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It's officially rebuild time for the Brooklyn Nets. General Manager Sean Marks reset the organization Tuesday, trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for Bojan Bogdanovic, five first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and a second-round pick. In a separate move, Brooklyn regained control of its 2025 and 2026 first-round picks from the Houston Rockets in exchange for four future firsts, three of which will come via the Phoenix Suns.
The Nets now have 15 first-round picks over the next seven years, one of the biggest stashes in the NBA. With that, we analyze what moves could be next as they continue their organizational revamp.
Nets must cash in on veterans
The Nets made these trades with a clear direction for next season: bottoming out to land a top draft pick. After regaining control of their 2025 first-rounder, Brooklyn can tank freely in hopes of landing a top selection in a stacked 2025 draft. Next year's class features highly touted prospects like Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey.
Brooklyn's next step will be cashing in on veterans who no longer fit the new timeline. Those players should include Bogdanovic, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dennis Schroder, and potentially, Ben Simmons. Of the group, Johnson and Finney-Smith project to have the most trade value.
Johnson underwhelmed last season while battling injuries after signing a four-year, $94.5 million contract. However, wings with size who can shoot and defend multiple positions are at a premium in today's NBA. Despite his disappointing 2023-24 campaign, the 6-foot-8 forward has shot 41 percent from three on six attempts per game over his last three seasons.
Johnson's contract was front-loaded, with his biggest cap hit coming last season. The 28-year-old is owed $68.8 million over the next three seasons, a deal that should be viewed more favorably down the line. With the salary cap set to jump due to the NBA's new TV deal, his cap hit will be under 14 percent in the contract's final two years.
Finney-Smith is under contract for $14.5 million next season before a $15.4 million player option in 2025-26. The 30-year-old would offer a seamless fit on nearly every contender due to his size, hard-nosed defense and three-point shooting.
Simmons ($40.3 million), Bogdanovic ($19.0 million) and Schroder ($13.0 million) are on expiring contracts. Brooklyn could use them to help other teams shed unwanted salaries beyond next season in return for additional draft capital.
Deciding on Nic Claxton's future
The expectation around the NBA has been that Claxton, an unrestricted free agent, will return to the Nets on a lucrative deal. It's unclear how the Bridges trade could impact that equation. After ranking fourth in the NBA in stocks (steals + blocks) over the last two seasons, Claxton is expected to command a four-year deal worth $20-25 million annually.
The 25-year-old is young enough to fit Brooklyn's new timeline, and the team has maintained that they would like to retain him, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. However, Claxton's feelings about signing long-term with a starless, tanking team are unclear. Luckily for the Nets, there doesn't project to be heavy competition for his services on the market.
Among the six teams projected to have over $20 million in cap space (Pistons, 76ers, Magic, Jazz, Thunder, Spurs), only Oklahoma City needs a center. However, the Thunder have been linked to Isaiah Hartenstein far more than Claxton. The Pistons have been mentioned as another destination, but with Jalen Duren already in place, it's unclear whether they'd overpay to pry Claxton from Brooklyn.
A sign-and-trade is another viable option that would open Claxton's bidding to a wide range of suitors. The New Orleans Pelicans are among the teams who could be interested in such a deal, according to Scotto.
Assessing extensions for Cam Thomas, Day'Ron Sharpe
A rebuild means it's Cam Thomas time in Brooklyn. The third-year guard led the Nets in scoring last season (22.5 points per game on 44/36/86 shooting splits) after cracking the rotation for the first time in his career. With Brooklyn now having every incentive to lean into young talent, he should get the full keys to the offense next season.
However, the Nets have a decision to make on Thomas' contract first. The 22-year-old is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is eligible for an extension this summer. Before the Bridges trade, the assumption was Brooklyn would let Thomas hit restricted free agency next summer to maximize their 2025 cap space. However, the Nets' new timeline should change that thought process.
With Thomas stepping into a career-high workload in 2024-25, it could be wise for Brooklyn to lock him in on an extension this summer. However, given the LSU product is now Brooklyn's clear No. 1 offensive option, his camp may prefer to hold off and test the free-agent waters next offseason.
Day'Ron Sharpe, the Nets' other 2021 first-round pick, is another extension candidate. The 22-year-old impressed last season while receiving consistent playing time for the first time in his career. He posted the NBA's second-highest rebounding percentage while improving as a finisher and short-roll playmaker.
However, with Claxton expected to return and Noah Clowney showing promise late last year, many viewed Sharpe as a trade candidate this summer. The Memphis Grizzlies recently expressed interest in the North Carolina product. However, the Nets should now have little issue eating into their 2025 cap space to re-sign Sharpe if they think he can continue to increase his long-term value.
