The NBA offseason has barely begun, and it is already absolutely booming with transactions and other news. In just a few days, we have seen stars on the move, surprise draft rumors surfacing, and front offices making aggressive plays to reshape their rosters before the 2025 NBA Draft which is set to take place tomorrow evening. Amid the chaos, the Brooklyn Nets made their first move of the summer, and while it doesn’t include them grabbing any huge headline name, it might go down as one of the smartest trades of the week.
According to Shams Charania, the Nets jumped into a three-team trade with the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks that saw the Irish Green ship Kristaps Porziņgis and a second-round pick to the Hawks. Boston received sharp-shooter Georges Niang and another second-rounder. And Brooklyn snagged the number 22 pick in this year’s draft and 29-year-old forward Terance Mann.
This was not a blockbuster move, but the thing is it did not need to be. For a team like Brooklyn, which is not under pressure to contend immediately, this trade checked every box…it added depth, flexibility, and most importantly another first-round draft pick.
What makes this deal so special?
The 2025 NBA Draft has already been set up as a turning point for the franchise. The Nets came in with four first-rounders. Now they have got five. And with interest in top-tier prospects like Ace Bailey and Jeremiah Fears, having more draft capital gives Brooklyn more ways to get aggressive if they decide to move up on the board. If the right player is there, Sean Marks now has some extra ammo to go and get him.
While Terance Mann, is not a big name, he is still considered to be a dependable and mature presence in the league. He could be a veteran who helps the young players adjust to the league. Mann averaged 7.7 points and shot nearly 50% from the field last season in limited minutes split between the Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta Hawks. He knows how to stay in his lane and contribute without demanding touches.
That matters when you’re developing young talent.
Brooklyn is trying to build something sustainable. This was a move rooted in value, and long-term thinking, and the best part about it is they did not have to go and give up a core piece to make it happen.
Sean Marks has taken heat in recent years for how Brooklyn’s superstar era fizzled out. But this trade shows a front office is dedicated to making things right. If the draft breaks their way, this move could be looked back on as one of the smartest of the entire offseason.