The Brooklyn Nets are about one month away from their training camp that will prepare them for a 2026-27 season that they hope will be better to watch than the previous campaign. Heading into the 2026 NBA offseason, Brooklyn made various moves to improve the roster, including trading for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle to bolster the starting lineup.
Now that the Nets are done with the 2026 NBA Draft, summer league circuit, and free-agency, the focus now is making sure everyone is ready to put their best foot forward next season. Randle will be joining sharpshooting forward Michael Porter Jr. as the main offensive engines while being flanked by young guards Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Demin along with center Day'Ron Sharpe.
Head coach
Jordi Fernandez and general manager Sean Marks are heading into the third year of their partnership and both are likely hoping for more wins and more development for the youngest players on the team. This article will be a crossover between Nets Wire and Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire to discuss the Nets and how they stack up against the Philadelphia 76ers:
The Nets likely won’t have a lottery pick in the 2027 draft due to previous trades. Can we expect to see a more competitive Brooklyn team in the upcoming season?
Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire: That should be the goal for next season given that the Nets won’t have their pick for next year, but the Eastern Conference has gotten better as a whole this summer. It’s entirely possible that Brooklyn wins more games next season than they did this past season and still finish the year as one of the worst teams in the league. There is too much talent and experience in the Eastern Conference.
Ky Carlin, Sixers Wire: I think it’s fair to see the Nets be a bit more competitive in the coming season. They’ve won 20 and 26 games in the previous two seasons, respectively, and it’s time for this franchise to take another step forward. The front office has gathered some nice, young pieces, and it will be on coach Jordi Fernandez and the veterans to help them grow, but Brooklyn has to take a step forward at some point, and this year feels like that year.
Obviously, the Sixers and Nets will see each other four times in the coming season. Can Brooklyn give Philadelphia any type of challenge or fight on those nights?
SPK: I don’t see any way that the Nets give the 76ers any trouble unless Philadelphia is resting multiple starters in those matchups. Not to mention that Philadelphia is close enough to Brooklyn where some of those fans could travel to New York City to cheer on their team before heading home, making those matchups in Brooklyn glorified home games.
KC: I don’t want to disrespect NBA players because the Nets could surprise and steal a game against Philadelphia, but to your point, the Sixers shouldn’t have much trouble. Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are two players who can really put pressure on the opposition, and when one throws in Jaylen Brown and LeBron James on the wings, with a healthy Joel Embiid in the middle, the Nets really can’t match up just yet. These should be four wins for Philadelphia throughout the season.
What can fans expect from second-year players such as Egor Demin, Danny Wolf, or Nolan Traore?
SPK: Based on this summer, fans should expect a sizable jump in Demin’s ability to score the ball outside of just his three-point shooting. Demin looked stronger just a few months after his rookie year ended and seemed more confident in his driving ability and in himself as a leader.
Wolf had some interesting moments during the Las Vegas Summer League as he showed that his size can be hard for teams to defend in small-ball lineups, but there are still some questions about his game. Wolf’s finishing around the rim is still underwhelming and if he can’t significantly improve his three-point shooting, his offensive impact will be limited on most nights.
Traore did not play during the summer circuit due to getting a scope on his right knee, but he ended last season on a decent stretch of basketball as he gained more confidence with the ball in his hands. Assuming that he recovers from his knee scope without any issues, the next step in his game is being more efficient overall, especially with his jump-shot.
KC: Based on what you’re saying, it sounds like the Nets will take a step forward in terms of development, at least. Maybe not in wins, but it looks as if this will be an important season for those three to establish themselves as part of Brooklyn’s plans for the future. I’m intrigued by Demin and his ability to run an offense. He also looks to be very athletic and has an ability to make things happen in the half court.
Can Brooklyn make a push for the play-in tournament, at least? The addition of Julius Randle has to help in that respect, right?
SPK: As of now, it doesn’t seem like the Nets have much of a shot of making the play-in tournament unless they have more than one dominant stretch over the course of the season. Randle will be a wonderful addition to the roster, but Brooklyn is still projected to win somewhere between 20 and 30 games. To make the play-in, the Nets would have to win somewhere around 35 games just to likely get close to the 10th seed.
KC: I can see it. It’s not like it’s out of the realm of possibility. The Nets should win somewhere around 30-to-35 games. Right? Randle, Michael Porter Jr., and Moe Wagner are solid been there, done that veterans and can find ways to give this team the leadership boost it needs. With that said, it will take some leaps from the second-year guys for them to get there.
What kind of role will rookie Mikel Brown Jr. play in the upcoming season?
SPK: Brown will likely win the starting point guard job coming out of training camp, meaning that he will have the ball in his hands at least some of the time. Randle has experience handling the ball and making plays for his teammates so he’ll have the ball to some extent, but Brown will be running the offense and looking for ways to score while playing off of Egor Demin in the backcourt.
KC: Watching Brown at the summer league gave me some intriguing thoughts. He has a good build, is athletic, and looks to be an offensive dynamo. I wonder what kind of duo he and Demin can become with the proper development from both players as they grow together and take leaps forward. His 3-point shot looks fluid and I wonder if he can become a 40% shooter from deep right away.
Are the Sixers the biggest threat to the Knicks?
SPK: I believe so. Yes, the Sixers will have to compete with the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Detroit Pistons, but Philadelphia has enough star power to potentially be the best team in the East. However, health will be important, especially when it comes to LeBron James and Joel Embiid. Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe will be able to get it done on most nights if Embiid and/or James are unavailable.
KC: I think so, but it will come down to health. While Embiid is still dominant, it comes down to his health. Of course, the Sixers won’t have to rely on him as much with the additions of Brown and James, but Philadelphia will be looking to the big fella to set that tone on an every night basis. This is still his, and Maxey’s, team. The additions of the other stars are to help them move forward.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: How do the Nets compare to the LeBron James-led 76ers next season?
