(The original text was published on April 20 by Bobby Marks of ESPN, and the content of the article does not represent the translator's point of view.)
This season's record: 32-50
June draft signing: none
Note: The Nets' first round signing this year was sent to the Rockets in the Harden trade in 2021, and this year's second round signing belongs to the Grizzlies (this round signing was originally sent to the Rockets in another trade in 2021).
Free Player : Clarkston, Dennis Smith, Lonnie Walker, Keita Bates Diop (player option), Watford (restricted), Keown Johnson
List of lineups
Although there are 11 players in the current lineup of the Nets who will return, and the number of first round signings that can be traded in the next seven years ranks fifth among all teams, the Nets also have the flexibility of salary space and special trading cases to absorb salaries, but the Nets are still looking for the way forward, hovering between pushing down and rebuilding and restructuring the lineup.
Because of Harden's trade in 2021, the Nets can't control their first round signing in the next three seasons. This season's 32-50 record is the worst since the 2017-18 season. In 2021, the Nets had Durant, Owen and Harden, who were eager to win the championship. After a period of turbulence, the three stars finally left and replaced by a mediocre lineup. The offensive efficiency of the Nets this season ranked 23rd in the league and the defensive efficiency ranked 20th in the league. According to the official high-level statistics of the NBA, the Nets only committed 9 offensive fouls in the whole season, the fewest since the league began tracking the data in 2016-17.
After the All Star Weekend, the best player in the Nets Michal Bridges The field average is 15.6 points, and the shooting percentage is 39.7% (the lowest in the career). Instead, Bridges' utilization rate was 23.8%, a career high. In addition, Ben Simmons The salary of $40.3 million next season accounts for 25% of the total salary of the Nets. Since being traded to the Nets in 2022, Simmons has played only 57 games and received two different back operations. At present, New head coach Fernandez What we need to do is to build a team. The former assistant coach of King and the current head coach of the Canadian national team will take over the 7th young team in the league. However, on the opening day of next season's regular season, the five players with the highest income in the Nets team (Bridges, Simmons, Cameron Johnson, Fenny Smith and Schroeder) will all be over 28 years old. It is worth mentioning that Coach Fernandez is the fifth head coach hired by Shawn Max, the general manager of the Nets, since he took office in 2016.
Off season financial situation
Due to the need to reserve 16.6 million yuan for Clarkston, who is about to become a free player, and four trading exceptions totaling 48 million yuan (20.4 million yuan, 11.9 million yuan, 9.5 million yuan and 6.8 million yuan), although the Nets' current total salary is only 133 million yuan It is expected that they will become a team exceeding the salary cap 。 The Nets will have a full middle-class exception worth 12.9 million yuan and a half year exception worth 4.7 million yuan Can be used to sign free agents or trade.
Main tasks of management
Determine the amount of contract renewal with Clarkston, who ranked 9th in the league in terms of average shot blocking. In the past two seasons, Clarkston only made 12 shots 15 feet away from the basket, and 74% of his shots this season were within 5 feet from the basket. Considering that the center position may be the weakest in the free agent market, Clarkston's salary of 8.5 million yuan this season may double. last, If the Nets can really get the next All Star through trade, how much desire do they have to participate? The Nets can pack Simmons' expired contract, Cameron Thomas and other young players, as well as multiple first round signings (the Nets hold four unprotected first round signings from the Suns and Lone Rangers). Of the 11 players who have contracts with the Nets next season, 10 will be paid between 1.9 million and 24 million. The Nets can also take conservative measures to regroup their lineup until the off-season in 2025. Based on Clarkston's next contract and Cameron Thomas's potential contract extension, the Nets may have up to $90 million in salary space in the summer of 2025.
Player contract renewal worthy of attention
Michal Bridges His current contract is considered to be one of the best value for money in the NBA. However, as the No. 1 choice of the Nets this season, Bridges struggled, He is eligible to sign a three-year renewal contract of $112.9 million between October 1 and October 21 。 If the Nets create a salary space, they can also renegotiate the contract with Bridges from October 18. The Nets can renew Cameron Thomas before October 21 Thomas averaged 22.5 points this season, hitting a career high, and his passing ability has improved. He has jumped from 5 games with at least 4 assists last season to 26 games this season. Since Thomas was selected at the end of the first round, his starting salary for becoming a free agent is 12.1 million dollars. If the Nets signs a new contract with him that is higher than this salary, the Nets will lose some salary space in the summer of 2025.
Other contract renewal candidates: Ben Simmons and Dallon Sharp
Team needs
Find a stable organizer to make Bridges, Thomas and Keon Johnson more relaxed 。 Three point shooting holds the life and death power of the Nets, and their scores in the restricted area rank only 23rd in the league.
Talent assets
The first round signing of the Nets this season and the first round signing of 2026 (both unprotected) belong to the Rockets. The Rockets also have the right to swap the first round of the Nets in 2025 and 2027. The Nets have three unprotected first round signings from the Sun (2025, 2027 and 2029), and the Lone Ranger's unprotected first round signings in 2029, as well as the right to swap their own first round or the first round of 76 players (protected by the top 8) with the Sun in 2028. If the 76ers give the first round of 2025 to the Thunder, the Nets will get the first round of signing protected by the 76ers in the first eight positions in 2027; On the contrary, the Nets will get the first round of signing of 76 people who will be protected in the eighth place before 2028. In a word, the Nets can trade at most 7 first round signings and 11 second round signings.
Original text: Bobby Marks
Compiled by: Li Taibai
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