It’s going to be an interesting few months for the Brooklyn Nets, with many lows and a hopefully a few highs. Here is a quick run through of the key dates coming up for the team and when to expect some key decisions.
Beginning of May — Brooklyn will take a look at a number of potential draft prospects. As is well documented, the Nets will only have one draft pick (no. 55), so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them buy a couple of picks in the second round and could potentially try to trade into the first round.
May 8-10 – D-League Mini Camp – Now that Brooklyn has a D-League team the ‘Long Island Nets’ the D-League dates come of interest. Brooklyn will send an expert group to the D-League Elite Mini Camp in Chicago where 40 D-Leaguers will have a chance show off their talents. With the likes of Sean Kilpatrick and Henry Sims being products of the D-League this season for the team, it’s something Brooklyn will need to take full advantage of.
May 11-15 – Draft Combine – NBA Draft Combine 2016 in Chicago. Where the top college basketball players take physical measurements, participate in interviews, undergo shooting drills, take medical tests, go through five-on-five drills and perform various athletic tests in front of NBA coaches, general managers, and scouts. Athletes attend by invitation only.
May 17 – NBA Draft Lottery 2016 (Billy King Day) – The day that will go down in history of the Brooklyn Nets for one of the most painful. We all know what is going to happen, the ball will land Nets with the number one pick and will bring a tear to the eye of every Nets fan out there.
More from Brooklyn Nets News
- LAST CHANCE: Get $2,500 Bonus for Any NBA Draft Bet Before FanDuel Promo Expires Sunday
- Bet365 New Jersey Bonus: Bet $1, Win $200 GUARANTEED on ANY NBA Finals Bet Tonight!
- BetRivers NJ Promo: Bet $500 on the NBA/NHL Finals, Get a Bonus-Bet Refund if You Miss!
- DraftKings New Jersey Promo: Bet $5, Win $150 INSTANTLY on ANY NBA Playoff Game!
- Bet365 New Jersey Bonus: Nets Fans Bet $1, Win $200 GUARANTEED Tonight!
June 10-12 – Adidas EUROCAMP – Sean Marks has made it clear in comments that it will utilize overseas and D-League players to make up for lost picks. Brooklyn will have a group sent over to Italy to take at look at the best Europe has to offer.
June – D-League Tryouts – It varies each year, but somewhere normally mid-June the D-League tryouts happen.
June 15 – Thomas Robinson – He must decide on his $1,050,961 million player option for 2016-17. Based on numerous comments that he’s made over the last couple of months about wanting to stay in Brooklyn, I think he will exercise his option.
June 27 – NBA Draft – And of course it is in Brooklyn just to rub it in. The Nets pick at no.55 after the swap with the Clippers has gone through, with no first rounder this is going to be a bad day for Nets fans. You would think Sean Marks would buy a few picks and maybe try trade up if there was someone they really wanted like last year with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
June 27 – Trade exception – $1,357,080 from the Mason Plumlee trade expires.
June 29 – Shane Larkin/Wayne Ellington – The pair have player options to decide on, $1,500,000 to Larkin and $1.567,000 to Ellington. Will both stay if they opt in? I doubt it.
June 30 – Jarrett Jack – Nets must decide whether to exercise a $6.3 million team option or pay a $500,000 guarantee. (My guess is the latter)
June 30 – Markel Brown/Willie Reed – Last day the Nets can make them restricted free agents. They must offer Brown $1,180,431 and Reed $1,215,696. For me: Brown yes, Reed no.
July 1 – Free agency begins – There are a few good FA’s out there, where it is expected the Nets may make a plunge. Brooklyn will probably have around $45 million to use (We aren’t getting KD).
July 13 – Trade exception – The $2,170,465 from the Steve Blake trade to Detroit expires.
Early September – D-League Expansion Draft – There are three new clubs — Long Island Nets (Brooklyn), Windy City Bulls (Chicago) and Greensboro Swarm (Charlotte). All will get a chance to select unprotected players from among the league’s established teams.
October 1 – Training camps/Media Day – Always a good first look at the players.
Late October – Season starts – The start of the Championship season begins…
Late October/Early November – D-League Draft – Brooklyn will have picks and will use them wisely. This will be a great opportunity to have a new channel of talent coming into Brooklyn.