4 Brooklyn Nets bold season predictions as team sheds tanking label in 2026-27 appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Brooklyn Nets kick off the 2026-27 campaign on Wednesday vs. the Charlotte Hornets. Following two tanking seasons that featured 118 combined losses, Jordi Fernandez and co. will look to take a step back towards relevance.
The rebuilding squad made several notable offseason additions, trading for three-time All-Star Julius Randle, selecting Mikel Brown Jr. with the No. 6 pick in June’s draft, and signing Keon Ellis and Moe Wagner in free agency.
With that, we offer four bold predictions for the Nets’ 2026-27 campaign.
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Julius Randle makes the All-Star team
Randle’s last two stops have ended on a sour note. However, he’s cemented his status as one of the league’s better regular-season offensive engines in recent years. Randle has averaged 22.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists on .459/.341/.785 shooting splits over the last six seasons. He’s one of four players to average over 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting 45.0 percent or better from the field during that span, alongside Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic.
The 32-year-old enters this season as the Nets’ unquestioned lead on-ball creator. He’ll have several high-level floor spacers alongside him, including Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. Fernandez has predicted this will be Randle’s best playmaking season of his career. The veteran forward averaged 7.5 dimes per 36 minutes during the preseason.
If the Nets exceed expectations with Randle leading the way, the veteran forward could make his first All-Star appearance since 2023-24.
Mikel Brown Jr. makes first-team All-Rookie
Brown is the Nets’ most highly-touted draft pick of the Brooklyn era. At 6-foot-4 with logo shooting range, impressive ball-handling and court vision, and dynamic athleticism, the 20-year-old is among the most talented guard prospects the franchise has ever selected. Brown missed the second half of his freshman season at Louisville due to a back injury. However, he flashed star potential during his limited appearances.
Brown averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists on .410/.344/.844 shooting splits for the Cardinals. That included a 45-point performance against NC State during which he drained 10 three-pointers. He’ll fill a lead offensive role in a Jordi Fernandez offense that should capitalize on his pull-up/movement shooting and playmaking.
If Brown can shoot efficiently from the outside while limiting his turnovers, he’ll be in the conversation for an All-Rookie spot.
Michael Porter Jr. is traded at the deadline
Porter’s uncertain future is one of the top question marks surrounding the Nets entering the season. The 6-foot-10 sharpshooter is coming off his best statistical season, narrowly missing his first All-Star appearance. However, he’s entering the final year of his contract and has not agreed to an extension with Brooklyn.
General Manager Sean Marks continues to prioritize flexibility as the Nets move forward in their rebuild. Brooklyn has no guaranteed money on its books past 2027-28. Porter will turn 29 after this season and has an extensive injury history, including three back surgeries. His defensive effort also left much to be desired last season.
If Porter is willing to accept a shorter-term deal, the Nets could re-sign him and kick the can down the road on a decision. If he wants a long-term guarantee on par with his current salary ($40 million annually), Brooklyn will likely field trade offers ahead of February’s deadline.
One of the Nets’ 2025 first-round picks will be cut
After making seven first-round picks in the last two drafts, the Nets will face an uphill battle to give minutes to all their young prospects. Three of the team’s 2025 first-round picks — Danny Wolf, Drake Powell and Ben Saraf — were running with the third unit during the preseason. That was partly due to Chaney Johnson’s emergence.
Johnson showed promise late last season after signing a two-way deal. The former Auburn forward continued to impress at Summer League and appears to have a rotation role to start this season. If he makes the most of the opportunity, the Nets will convert Johnson to a standard deal at some point in the next year.
In that case, they’d have to cut a standard-contract player to make room. Saraf could be the odd man out, as Brooklyn already has young point guards in the rotation with Brown and Traore. Regardless of Johnson’s performance this year, the Nets won’t have room in their rotation for all their recent draft picks if they hope to take a meaningful step towards the playoffs in 2027-28.
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