After two seasons of collecting top picks in the 2025 and 2026 drafts, the Nets seem ready to compete again. Brooklyn has little incentive to lose on purpose, as the Houston Rockets own swap rights to the Nets’ 2027 first-round pick.
Brooklyn already has forward Michael Porter Jr.,who had a career year in 2025-26. With the addition of three-time All-Star Julius Randle via trade, the Nets now have two players to rely on to create shots. But can the rest of the team’s youth join them for the ride? Let’s dive into what this season should look like.
Scoring combo
The addition of Randle should help address Brooklyn’s offense that ranked dead last in offensive efficiency (108.2 points per 100 possessions) last season. Over the last several years, Randle has proven that he can create his own scoring opportunities, averaging over 20 points a night six of his last eight seasons. But where he should have the most impact is creating looks for others. The power forward has averaged at least 4.1 assists in all of the past six seasons.
Brooklyn can run its offense through Randle, who is capable of initiating through pick-and-rolls as a screener or ballhandler. He should also help put Brooklyn’s other players in more advantageous positions to score. A beneficiary from Randle’s presence will be Porter. The small forward is coming off a strong debut season with the Nets, averaging 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 52 games.
Despite the career year, Porter’s efficiency dipped slightly. Adding a scorer and playmaker like Randle should allow Porter to slot into a role as second option with easier scoring opportunities. This year is important for Porter. He’s eligible for a contract extension, so proving that last year wasn’t a flash in the pan will be important for his future with the team.
Despite making three All-Star teams, Randle does have his flaws. He can be careless with the ball, creating turnovers. His defensive effort waxes and wanes on a regular basis. And he’s a career 33.2 percent shooter from the three-point line, making him a suboptimal floor spacer.
But Brooklyn is aiming for respectability, which Randle brings as a proven veteran. And we’ve seen Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez excel in the past despite a limited roster.
Show-and-prove
The Nets have had seven first-round picks over the past two years. Two of those seven players seem guaranteed to receive consistent minutes: Egor Dëmin and rookie Mikel Brown Jr.
The sixth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Brown had a decent Summer League. He only played in Brooklyn’s preseason finale after missing time with an injury. At 20 years old, Brown has potential as a shot creator and playmaker at the point guard position. But it will likely take him time to establish a consistent NBA rotation player.
Entering his sophomore season, Dëmin was spoon fed minutes in his rookie campaign, where he showed that he makes good reads as a passer. Dëmin also shot 38.5 percent from the three-point line. However, he needs to improve as a driver and finisher around the paint to be a starting caliber player. There are high hopes for his second season.
Brown and Dëmin will be given tons of opportunity. And with Dëmin’s 6-9 frame, they both should be able to play in the backcourt together.
Outside of Randle, the Nets made a couple of moves in free agency, signing center Moe Wagner and guard Keon Ellis to contracts. Reserves Josh Minott and Terance Mann could also see some time.
With very few veterans on the roster there will be opportunities for the five other recent first-round picks. Nolan Traoré, Ben Saraf,Danny Wolf, Drake Powell and Joshua Jefferson will all have chances to crack the rotation. Specifically, Traoré, Saraf, Wolf, and Powell are all entering their second season. They will have to show some progress to justify a long-term roster spot past this season.
Starting caliber
To acquire Randle, the Nets had to send mainstay Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal. Claxton’s defense and rebounding had dipped over the past few years. The center’s departure creates an opportunity for Day’Ron Sharpe to start at the five. Sharpe re-signed on a two-year, $20 million deal during the offseason.
Sharpe has been a per-minute darling over the past several years, dominating opposing backup centers by feasting on the offensive boards and finishing around the basket. Over five seasons, Sharpe is averaging 16.3 points, 13.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per 36 minutes. His work on the offensive glass will be a big help to Brooklyn creating more scoring opportunities. When Sharpe is on the floor, the Nets have played better. Teams outscored Brooklyn by 4.3 points per 100 possessions in 1,160 minutes last year, a figure far better than the -12.9 net rating the Nets had in Claxton’s minutes.
The question is can Sharpe be healthy and withstand a bump in minutes? He’s never played more than 62 games in a season and never averaged more than 18.7 minutes in a season. Also, he will now be matched up with the likes of Nikola Jokić, Karl-Anthony Towns and Bam Adebayo, a step up from his days as a backup.
Prediction
The Nets should be better than last year. The addition of a multi-time All-Star like Randle is a step in the right direction. And the NBA’s arrangement to disincentivize tanking of the draft will make the team naturally more competitive. But that also means the competition will also be trying.
Brooklyn’s lack of depth and heavy reliance on unproven youngsters means it’s unlikely the club will be competing for a playoff spot. Dëmin and Brown will need to wildly exceed expectations for a massive leap. Let’s go with 30-52.