The Brooklyn Nets still have room to keep shaping this offseason, and there are a few names left on the board who could fit what they need. With free agency still open and money available, Brooklyn can still make a real move after the trades and signings that have already changed the look of the roster.
One path leads to Christian Braun, a 23-year-old who remains unsigned in restricted free agency despite being one of Denver’s better contributors last season. Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the Nuggets plan to match offers, though they are also open to a sign-and-trade. That gives Brooklyn a chance to force the issue if it decides to outbid Denver and block a return to the Nuggets.
If the Nets go that route, they’d be getting a young forward who averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 49-41-73. Braun fits Brooklyn’s timeline and could step into a bigger role right away if the opportunity opens up.
Another Denver name worth watching is Bruce Brown, who is also in a tricky spot as the Nuggets try to avoid the second apron and trim salary. Brown is back in Denver after two seasons elsewhere, and he played all 82 regular-season games this year. He posted 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and a steal in 24.4 minutes per game, while shooting 47.5% from the field and 38.5% from three.
Brown’s value goes beyond the box score. He doesn’t need the ball to matter, and he could slide into Brooklyn as a multi-positional defender.
Nets fans already know what he can look like in that kind of role, since he made a real name for himself as a part-time starter in the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving era. A return isn’t off the table either, especially with the money situation and his veteran presence.
He could raise Brooklyn’s floor and help a defense that ranked 25th in efficiency last season.
The third option is Nick Richards, a center who could address a thinner spot on the roster. After the Nets traded Nic Claxton in a deal that brought Julius Randle to Brooklyn, the center rotation looks light. Moritz Wagner helped with the depth, but Brooklyn could still use a more traditional big man alongside him and Day'Ron Sharpe, who can alternate between the four and the five.
Richards was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Chicago Bulls earlier in the year, and he finished strong. Over his last 20 games, he averaged 9.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks. On a cheap deal, he’d give the Nets another look at a big body who could work in a lineup with plenty of spacing.
In Other News...
Nuggets Are Watching Their One Real Bench Breakthrough Fall Apart
The Nuggets finally got something close to a real bench breakthrough last season, with Tim Hardaway Jr., Spencer Jones, Jonas Valanciunas and Peyton Watson all helping give the second unit a sturdier look than it had shown in years. For a team built around Nikola Jokic and championship expectations, that mattered. Denver did not need its reserves to carry games, but it did need them to survive stretches, and for a while it looked as if the rotation had found a little more balance.
Now the offseason has turned that progress into a question mark again. Several of those useful pieces are gone or in flux, and even with a few new additions coming in, the Nuggets are staring at another bench reset before the season even starts. The front office can still piece together options, but the bigger issue is whether there will be enough reliable depth left to keep the second unit from becoming a nightly problem again. [Read more 🡒]
Bruce Brown Just Entered The Plans Of A Contender Again
Bruce Browns name is back in the mix for a contender, which is a reminder of how valuable he has been as a versatile, winning piece since his Denver days. The former Nuggets forward and NBA champion has long carried appeal for teams that want toughness, defense and playoff experience, even if he is not the flashiest option on the market.
Los Angeles is reportedly eyeing Jonathan Kuminga first, but if that chase goes sideways, the Lakers could pivot to the free-agent pool for help on the wing. Brown is among the names being discussed, along with Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Ochai Agbaji, though the Lakers preference for a high-caliber starting wing could keep Brown more in the background than at the center of their plans. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Showing Strong Interest In Another Wing Despite Roster Squeeze
The Nuggets are still looking for wing help, and one overseas name has surfaced as a possible fit while Denver continues sorting through a tight roster picture. Alpha Diallo, who is currently with AS Monaco, has already agreed to join Dubai Basketball for the 2026/27 season, but the deal includes an NBA opt-out window that runs through July 15, giving interested teams a short runway to make their case.
For Denver, the appeal is obvious, even if the mechanics are not. The Nuggets are operating with limited cap space and a crowded roster, which could leave them only able to present a minimum-salary offer, and any pursuit also sits alongside decisions involving Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones. However the front office chooses to balance those moving parts, the interest in another wing suggests Denver is still searching for ways to add length and versatility without upsetting an already squeezed financial setup. [Read more 🡒]