The Brooklyn Nets snatched a statement win from the jaws of defeat last night, overturning an 18-point deficit to defeat the West-leading Golden State Warriors in a massive upset. The Nets are 8-10 on the season and could make a Playoff push in the relatively weak East, but the short-term success on the court could restrict the team from building out its future.
They traded multiple assets to the Houston Rockets to get control of their 2025 pick back because they intended on tanking. With the roster looking competitive to open the season, the team has reportedly started listening to offers for the top veteran stars on their roster without making any player untouchable in talks.
With the Nets likely planning on bottoming out at some point this season to guarantee a top-five pick in the stacked 2025 NBA Draft, six players could be moved by the franchise over the course of the 2024-25 season.
A Big Bad Center On The Market
One of the players many will be shocked to see as available on the market is Nicolas Claxton. The 26-year-old center is averaging 8.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks this season, already securing a contract extension that will keep him paid until 2028. He is considered a winning big man given the contributions he made to the franchise while Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were leading the franchise.
The Nets have a chance to reshape their roster from scratch and trading Claxton as one of their major assets would make sense. It’s hard to expect him to continue playing at a high level while the franchise is losing over the next few seasons, likely causing his trade value to drop in the future.
Claxton could fetch a first-round pick in a trade with a contender who needs to reinforce their center spot. The Los Angeles Lakers would be an ideal match, but it’s hard to say if the franchise has real interest in the player.
Veteran Forwards Galore
The Nets have a cast of veteran forwards who could be extremely valuable in a potential trade – Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Bojan Bogdanovic.
Johnson is averaging 18.3 points and 4.1 rebounds this season, leading the Nets offensively and making himself arguably the most desirable Nets player on the market. Any contender in the NBA could use a sweet-shooting wing like him, but it likely will come at the cost of multiple first-round picks or a highly-touted young talent.
Finney-Smith is a proven Playoff-caliber defender who should be doing the dirty work for a winning franchise where his contributions will be appreciated. He’s averaging 10.8 points and 4.5 rebounds, shooting 41.0% from the floor on 5.4 attempts per game. He could be acquired for less than a first-round pick if the overall package provides good future value to the Nets, whether with a young player or with multiple second-round picks.
Bojan Bogdanovic’s value is hard to ascertain, as he’s been injured to start the season. He’s become a journeyman over the last few years, playing for the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks before being traded to Brooklyn this summer. He likely won’t fetch a major return, with just second-round picks likely being enough to get his $19 million expiring contract onto a new team.
High-Quality Guards Available For Trade
The best assets on the Nets who might be traded away this season are their two backcourt guards – Dennis Schroder, Cam Thomas.
Schroder is a multi-year NBA veteran who’s having a resurgence this season as the first option on the Nets, averaging 18.0 points and 6.5 assists.
He’s going toe-to-toe with some of the best players in the NBA and holding his own, playing a major factor in Brooklyn’s success. He’s playing at the level of a player who should fetch multiple first-round picks, but it doesn’t look like any team in the league will be willing to fork out that much value for a 31-year-old guard who’s been inconsistent in the past.
Thomas might be the best asset available as a 23-year-old high-volume scorer who could transform a team. He’s averaging 4.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists this season. He’d carry a multiple first-round pick value as well, with the Nets potentially giving away a future NBA scoring champion.
There are questions about his fit under new head coach Jordi Fernandez, so it makes sense to test his market. Other veterans might get traded for unsatisfactory prices if we’re close enough to the deadline, but getting Thomas won’t be easy for any team.
All these players carry trade value which could set the Nets up for a decade, provided the franchise finds good homes for these players. At least three to four of these players will be moved before the trade deadline, so a shake-up in Brooklyn might be inevitable.
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