The Brooklyn Nets have exceeded expectations this season, especially considering they traded away Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks over the offseason. However, while the team has been competitive, they are still far from being true contenders and may need to consider moving players who could help facilitate a rebuild.
After blowing a significant lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Nets now sit at 4-6, tied for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. While that record is respectable, Brooklyn still owns its first-round draft pick this year, which makes it in the team’s best interest to potentially position themselves for a higher draft pick, even if it means taking a step back in the short term.
NBA insider Marc Stein suggests that Brooklyn might need to make some trades soon, as their current roster could make it harder to tank effectively. “The Nets might be a little bit more competent on the court than the front office truly wants them to be after reacquiring full control of Brooklyn’s 2025 and 2026 draft picks from Houston,” Stein wrote on his Substack. He added that veterans like Dennis Schröder, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Bojan Bogdanović, who are on relatively affordable contracts under $20 million, are likely to be targeted in trade talks leading up to the February 6 trade deadline.
With first-year head coach Jordi Fernandez aiming to win, the Nets may find themselves having to strip down their roster sooner than anticipated to fully commit to the rebuilding process.
Nets Could Enter Full Rebuild Soon with Potential Trades
When the Brooklyn Nets traded away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline, it seemed like the franchise was officially entering a rebuilding phase. After all, trading two superstars—despite both players requesting trades in the months prior—was a clear signal that the team was no longer focused on a win-now approach.
However, the Nets defied expectations. Despite the departures of their star players, Brooklyn still managed to make it to the playoffs, even finishing the season as a sub-.500 team. The success they had without Durant and Irving was a testament to the foundation the two superstars had helped build during their time in Brooklyn.
Additionally, Mikal Bridges, who had been a role player for the Phoenix Suns, began to emerge as a legitimate star in his own right. Bridges’ rapid development and strong play after the trade added an unexpected boost to the Nets’ future outlook, making it unclear whether Brooklyn would fully commit to a rebuild or attempt to remain competitive with a revamped roster.
While the Nets are still in a transition period, Bridges’ potential and the team’s playoff berth last season have kept them in a more competitive stance than many anticipated, complicating any immediate rebuild plans.
