, has spent the most time early on with the Trail Blazers. There, the athletic shooting guard averaged 6.5 points and 1.7 rebounds per game while shooting 34.7 percent from three-point range.
While it was clear that he still needed to put in the work behind the scenes, the Nets signed Johnson last season as a result of injuries and needed to add depth. Johnson made the most of his opportunities in Brooklyn to finish the 2023-24 season, and he was great in Summer League.
Next to Summer League MVP Jalen Wilson, Johnson averaged 16.0 points and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor. His efficiency and ability to get downhill towards the rim on offense are what impressed the Nets, resulting in them offering the young guard a two-year deal that contains a team option for the 2025-26 season.
Essentially, the Nets get yet another look at a first-round pick they believe can develop into an athletic two-way weapon on the wing. Johnson is still only 22 years old, meaning that he could turn into something special for a rebuilding Nets franchise. There is no risk associated with this deal, which is why it's a solid one for the Nets.
GRADE: B
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