The Brooklyn Nets have done most of their business that they’ll conduct for the rest of the offseason now that the 2026 NBA Draft, summer circuit, and free-agency are in the rearview mirror. Brooklyn’s biggest move of the summer was trading for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle and while no other sizable move was made, the Nets are still getting some positive recognition for what they did.
“I’ll be surprised if Randle is here long term (the 31-year-old has a player option for the 2027-28 season at $35.8 million). But for now, he and Michael Porter Jr. can put the ball in the basket,” David Aldridge wrote for The Athletic when discussing Brooklyn’s offseason thus far. The Nets ranked 22nd on the Athletic’s offseason rankings list and it seems like Brooklyn is still in a good position amidst its rebuild.
“Egor Demin should take a Year 2 jump, and Brown should finally solve the search for a franchise point guard,” Aldridge continued on the Nets’ offseason. “Brooklyn has a ways to go, but at the very least, this group should be more competitive most nights next season for Jordi Fernández — and get out of the league basement in offensive rating. It’s a start.”
Along with adding Randle this offseason, the Nets have also acquired guard Mikel Brown Jr., forward Joshua Jefferson, and forward Tyler Bilodeau in the 2026 draft. After that, Brooklyn signed guard Keon Ellis and center Mo Wagner in free-agency while re-signing forward Josh Minott and center Day’Ron Sharpe, who should be the starting center next season after Nic Claxton was sent to the Chicago Bulls as part of the Randle trade.
Along the way, the Nets let free-agents Ziaire Williams (who signed with the Los Angeles Lakers), Jalen Wilson, and Ochai Agbaji walk as they were building the roster for next year and beyond. Brooklyn has added more veterans to the rotation as head coach Jordi Fernandez enters his third season as head coach so the hope is that the moves general manager Sean Marks made this summer will pan out.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets rank 22nd in the Athletic’s NBA offseason rankings
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
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By Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire | USA TODAY Network
