The Brooklyn Nets are sitting on a goldmine ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, and the rest of the league knows it.
According to Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report, the Nets are the team to watch as draft night approaches. Armed with four first-round picks — Nos. 8, 19, 26, and 27 and up to $80 million in cap space, Brooklyn has the tools to reshape the NBA landscape in a matter of days.
“Depending on what Brooklyn does with its own free-agent cap holds and qualifying offers, it will have somewhere between $40 and $80 million in room below the cap. That’d be a powerful trade tool in any offseason.”
“In this one, where nobody else comes anywhere close to that level of financial flexibility, it’s like a combination of a magic wand, a skeleton key and the Infinity Gauntlet.”
“The Nets are all-powerful facilitators, capable of taking on unwanted cash (with picks attached, of course) in order to grease the skids for other teams’ exchanges.”
That’s not hyperbole. No other franchise comes close to this level of flexibility, financially or in trade assets. Most teams are tangled in luxury tax constraints, struggling to even make minor upgrades.
Meanwhile, the Nets can absorb bad contracts, offer pick compensation, or even act as a third-team facilitator. In a summer projected to be movement-heavy, all trade roads may run through Brooklyn.
With four picks in the top 30, the Nets could go young and rebuild slowly. But that’s not the vibe coming from league insiders. Brooklyn is reportedly eyeing star talent. They’re believed to be active in discussions to move up from No. 8 or package picks and players for a ready-made All-Star.
One of the names quietly linked to Brooklyn is Giannis Antetokounmpo.
For the first time, Giannis is exploring options outside of Milwaukee, and the Nets, who are in a major market with young talent and flexibility, have the ability to create a superstar-friendly environment.
Though a Giannis trade would be complex and require a bidding war, Brooklyn is among the few that can compete.
Another name gaining traction is Jaylen Brown. If the Celtics pivot this summer, possibly due to Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, Brown could be on the move, and the Nets have enough capital to make a real push. A Brown-Giannis combo? It’s ambitious, but Brooklyn is one of the few teams that can credibly pursue that vision.
And it’s not just about bringing players in. Nicolas Claxton is a free agent and has been linked to the Lakers, among others. He could be a key piece in a trade.
Cameron Johnson is also drawing interest from several contenders as a high-level 3-and-D wing. The Nets may flip those two for more assets or pair them in larger packages.
It’s hard to believe it’s been less than three years since the Durant-Irving era collapsed. Brooklyn was a laughingstock after that implosion. But now, with a clean financial slate, multiple first-round picks, and an aggressive front office, they may be the biggest power player in the 2025 offseason.
Don’t be surprised if the Nets go from rebuild to reloaded before draft night is even over.
