The Brooklyn Nets are heading into next season with a simple priority: try to stay in the postseason chase. But if the early results turn ugly, there’s a strong case for the Nets to pivot fast and embrace the bottom of the standings.
Brooklyn has made a series of offseason moves aimed at giving itself a real shot in the East, and that puts the team in position to surprise people in 2027. Julius Randle, Mikel Brown Jr. and the rest of the young core give the Nets something to work with, even in a conference that’s expected to be brutally deep.
Still, the big wrinkle is Houston’s control of Brooklyn’s 2027 first-round pick through swap. That changes the calculus. The Nets don’t have their own first-rounder next year, so the usual motivation to lose for draft position isn’t really there.
At least, not in the old sense.
If Brooklyn stays in the mix, the mandate should be clear: compete and see whether this group can earn postseason reps. But if the team opens the year looking a lot like the 20-win squad from last season, there’s no reason to drag that out. A start like winning only about five of the first 20 games would be the kind of alarm bell that should send the Nets toward the lottery race.
That’s where the new system matters. Teams with the three worst records get only two lottery balls, while the other seven non-playoff teams receive three. If Brooklyn is already buried early and looks nowhere near the play-in picture, there’s at least some incentive to lean into that zone.
The other factor is future protection. Even though Houston has the 2027 pick, Brooklyn still controls its selections beyond that, and the team would be smart to avoid creating extra problems for those future drafts. Under the current rules, teams can’t land in the top three in three straight years or grab the No. 1 pick in back-to-back years.
So if the season starts with a thud, the Nets may be better off cutting bait early. If the ceiling isn’t there, the safest move might be to limit the damage, slide into the relegation zone, and keep the long-term picture from getting any messier.
In Other News...
Nets Fans Already Seem Worried About What This New Roster Means
The Nets spent the 2026 offseason trying to reshape the roster in a hurry, bringing in Julius Randle, Keon Ellis and Moritz Wagner while also keeping Day'Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott in the fold. They added another layer through the draft with Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson and Tyler Bilodeau, but the overall picture changed a lot with Nic Claxton and Ziaire Williams both departing through trades and free agency.
Brooklyn clearly made a series of moves aimed at giving the roster a new look, yet the early reaction around the team has not matched that level of activity. A recent fan poll showed a majority expecting the Nets to land near the bottom of the Eastern Conference anyway, which says plenty about how much skepticism still lingers as the franchise tries to turn all those offseason changes into something more convincing. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Have One Huge Question About The New Randle Porter Fit
Julius Randle is already talking about how his game can mesh with Michael Porter Jr. in Brooklyn, and it is easy to see the appeal from the Nets side. Porter just delivered a career-best season as the teams primary scorer, giving the offense a proven perimeter threat, while Randle brings a different kind of pressure with his size, scoring and ability to make plays for others. Put together, the pairing gives Brooklyn a chance to stretch defenses in ways it has not always been able to do.
The intrigue is in how the fit actually works once the games count. Randles playmaking and interior presence should help open space for Porter, whose shooting can punish any extra attention, and the Nets are clearly hoping those skill sets can create cleaner offensive looks across the floor. For a team looking to maximize two productive scorers with very different strengths, the concept makes sense now. The real question is whether it holds up when opposing defenses start forcing the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Egor Dmins Year 2 Focus Should Grab Nets Fans Attention
Egor Dmins offseason has been built around more than just getting stronger for his second NBA season with the Brooklyn Nets. In a video he shared, Dmin walked through the approach behind his training, stressing that the work matters more than how it looks from the outside. He also gave credit to Zach Gonzalez for helping support that process, while making clear that his preparation has included both the physical grind and the mental side of staying ready.
For a young player trying to carve out a bigger role, that kind of focus is a good sign for Brooklyn. Dmin talked about the value of building relationships with teammates and keeping a healthy balance between body and mind during the offseason, which is the sort of foundation teams hope to see from players heading into a pivotal year. The Nets will be watching closely to see how that preparation translates once the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]