2026-27 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Like Vince, I also believe not bringing back the team from last season was the wrong move in the short term (next 1-2 seasons). I do believe its the better move in the long term (seasons 3 onwards). If we make an assumption that we could of brought back our free agents for what they took and potentially taken advantage of some of the moves that happened during free agency around the league, we could of maybe had this team:

Luka (49.5) / Kennard (6.5) / Bronny (2.3)
Reaves (41.2) / Smart (6) / Carr (3.3)
Watson (21.4) / Jake (6)
Lebron (14) / Rui (14) / Adou (2.1)
Claxton (23.1) / Mamu (15) / Hayes (6)

Order of Events:
1. Sign Lebron, Kennard, Smart, Rui & Hayes to their contracts
2. Trade Vando + NSJ + 1st for Claxton (this trade doesn't impact any of the other moves the Nets made cap wise, except they get an extra 1st)
3. Sign Mamu to the MLE
4. Waited till the end of FA and saw the opportunity with Watson, Trade Ayton + Knecht + 1st + 2x Swaps + 2x 2nds to Denver for Watson
5. Resigned Reaves to the max

Yes I know, highly unlikely blah blah blah. Except Claxton got dumped for cap space, Mamu signed for us anyway, Rui waited for us, and based on what the other guys took, you're allowed to assume staying with us for the same money could of brought back Kennard, Smart and Hayes. So really it's only Watson that to me is an unlikely move, but Denver said they'd S&T him for a package similar to Kessler's.

I do think that team could hav had a legitimate shot at a ring this year and it all broke apart when we kind of diverged from Lebron.

I'm happy with how we've pivoted all things considered, Kessler is a beast, Grimes is a two way guy, Sexton is a spark plug and Mamu will be extremely solid as the backup big. We just need a starting 4 and we should be pretty good - not ring winning good, but 50ish wins good.

 

I think the PJ Washington stuff is just fan rumours, sadly. Some podcasters mentioned he could be a target due to the fit, but the NBA insiders say we're not interested

 

Nets got Randle for Claxton didn't they? I think these bad teams really wanted to get better as being on the bottom 3 is worse.
I don't think those 2 trades happen. I can't see Denver letting Watson come to us. They likely accept a lesser deal with other team. But it's all revisionism so who cares.

 

yeah I agree with you. I'd probably take Grimes, and I'd even be willing to sacrifice Rui for Mamu instead, but that roster looks good

I also think something happened with Rob and Lebron, since what we heard about the lack of communication with his camp before FA began doesn't look normal to me.

You'd expect them to keep Lebron in the loop about all the plans if he were a priority.

 

No, they took Randle into cap space and then dumped Claxton to Chicago for cap space. So the question is, is a 1st and a 2nd enough to absorb 14m of cap? I would argue yes, Brooklyn isn’t anywhere close to contending, they want to tank and get assets.

Denver won’t send us Watson maybe. It’s a fair point, but they’re likely to sign and trade him somewhere and it was looking like the clippers until the Kawhi stuff slowed them. I imagine it could have been an option, especially with DA going out, who is a backup center that would have really helped them once Jokic sat and potentially could of been played with him too for defense (that’s how bad Denver is defensively that Ayton is an improvement).

Grimes doesn’t come here if we keep Smart, Kennard and get Watson. He came here for the opportunity for minutes and potentially starting, I imagine if he wanted to be a 20 mins backup he stays in Philly.

Mamu would still be the backup C and could play a lot. I think the team was possible. But like you said, it’s all revisionist, so who cares?

We roll on with what we have and wish everyone well. We need to find a starting 4 and try to have the MLE and BAE next year to keep building while Carr and Adou develop.

 

I think LeBron was used to being the guy and coddled. We didn’t give him a player option, traded AD for Luka and didn’t make him a priority - the Lakers were happy to part ways and his only way back was just as a piece.

If on the other hand, if we really made him feel special and included, making him a priority, I think he would have probably retired here.

It’s clear to me that the overarching concept was we want to put Luka with an elite PNR defensive big and have Reaves as the secondary creator. Everything else was filling in the parts but they achieved their primary offseason goals.