The Brooklyn Nets may not need a dramatic offensive overhaul to squeeze out more wins in 2026-27. One of the simplest places to find an edge is at the free-throw line.
That matters for a team moving out of its rebuild and into a new phase after the Kevin Durant era. Brooklyn already has an intriguing young core, and the offseason additions of Julius Randle, Mikel Brown Jr. and others have made the roster one of the more interesting groups in the East.
With the Eastern Conference expected to be deep next season, the Nets will need every small advantage they can get. Free throws might be one of the most important.
Last season, even while the 20-win Nets sat near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories, their work at the stripe held up better. Brooklyn shot 78% from the line, which ranked 16th in the NBA, and averaged 23 free-throw attempts per game, good for 18th.
That gives the Nets something to build on, even if they still need improvement in both areas. Getting to the line is often one of the hardest things for young players to learn, and Brooklyn’s collection of developing talent could keep the free-throw rate from spiking quickly, even if the upside is there.
Randle could change that in a hurry. As a forward who embraces bully ball, he should be able to pressure defenses, get to the line and open things up for teammates when defenders have to collapse around him.
He shot 80% on 6.3 free throw attempts per game last season, and that kind of volume could matter for a Nets team whose team lead in attempts came from Porter at 4.4. Free throws are only one piece of the puzzle, but for Brooklyn, they could be a real swing factor in making the jump from competitive to winning.
In Other News...
Egor Demin Is Already Giving Nets Fans A Real National Debate
Egor Demin has already become one of the more interesting names on the Nets radar after a solid rookie season and a strong summer league showing that hinted at how much his game can keep expanding. He looked comfortable as a scorer and creator in Las Vegas, and for Brooklyn there is obvious appeal in a young guard who can handle the ball, contribute in multiple ways and still project as a shooter.
Still, the wider basketball conversation is not nearly as settled. HoopsHypes projected top-27 shooting guards list for the 2026-27 season left Demin out entirely, slotting him outside the top 30 and inviting the kind of debate that usually follows a young Net when national evaluators and local optimism do not line up. The shooting remains the swing point, especially after his three-point percentage dipped in summer league, and it is the sort of early-career tension that can define how quickly the league buys into him. [Read more 🡒]
Julius Randle Just Became Brooklyns Biggest Rebuild Test
The Nets summer overhaul brought a new centerpiece to Brooklyn, and it comes with both rsum and responsibility. Julius Randle arrived from Minnesota in the deal that sent Nic Claxton to Chicago, giving Jordi Fernandez a proven veteran forward to help shape what comes next. Fernandez has already sounded upbeat about what Randle can bring, and the fit is easy to understand for a team trying to reset its direction without losing sight of competitiveness.
Randle, who posted 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game last season with the Timberwolves, has also made it clear he is eager for the change of scenery. He spoke about joining the Nets during Las Vegas Summer League, which only adds to the sense that this is more than a simple roster move. For Brooklyn, the question now is whether Randle becomes the stabilizing force of a rebuild or the player around whom the next hard decisions get made. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Draft Class Enters Camp With Brooklyn Facing Real Pressure
Brooklyns summer was defined as much by opportunity as by uncertainty, with the Nets using the 2025 NBA Draft to add five first-round picks while trying to keep one eye on the present and another on the future. The franchise is heading toward the 2026-27 season with a clear mandate to win and develop younger players, and that balance puts extra weight on this first wave of newcomers as camp approaches.
Egor Demin has drawn the most attention so far, thanks to his summer league showing, but he is hardly the only rookie under scrutiny. Around the league, the early read on Brooklyns draft class has been mixed, and the front offices approach has sparked debate for the same reason: several of these players will have to earn their place quickly if they want real minutes once training camp gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]