Brian Lewis takes a stab at who on the Brooklyn Nets roster — and in the front office — has the most to prove as 2026-27 approaches. As you’d imagine with a team so young and so inexperienced, the list is long.
Things will get going soon. Sean Marks & co. have until October 31 to make decisions on the future of the Flatbush 5. The Nets must decide by then whether to extend all of them for a third year on their four-year deals, the first two years being guaranteed. Egor Demin is a n0-brainer. He had
a solid rookie year and looked even better in Summer League. The four others taken at Nos. 19, 22, 26 and 27 are highly likely to get another year, but as Lewis points out, it is the NBA and nothing is truly guaranteed.
[Nolan] Traoré was the next-highest drafted of the lot behind Dëmin, but missed this year’s summer league due to injury. He has bulked up, but must stay healthy and learn to finish. [Drake] Powell struggled mightily in both Sacramento and Las Vegas, shooting horribly. [Ben] Saraf and [Danny] Wolf also need to space the floor better.
It seems unlikely that any of that quartet — even Powell — wouldn’t get their options picked up. But it should be pointed out that two years ago, the Nets exercised their third-year option on 2023 first-round pick Dariq Whitehead, but after a poor season, he was waived the next October…
To paraphrase a great Yankee, it gets late early in the NBA.
The player taken before Whitehead in the 2023 NBA Draft also has a deadline. The Nets have until October 19 to decide on whether to give Noah Clowney a multi-year extension which at this point seems unlikely meaning the 22-year-old will become a restricted free agent next July. Clowney didn’t have bad season last year, averaging 12.3 points on 40/33/80 shooting to go along with 4.1 rebounds in 66 games, 60 of them starts. Clowney has down flashes of his potential, recording games of seven 3-pointers and seven blocks in the past two seasons and getting to the line more often too, but the team would like to have seen more progress. Now, he’ll have competition.
With the arrival of [Julius] Randle, Clowney is almost certainly going to lose his starting power forward job. But he stands to lose far more — a chance at a big restricted free-agent payday — if he doesn’t show growth as a rebounder, shooter or shot-blocker, three areas where the Nets in dire need.
It’s entirely possible that with improved 3-point shooting and rim protection, he could get opportunities at all three front court positions. On the other hand, if he doesn’t, he’ll not only have competition for minutes from Randle who is an ironman, having played 79 games last season, but also Josh Minott who’s similarly versatile and only 16 months older.
Michael Porter Jr. and Randle are, of course, not among the 10 players under 25 on the roster. MPJ is 28 and in his eighth year, Randle nearly 32 and in his 13th. They also have a list of NBA accomplishments. As Lewis notes,
The Nets’ best players — veterans Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle — have one championship ring, three All-Stars berths, two All-NBA selections and about $350 million in career earnings between them. They’re both essentially guaranteed of being on huge contracts next season — but just how huge? And where?
Both are likely playing for the future whether with Brooklyn or elsewhere. Porter Jr. of course is on a $40.8 million expiring deal and is looking for an extension. Randle is making $35.8 million and has a player option for 2027-28 which likely means he’ll be looking for an extension himself come next July. Both seem happy to be in New York and both have predicted big things from their young teammates, MPJ suggesting 50 wins, Randle saying the team could “shock the world.” However, do they fit the Nets time-line, particularly Randle?
A hot start will be both expected and needed in Brooklyn. It remains to be seen whether the Nets will look to flip him at the trade deadline. If so, Randle would benefit by changing the narrative of his exit from Minnesota and exhibiting leadership to go along with his scoring and bullyball game.
Indeed, they have all the motivation in the world to have big years … something that seems lost on most pundits predicting doom-and-gloom.
Could Marks flip one or even both? They may carry baggage, but both are bucket-getters and contending teams could use one or the other after the February deadline. Moreover, if the Nets don’t see them as long-term pieces on bit deals, they’d better get something for them before they hit the open market at the end of this season. What might the Nets want? More picks? They already lead the league in total picks, first rounders and second rounders over the next seven years. Younger players?
Lewis also includes the man who will make the decision on both in his assessments: GM Sean Marks.
How the youngsters — Dëmin, rookie lottery pick Mikel Brown Jr. and even newly promoted starter Day’Ron Sharpe — develop will be key.
But preserving assets for the next star that becomes available — along with the patience that Nets owner Joe Tsai has shown in him — means Marks will be under the microscope.
At Media Day, Marks will have a chance to lay out what the team will be looking for this season, How much will he and Jordi Fernandez expect? Joe Tsai doesn’t make an appearance at Media Day but he’s been resolute in pursuing the team’s long-term plan. He recently told author Michael Rubenstein that while the Nets need to “win championships”, he also said he believes in a “multi-year rebuilding process” and “build through the draft.” So, Tsai too knows he needs to prove something.
- The Nets with the most on the line this season — and the potential fallout ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
