The Brooklyn Nets came into this offseason following a disappointing 20-62 record during the 2025-26 campaign that could motivate the franchise to make significant improvements to the roster. Brooklyn has the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and while they are likely to get a talented player with that selection, the Nets could still add more talent in free-agency.
The Nets could potentially free up $48 million in cap space this offseason depending on if they make certain moves with their free-agents and players eligible for extensions. However, given that Brooklyn could be looking to make it back to the playoffs next season, there are some that are suggesting that the Nets may have to go all-in on improving the team thanks to their draft capital and cap flexibility.
“Brooklyn would need to hope Williams can move past his nagging hamstring injuries, but the 25-year-old wing is a dream target for a rebuilding team,” Ben Golliver wrote on the proposed move for ESPN. “Oklahoma City’s goals with this trade would be to retain as much of its championship roster as possible, stockpile future draft picks and flip Porter to a team in need of frontcourt scoring.”
ESPN’s NBA insiders put together a mock trade between the Nets and Thunder where both teams would be exchanging a player with Brooklyn giving multiple first-round picks in the process. The proposed deal was the Nets receiving Thunder forward Jalen Williams and Oklahoma City Thunder receiving forward Michael Porter Jr. along with three first-round picks in 2027, 2029, and 2031.
From the outside looking in, it seems that this mock trade would be allowing the Thunder to shed some of their payroll as their roster becomes more expensive as time goes on. Williams would be a great player for Brooklyn to acquire given how he’s played in recent seasons, but time will tell if the Nets decide to go all-in on a player of Williams’ caliber during this summer.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Should the Nets trade for Thunder’s Jalen Williams this offseason?
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
