The Brooklyn Nets made one of the offseason’s biggest swings when they sent out picks and longtime center Nic Claxton to land Julius Randle in a three-team deal. It’s a move that puts a proven stat-stuffer in Brooklyn, even if his Minnesota exit came with plenty of baggage.
Randle’s numbers have never been the issue. The question has been whether he can deliver when the games get tight.
That’s why the new Nets forward lands where he does in the Atlantic Division power forward conversation: in the middle of a group that includes some heavy hitters. With the division already stacked at other spots, the power forward rankings bring together a mix of stars, breakout talents, and one of the league’s most accomplished veterans.
Randle’s case starts with what he did last season in Minnesota: 21.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5.0 APG, 48.1% FG (with Minnesota). He’s not the kind of player who carries a team by himself, but he brings production everywhere.
He works on the glass, can create for others, and gives a team real value when the three-point shot is falling. There are rough edges, especially on defense, but Brooklyn doesn’t need him to be perfect.
It needs him to be useful, steady, and good enough to help push toward a play-in spot.
Above him in the pecking order sits James, who brings one of the most decorated resumes in league history. Last season stats: 20.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 7.2 APG, 51.5% FG (with Los Angeles).
After signing with Philly in the offseason, the veteran is stepping into a different kind of role, one that asks him to be more of a supporting piece during the regular season. That’s part of why he comes in lower here than usual.
Even so, the expectation is that he still has the ability to flip games when the playoffs arrive.
Barnes is another name that forces attention after the Raptors finally got the breakout they’d been waiting for. Last season stats: 18.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 50.7% FG.
He hit his defensive ceiling, becoming an All-NBA defender at multiple positions, while also showing more as a playmaker and attacking the rim with more force. If the three-point shot keeps climbing, his long-term ceiling stays enormous.
Anunoby belongs in the same conversation because his two-way impact is already established. Last season stats: 16.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.2 SPG, 1.6 SPG, 48.4% FG.
He has long been a standout defender, but his offense has grown a lot over the last few years. He was dominant at times in the playoffs and came through with clutch moments to help the Knicks win the title.
Still in his prime, he remains a major reason New York could repeat as NBA Champions.
At the top is Tatum, who showed again just how dangerous he is after returning from an ACL injury late in the year. Last season stats: 21.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 41.1% FG.
He settled back in quickly and helped Boston climb to the two-seed in the Eastern Conference. With Jaylen Brown gone, the Celtics will lean on Tatum to be the alpha this season, and the five-time All-NBA forward has more than enough talent to handle that job.
He’ll be aiming for a healthy season to get fully back into rhythm.
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Nets Schedule Puts Their Rebuild To The Test Early
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Mid-January brings another test, this one on the road and against a string of playoff contenders. For a team trying to stay in the postseason conversation, those stretches can do more than reveal depth and stamina, they can shape the entire arc of the season. The Nets do not just need to survive the grind, they need to come out of it with enough momentum to keep the standings from getting away from them. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Rebuild Suddenly Puts Massive Pressure On Their 2025 Draft Class
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Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf are all entering pivotal second seasons, which makes this stretch feel less like summer development and more like a referendum on the strategy itself. Brooklyn took multiple first-round swings in 2025 to accelerate the rebuild, but the payoff is still unsettled, and the pressure on those young players only grows as the roster around them starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]