The Brooklyn Nets are continuing preparations for the 2024-25 regular season, but all eyes are on the 2025 free-agency period. The Nets are projected to have an abundance of cap space with players' deals and expiring contracts. Brooklyn's position will be so desirable that one insider said the team can control free agency. The buildup of the Nets' potentially huge offseason is continuing with more insight.
Sean Marks has done an admirable job working the Nets' salary cap to set the team up for success since he joined in 2016. The 2025 offseason will be no different, and ESPN's NBA Senior Insider Shams Charania explained why.
"Brooklyn right now is the only team with significant cap space next summer... If they go into the summer with the same amount of cap space, I do think they will be in the game of offer sheets. When you think about when Sean Marks took over in Brooklyn, you think about the Allen Crabbes, the Tyler Johnsons, all the offer sheets. Otto Porter, the max they gave him. That's the level of flexibility that they're positioned to have this summer. So I do think that they are looked at in the space as an offer sheet team," Charania stated, via The Hoop Collective podcast.
What will the Nets do with all their cap space?
Brooklyn has seemingly entered a full rebuild, so would the team really use its cap space to lure stars? The answer to that question could be in Jimmy Butler's reported interest in the team. In late August, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported that Butler "likes Brooklyn" and is seen as one of the most accomplished players on the Nets' list of potential free-agent suitors.
It is unknown if Sean Marks is willing to take a risk to bring Butler in, as this would signal a shift for the team to win more urgently. However, even if the Nets sign a player like Butler, their future would still be bright. In addition to the promising young talent already on the team, such as Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton, Brooklyn will have chosen its first-round selection in the 2025 draft.
The Nets could strike gold with a prospect like Cooper Flagg, who would significantly boost their future endeavors.
Regardless of what happens in 2025, one thing is clear: the Nets will have options and plenty of them.