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Jordi Fernandez and the Nets know all too well what it’s like to spend time in the shadow of their crosstown rivals.
While all eyes remain on the Orange and Blue’s bid for a repeat, Brooklyn has slowly shifted its culture.
But before we put championship aspirations on the table, it’s safe to say the Nets haven’t been competitive for a while.
In fact, it’s been insufferable: Brooklyn has finished 11th or worse in the East for three consecutive seasons.
Ever since posting a 45-37 mark and securing the sixth seed in 2022-23, Brooklyn has regressed sharply, following up with a 32-50 record to land 11th, a 26-56 mark for 12th, and a miserable 20-62 campaign that left them 13th a season ago.
Losses, however, bring an NBA organization an insane amount of draft capital and the flexibility to make moves.
The Nets have stayed one step ahead, and aside from the five draft picks from the notorious Mikal Bridges trade, their roster will also feature some new names.
For starters, Julius Randle joined the fold via a huge four-team deal that sent Nic Claxton to Chicago, LaMelo Ball to Minnesota, and Naz Reid to Charlotte.
After an underwhelming playoff showing with the Timberwolves, the veteran is eager to show how his skill set complements Michael Porter Jr. The latter is coming off 52 games in his Nets debut season, solidifying his role as the top scorer with averages of 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3 assists, shooting 46-36-85.
Rounding out forwards who may potentially crack the rotation are Noah Clowney, Josh Minott, and rookie Joshua Jefferson. Gone are Jalen Wilson and Ziarie Williams, who measured closer to wings than bruisers.
This is key because the Nets’ new defensive identity, installed by Fernandez, demands physicality and versatility, something Clowney and Minott can bring nightly. Day’Ron Sharpe and veteran Mo Wagner man the center position, with Wagner signing in the offseason after spending a couple of seasons in Orlando.
The backcourt is extremely young, with four of the five draft picks from the Bridges trade returning for a sophomore campaign: Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, and Ben Saraf.
Demin remains poised to take the leap and share starting duties alongside recent lottery pick Mikel Brown Jr. out of Louisville. Veteran and defensive-minded guards Terrance Mann and Keon Ellis round out the youth movement.
Banking on Demin to become a transcendent talent at guard is bullish right now, given the high level of competition he’ll face daily from Jalen Brunson (Knicks), Tyrese Maxey (Sixers), and Derrick White (Celtics) in the Atlantic Division.
If his 3-point shooting and playmaking turn the corner, adding Randle could speed up that process by giving the Nets another ball-handler who can make his own shot.
Oddsmakers originally projected a dismal season for Brooklyn, setting their line at a modest 19.5 victories. However, that figure has steadily surged up to 24.5.
Amid a dramatic Eastern Conference shakeup, with Jaylen Brown and LeBron James joining forces in Philadelphia and Giannis Antetokounmpo arriving in South Beach, the Nets continue to fly completely under the radar.
But sometimes it’s better to be the hunter than the hunted.
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I know preseason results don’t translate to regular-season wins, but the Nets have handled business. Brooklyn has forced 20-plus turnovers in two dress rehearsals, even spoiling James’ Sixers exhibition debut.
I’m not guaranteeing a playoff or play-in berth, but betting on Brooklyn to win 25 or more games at plus money seems feasible.
Fernandez is one of the most underrated coaches when it comes to game planning. He stepped down from Team Canada last February solely to focus on the Nets.
Don’t be surprised if his team flirts with 30 wins and pulls off a few early upsets in the 2026-27 season.
The Plays: Nets to record over 24.5 wins (+100, bet365) | Nets to win 30 or more regular season games (+350, DraftKings)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.