Will Nets Fans’ Appreciation Be Rewarded With A Transformational Offseason?
Management Could Easily Opt To Run It Back
The Nets honored their Fan Appreciation Night by edging Toronto, 106-102, on Wednesday.
It was the least they could do for the Barclays Center faithful, who filled the arena for the last seven home dates despite the Nets’ dropout from postseason contention and some non-draws mixed into the slate. (Note: The NBA counts tickets issued, not the number actually in attendance, and it includes undisclosed giveaways).
Mikal Bridges could barely contain his disappointment when addressing the crowd prior to the Raptors contest. “On behalf of my teammates and the Nets organization, we appreciate you guys coming out this year,” Bridges said. “I know it’s been a tough year, but I appreciate you hanging on with us, man. We’ll be back next year.”
If only Bridges could guarantee such a quick turnaround. If anything, the fact that this dismal 32-48 team played to 99% capacity at home this season showed top management that maybe they can be a little patient without incurring a significant financial hit.
Whereas I’m hoping the Nets can finagle a way to obtain a superstar lead guard this offseason without eclipsing the luxury tax line, there’s a chance they opt to run it back with minor modifications. That was my takeaway from Thursday’s piece from venerable New York Post reporter Brian Lewis. If, as Lewis implied, the Nets are banking on Ben Simmons’ returning to form next season after a second back surgery, then what are we doing here? Simmons, who has counted a cumulative $106.4 million against Brooklyn’s salary cap to play 57 of 192 games in the last two-plus regular seasons (and 0-for-8 in the playoffs), is on the books for another $40 million as damaged goods for 2024-25. The Nets would be setting themselves up to fail again.
Unfortunately, such a contract is a literal anvil, locking the Nets into an ill-suited plight where transformational improvements are virtually impossible. Lewis reported that the Nets have no intention of buying Simmons out and the notion that Cleveland would accept him, even on an expiring deal, as part of the consideration in a potential trade for All-Star Donovan Mitchell without further incentive in the form of first-round Draft picks beyond the haul that Mitchell would garner is fantastical. Say goodbye to all the picks generated from last year’s Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving trades, folks.
Hence, a plan that calls for a deferral until the summer of 2025, when only Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Brooklyn’s two 19-year old rookies, Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead, are currently listed on the cap sheet (Dorian Finney-Smith has a $15.4 million player option that I can’t envision him exercising if he is forced into another miserable situation unless his game falls off a cliff), could conceivably be the one sold to ownership. With Simmons’ contract dropping off, the Nets would have sufficient assets, including a pair of 2025 first-round picks, to take maximum advantage of their newfound cap space, like they did in 2019.
Of course, NBA movements are fluid. The Nets don’t even have a Head Coach lined up for next season after interim HC Kevin Ollie runs these last two games at New York and Philadelphia this weekend. As I noted previously, there will surely be additional candidates who unexpectedly spring up following playoff disasters to go along with those on the sidelines or on assistant gigs. Who General Manager Sean Marks ultimately chooses could impact certain players’ destination desires. And those desires could necessitate a change in the Nets organization’s plan.
At the moment, Mitchell, a New Yorker, appears to be the apple of Nets fans’ eyes. Whether or not it’s reciprocal is debatable. Whereas Mitchell has previously expressed whims about one day returning to the City and he is allegedly tight with Bridges, would he really request a trade out of Cleveland, a competitive team in the Eastern Conference, for the dumpster fire in Brooklyn? Since Mitchell too can opt out of his contract following the 2024-25 season and recently was noncommittal about re-signing (despite owner Dan Gilbert’s previous assurance that Mitchell will), will the Cavs be proactive in looking to sell him this summer? If so, then the Nets must engage simply out of due diligence.
Barring such a major trade, though. the Nets could easily decide to bring back a familiar roster. Until I hear otherwise, staying below the tax threshold will remain a priority next season. Crossing it as a “tax repeater” would mean harsh consequences through 2028 beyond the actual tax dollars that a billionaire like Joseph Tsai can afford. It would preclude Brooklyn from using certain exceptions to improve the team. Unless you’re a legitimate title contender, such a strategy would do more harm than good.
As of this moment, there’s enough room under the tax line for Brooklyn to bring back their pending free agents, of which I would categorize center Nic Claxton as the only problematic re-signing since it’s possible he could find a market greater than what the Nets are willing to pay. Though they have their strengths, bench players Lonnie Walker IV, Dennis Smith Jr., and Trendon Watford all performed too inconsistently this season, befitting of many players signed to one-year veteran minimum deals. Thus, I would deem them replaceable should they depart.
Assuming for this exercise that everyone re-signs at their expected prices, the result would be negligible room for Marks to play this offseason without crossing into Tax Land. The Nets have four Trade Exceptions, the highest (a little over $20 million) coming from February’s Spencer Dinwiddie’s trade to the Lakers via Toronto, but utilizing them would still require Marks to offload payroll. The best that can happen is that Marks replicates breaking up a theoretical trade so he could punt the Exception to another year like he just did with Dinwiddie/Dennis Schroder.
I know, this is not very uplifting for Nets fans after such a long, demoralizing season. And by the way, Josh Hart, your comment last week that “ain’t nobody rocking with Brooklyn” isn’t accurate. You may be a fine basketball player, but you are ignorant about Nets Nation and their numbers. If you want to say institutional teams like the Knicks have more fans, well no s@#t.
Those that continue to “rock with Brooklyn”, however, deserve more than “appreciation.” They could use a dash of transparency and a heaping portion of hope. Sooner rather than later.