After having been irrelevant for all the 2025-26 season, the offseason is the Brooklyn Nets‘ time to shine. They may have the sixth, thirty third, and forty third picks within the NBA draft and greater than $80 million in wage cap house, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
That provides them a golden alternative to get again on monitor. Sadly, the Nets are setting themselves up for an costly mistake. In keeping with the Athletic’s Dan Woike (subscription requred), the Nets are planning on providing Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves a 4-year, $178 million supply sheet this summer time.
That might pay him $44.5 million on common and looks as if a transparent overpay for somebody who’s 28 years previous and has but to make an all-star staff. Do not get me fallacious, he’s a terrific offensive participant, having averaged 23.5 factors per sport final season.
In reality, he was probably the Lakers‘ second-best participant at instances final season. That could be a testomony to each their scouting and growth and Reaves‘ work ethic. Nonetheless, he solely excels on that finish of the ground and maybe is likely to be a bit overrated contemplating he is performed for the Lakers his complete profession.
Because of this, he looks as if an odd selection for the Nets to throw cash at.
The Lakers are setting the Nets up for a $178 million mistake
With the adjustments to the NBA Draft lottery, Brooklyn will not be rewarded for mediocrity. Due to this fact, pursuing Reaves as a flooring raiser makes some sense. Nevertheless, their reported supply would maintain him on their books for 4 years.
In addition they have loads of guards, with them having drafted three within the first spherical over the past two years. It won’t make sense to slash their minutes and due to this fact their growth for Reaves when he in all probability is not the centerpiece of a very good staff.
Now, to be truthful to Brooklyn, maybe they see Reaves as the primary piece in a bigger plan to land a star participant, i.e., Giannis Antetokoumpo. Perhaps so, however would maxing out Reaves actually be a promoting level to an precise star?
The Nets have higher choices than Austin Reaves
Talking of Giannis, maybe they need to be extra aggressively making an attempt to lure him to Brooklyn by providing the Milwaukee Bucks the sixth, thirty third, and forty third picks.
They may even offset a few of his wage by together with Nic Claxton and Terrance Mann in a commerce. Then presumably nonetheless pursuing Reaves as a attainable second possibility for Giannis.
Or, hear me out, maybe they attempt to signal each Reaves and Detroit Pistons all-star heart Jalen Duren in restricted free company. That approach they’d no less than have the beginning blocks of a brand new period.
Worst-case situation, they drive the Lakers and Pistons to pay extra for these gamers. The Nets would nonetheless have as much as $80 million in cap house to signal or commerce for gamers to enhance their roster.
Each of these eventualities make extra sense than them simply concentrating on Reaves as their huge offseason addition. Maybe the Nets are cooking up one thing just like what I proposed, and we can’t have to attend lengthy to see them put their plan into motion.
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