The Brooklyn Nets appear to be in the middle of a rebuild. While they have made some solid additions to their team, the Nets are far from looking competitive in the East.
While this could be in their best interests as they continue to make the most of their draft assets, Brooklyn could find ways to build upon its current roster to make it an appealing landing spot for future free agents.
Considering that the Nets have the cap space to be an attractive destination, acquiring the talent would be all that’s necessary. On this note, they could look to leverage some of their player assets to facilitate some moves this offseason.
Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey presented one such idea. In a three-team deal centered around Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons, the Nets could potentially acquire RJ Barrett from the Toronto Raptors. Here’s the trade package presented by Bailey:
Proposed Trade Details
Brooklyn Nets Receive: RJ Barrett, 2031 second-round pick (BOS)
Toronto Raptors Receive: Anfernee Simons
Boston Celtics Receive: Ochai Agbaji, Terance Mann, 2030 second-round pick (TOR)
This trade proposal presents an intriguing outlook for each team’s future. Let’s examine the impact on each team closely.
The Nets Acquire A Versatile Guard
The addition of RJ Barrett addresses a pressing need for a starting playmaker for the Brooklyn Nets. Although the team has incredibly gifted offensive players, the lack of a capable floor general raises concerns about the flow of offense.
Last season, the Nets managed to skate without a primary facilitator for large portions of the season. Although D’Angelo Russell contributed to the team’s efforts in the latter section of the campaign, it was evident that Brooklyn needed more.
With outright scorers such as Michael Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas, Brooklyn would benefit from acquiring a versatile player like Barrett, who can coordinate the offense, while also facilitating scoring opportunities for himself.
The 25-year-old has positioned himself as an extremely capable starter and even a star-caliber player with the Toronto Raptors. Last season, the guard averaged 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, while shooting 46.8% from the field and 35.0% from three-point range.
By pairing Barrett with Porter Jr., Thomas, and Claxton, the Nets would form a fairly competent starting unit. While it may not result in a playoff spot, Brooklyn would be an entertaining team to follow.
In addition to Barrett’s arrival, the Nets would also acquire a 2031 second-round pick from Toronto, expanding upon their pre-existing wealth of draft assets. Overall, this deal could be viewed positively by the Nets.
The Raptors Boost Their Backcourt Scoring
Given the number of trade rumors surrounding Barrett this offseason, it seems more likely that the Raptors will be trying to move him. With this trade, Toronto can successfully do so while bringing back a capable scorer in Anfernee Simons over to their side.
Acquiring Simons could be an interesting prospect for the Raptors. Given the structure of their starting lineup, Simons would effectively slot into the backcourt next to Immanuel Quickley, forming a solid guard combo.
The benefits of acquiring Simons involve his role as a scorer and his contract situation. As a scorer, the 26-year-old has presented himself as an offensive threat, capable of using his creativity to facilitate scoring opportunities for the team.
He is an impressive athlete with solid perimeter shooting skills. This versatility would be a welcome sight in Toronto, especially next to Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram.
Last season, Simons was with the Portland Trail Blazers. In 70 appearances with the team, he posted an average of 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, while shooting 42.6% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range.
Although his production wasn’t as impressive as Barrett’s, Simons becomes more appealing due to his expiring contract. With an opportunity to clear $27.6 million in cap space, the Raptors may view this deal positively.
The Celtics Successfully Shed Salary
The Boston Celtics’ offseason approach has been geared toward shedding salary. With concerns regarding the second luxury tax apron looming over the franchise, Boston has had to make some tough personnel decisions.
The Celtics have been looking to shop Simons for the last few months, with some new teams showing reinvigorated interest in the guard. With this deal, Boston successfully moves Simons in return for Terance Mann, Ochai Agbaji, and a 2030 second-round pick.
The second-round pick has a lot of value as it helps Boston rebuild their draft assets. But the player assets cannot be overlooked, as both players present a lot of two-way upside.
Mann was solid in his role with the Atlanta Hawks last season, as he notched an average of 9.8 points and 3.1 rebounds on 54.1% shooting from the field. Although his three-point shooting could be considered a work in progress, he shot a respectable 38.6% from beyond the arc.
Agbaji, on the other hand, could be viewed more positively. The young guard possesses incredible athletic ability and keen basketball instincts. Although his role with the Raptors was limited to the bench, he posted an average of 10.4 points and 3.8 rebounds, while shooting 49.8% from the field and 39.9% from three-point range.
Coming off his third season in the league, Agbaji has shown a lot of room to grow and develop. On a team like the Celtics, he would certainly find himself in the main rotation, primarily as a wing defender and bench scorer.
While Mann still has three years left on his contract, Agbaji is entering the last year of his. In this regard, the Celtics may view Agbaji more favorably than Mann, presenting the possibility of another midseason trade involving the 28-year-old to gain more assets.
Can The Nets Make A Resurgence?
Since the Durant-Irving era, the Nets have fallen far outside of the playoff picture. At the current juncture, this could be attributed purely to a drop-off in talent.
The Nets, as constructed, are not ready to emerge as a playoff team. Although their rookies present a lot of potential, Brooklyn is a long way away from making a resurgence.
However, this doesn’t imply that the process isn’t in motion. Given Brooklyn’s reputation as a big market, it remains appealing to stars. In this regard, recent rumors could suggest that the Nets may be a future landing spot for Hawks star Trae Young, among other names.
Should the Nets successfully acquire a star-caliber player, the franchise could witness a rise into the East’s upper tier in due time.
