The Brooklyn Nets are in an intriguing position right now. They must completely dismantle it and plan a comprehensive reconstruction, but since the Houston Rockets hold the draft capital, a tank job wouldn’t even help them—rather, it would benefit the Rockets.
They do, however, hold several first-round selections from the Phoenix Suns (2025, 2027, and 2029), as well as the first and second round selections from the Dallas Mavericks (2029) and the Philadelphia 76ers (2027) first-round selection. Considering that those are competitive teams with real star players, their selections aren’t nearly as appealing.
For Brooklyn, the best-case scenario would be to have their 2024 first-round selection, which seems like a lottery pick. However, as a result of the James Harden deal in 2021, Houston will receive that pick.
The Nets aren’t even guaranteed a choice in 2024. Any competitive team would be happy to acquire any of their elite players, such Mikal Bridges, Nic Claxton, and Dorian Finney-Smith, so they could alter that by dealing them away.
In fact, Bridges has long been a fan favourite among Rockets supporters. However, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, the most recent rumours coming out of Brooklyn indicate that the Nets are asking for a very high price for Bridges.
“The franchise’s most valuable asset and new face is Bridges. At worst a weight-bearing wall, at best a foundation piece, he is regarded as practically untouchable.
Sources told The Post that Brooklyn turned down four first-round selections for Bridges the previous season, which Hoopshype has now revealed to be from the Memphis Grizzlies. now then, the team’s admiration for the 27-year-old wing player has only increased. The response would still be no, even if the Houston Rockets were ready to give back the remaining draft picks the Nets forfeited in exchange for James Harden.”
Given that the Nets are currently 18-27 and perhaps on the verge of a roster collapse, those will be wise selections. It’s a weird position to take, considering how little aid Bridges is giving them, to declare him untouchable.
Nor are the Nets really close to being the best team in the Eastern Conference. His worth will be lower if they do decide to move him later on because he will be even closer to thirty.
Put another, they will not acquire four first-round selections in the future for Bridges. They would also undoubtedly wish they had their original selections back because they would probably have selected players from a rival team, similar to the ones they have now.
