The Brooklyn Nets are coming off one of the worst seasons that the franchise has seen in quite some time as they finished the 2025-26 campaign with a lowly 20-62 record. Despite the fact that Brooklyn had the third-worst record in the NBA, they ended up with the No. 6 pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft. Could the Nets hunt for stars in free-agency this summer?
“At present, the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets, who both have needs at the guard position, are the only teams with the sort of salary-cap space available to meet that sort of financial mark,” Dan Woike and Sam Amick wrote for The Athletic on Tuesday. Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves will be a restricted free-agent this offseason and he could command as much as $40 million per season on the open market, per Woike and Amick.
“Other teams that are known to have some interest in Reaves — like Utah and Atlanta, per league sources — would need to make roster moves to find the necessary space,” Woike and Amick continued. “League sources say winning will be a significant factor in Reaves’ thinking.” The Nets could amass almost $50 million in cap space depending on how they restructure the roster and Reaves could be an option for them to pursue given his resume.
Reaves, 27, is coming off the best season of his career after averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 49.0% from the field and 36.0% from three-point land. Reaves also had a career-year in the playoffs as he averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks per contest, but he also shot just 40.7% from the floor and 25.7% from behind the three-point line.
Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks has emphasized that flexibility is one of the most important aspects of this rebuild for the front office so signing Reaves to a huge contract could virtually sap all of that flexibility away in one transaction. However, the Nets do not have control of their first-round pick in 2027 so if Marks and the front office decides to go all-in on winning, Reaves could be an option.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Could the Nets pursue Lakers’ Austin Reaves this NBA offseason?
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
