The Brooklyn Nets are just beginning a total rebuild. They dealt Mikal Bridges for a massive haul of draft capital and have other veterans on the trade block. Cameron Johnson is drawing interest from several teams, but the Nets are exploring the markets for Dorian Finney-Smith, Dennis Schroder, and others on their roster.
Brooklyn is attempting to get younger and have more upside. They have taken a chance on players who failed in their first NBA stop like Killian Hayes. The Nets plan to finish at the bottom of the standings in hopes of getting the number one overall pick and drafting Cooper Flagg.
The offseason has slowed down, but Nets general manager Sean Marks may not be done. He is still discussing deals, and the latest rumors suggest Brooklyn may land the best available free agent.
Nets rumored to be interested in Isaac Okoro
The 6’5 wing is a restricted free agent but has been unable to work out a contract with the Cavaliers. Cleveland needs strong wing play and would love a 3-and-D option to round out their roster. Okoro’s shooting continues to improve, but the Cavs must decide if he is the right fit next to their stars.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Cleveland has had sign-and-trade discussions about Okoro and the Nets are one of the teams interested in the restricted free agent. He notes the Cavaliers want Dorian Finney-Smith, which could lay the groundwork for a late offseason trade.
Can Isaac Okoro convince the Cavaliers to trade him?
Okoro will get the biggest payday if he can convince Cleveland to sign-and-trade him elsewhere. Scotto notes he could earn above the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which is $12.8 million this season.
The 23-year-old was a top-five draft pick in 2020 and has shown plenty of promise. He went from a 29.0 percent 3-point shooter as a rookie to 39.1 percent last season. Okoro keeps getting better and may shine in an expanded role in Brooklyn. The Nets would love to add the 23-year-old as a player to develop in their young core, but convincing Cleveland to trade him has not been easy.
The Brooklyn Nets are still active in trade discussions and more trades could be coming before opening night. They have no desire to win games this season. It is all about amassing draft capital and young talent. The Nets did an outstanding job in the Mikal Bridges trade, and stay tuned to find out if they can they keep adding to their stockpile.