Brooklyn Nets: 5 reasons to get excited about the 2018-19 season

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BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 22: General Manager SeanMarks of the Brooklyn Nets speaks at the Post NBA Draft press conference with Dzanan Musa and Rodions Kurucs on June 22, 2018 at the HSS Training Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michelle Farsi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The 2018-19 season can determine 2019 offseason success

The Brooklyn Nets can have an estimated $50 million to $70 million in cap space for the summer of 2019. This can translate to two max contracts.

Before we get into the 2019 offseason, Sean Marks will have a lot of decision making to do. These are the current Brooklyn Nets that will be free agents next July 1, barring any extensions:

Caris LeVert (team option)
D’Angelo Russell
DeMarre Carroll
Ed Davis
Kenneth Faried
Jared Dudley
Spencer Dinwiddie
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Jarrett Allen (team option)
Allen Crabbe (player option)

Looking at that list of Nets free agents in 2019, Marks will have to make huge decisions on which players will make the Nets long-term plan. With two months remaining before the season begins, it is likely that Marks will make a heavy push to re-sign Russell, Dinwiddie and Hollis-Jefferson.

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Those are players Marks is very familiar with and have made big contributions for Brooklyn.

With that said, why can the 2018-19 season impact the hopes of a bright 2019 offseason? The answer is that this season will have a heavy impact on high market free agents interest in joining the Brooklyn Nets.

The Nets need to show signs of winning next season. If Brooklyn can win more than 28 games, this will give free agents a stronger interest in joining the Nets. No high-profile free agent will want to join a losing team and be expected to turn it around singlehandedly.

The NBA today is built around making super teams. Each team must make an intriguing argument on why they a big-name free agent should chose them.

If the Brooklyn Nets show signs of winning and improvement in 2018-19, free agents will have Brooklyn as a top option on their list. With the Nets holding enough space to potentially offer two max contracts, that gives these free agents an opportunity to take a shot to build a super team.

Brooklyn has many positives in its favor when it comes to landing high-profile players. They have the New York City environment and media, good coaching and front office, and key pieces. If they can add winning to that list, Brooklyn has a great chance of becoming a super team.

Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson sat down with Michael Kay to talk about the 2019 offseason hopes.

"I think you have to dream big, Michael. You have to dream big. It’s a little bit on us, how we play this year …. the word around the league. Players they talk to each other. “What’s it like in Brooklyn? How do they treat you? How do they treat their families? What are the fans like? What’s the Barclays Center like?’ I think we have all those things in our favor. Players talk and I think they will seriously consider us.”"

One other positive asset Brooklyn have in its favor is the culture within the city and their team.