The Brooklyn Nets are navigating a tricky path as they approach the 2028-29 NBA season. With five first-round picks from the 2025 draft entering the final year of their rookie contracts, the team faces a potential conundrum.
Historically, NBA teams can protect only eight players during an expansion draft. With the league set to vote on new franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle, Brooklyn risks losing a key piece of its young roster.
Currently sitting at 17-50, the Nets are positioned near the bottom of the standings, making them prime candidates for an influx of new talent. Veterans like Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton are expected to be protected, while promising rookies Egor Demin and Nolan Traoré are seen as crucial for the future. This leaves players such as Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Noah Clowney in a state of uncertainty.
Brooklyn’s front office is already making moves to navigate these challenges. At the 2026 trade deadline, they added Ochai Agbaji and Josh Minott, while releasing some veterans to maintain roster flexibility. With a treasure trove of 13 first-round picks secured through 2032, the Nets have the assets to make significant moves, though the expansion draft presents a strategic puzzle.
The NBA is on the brink of its first expansion in over two decades, aiming for the 2028-29 season with new teams in Seattle and Las Vegas. A formal vote is set for March 24-25, 2026, requiring approval from 23 of the 30 team governors.
Under the expected expansion rules, teams can protect eight players, leaving others available in a snake-format draft. This could also lead to potential conference realignment involving the Timberwolves or Grizzlies.
With 13 first-round picks and 19 second-rounders through 2032, the Nets are well-positioned for draft leverage and strategic roster planning. As the expansion draft approaches, many of Brooklyn's young talents will be entering their prime, forcing the team to make tough decisions about whom to protect while balancing development and future assets.