The Brooklyn Nets enter the 2019 offseason at a crossroads, with the cap space necessary to chase a star or two, but with areas that need to be improved.
The 2018-19 season marked the turning point of the Sean Marks-Kenny Atkinson era with the Brooklyn Nets. A 14-win improvement and the team’s first playoff berth since 2015 has brought the Nets back to relevance.
A young core, gritty style of play and significant cap space has Brooklyn in position to be a premier free-agent destination for the first time in years.
Upon his arrival in 2016, general manager Sean Marks brought a plan to Brooklyn. Through under-the-radar signings and trades, solid drafting and savvy manipulations of the salary cap, Marks has rebuilt the franchise
Now, with the Nets in position to make a splash, Marks will need to capitalize on his work and bring elite talent to Brooklyn this summer.
Roster Outlook
When all is said and done, the Brooklyn Nets may head into next season with a transformed roster. Brooklyn’s superstar aspirations have thrown the future of several players into question.
Six players from Brooklyn’s roster will hit free agency next season. DeMarre Carroll appears to be on his way out following the acquisition of Taurean Waller-Prince. The Nets acquired Prince in a deal with Atlanta that dumped Allen Crabbe‘s contract.
Prince plays a similar game to Carroll as a two-way wing and at 25 years old offers a younger and cheaper alternative. The Baylor product averaged 13.5 points per game on 39 percent shooting from 3 last season while playing solid defense.
Brooklyn will not extend a qualifying offer to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and it is unlikely the forward will be back. Hollis-Jefferson was the longest-tenured Net on the roster after spending four seasons in Brooklyn.
Ed Davis and Jared Dudley will hit free agency and it is unclear whether the veterans will be back. Following a solid season, Davis is in line for a raise and may infringe on Brooklyn’s cap space. It has been rumored that the Nets will target a big man in the draft as a cheaper alternative.
Dudley may be the likeliest of the Brooklyn’s free agents to return. The veteran will likely seek a minimum deal after proving to be valuable last season as a high-IQ presence on the floor and in the locker room.
D’Angelo Russell‘s future is among the biggest decisions of the offseason for Marks. The 23-year-old is coming off an All-Star season and will be a restricted free agent.
Reports have surfaced that the point guard may not be a primary option for Brooklyn in free agency, leading many to believe Russell could be in another uniform next season.
The non-guaranteed deals of Shabazz Napier and Treveon Graham will likely be waived to add to cap space.
That leaves the Nets with seven guaranteed contracts. Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, Jarrett Allen, Rodions Kurucs, Dzanan Musa and Prince will serve as the main supporting cast for whichever top free agents wind up in Brooklyn next season.
Several tough decisions will be made this offseason regarding the roster. With a potential superstar pair brewing in Brooklyn, things could look a lot different next season.
Free Agents (6): DeMarre Carroll, Jared Dudley, Ed Davis, D’Angelo Russell (restricted), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Theo Pinson (restricted)
Non-Guaranteed (2): Shabazz Napier, Treveon Graham
Guaranteed (7): Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert (expiring), Joe Harris (expiring), Jarrett Allen, Rodions Kurucs, Dzanan Musa (team option for 2020-21), Taurean Prince (expiring)