The Brooklyn Nets have an impressive amount of flexibility and assets ahead of the 2025 NBA free agency period. Brooklyn's restocking of draft picks started when they traded former franchise forward Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns. They acquired even more capital when they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks. Sean Marks has the team set up well for the future, and one coveted insider explained why Brooklyn could be in control of the next free agency period.
Sean Marks made one of his best moves as GM when he acquired the Nets' 2025 first-round pick back from the Houston Rockets. Brooklyn controls the pick, which means they essentially control their chances of landing a top prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft. Moreover, the contracts coming off their books combined with their other future draft assets could make the team to keep an eye on next summer.
ESPN's Bobby Marks explains why Nets can control 2025 offseason
"Next summer could be controlled by the Brooklyn Nets, if they want to. They've got certainly four first-round picks. They've got their own [2025 pick], which could potentially be a top three, top four pick... They could have essentially $70 million in cap space, depending on what happens with Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson," Bobby Marks explained in his "Top 10 things to watch for in 2025," via ESPN on YouTube.
A large part of the $70 million Marks is referring to is Ben Simmons' contract. The Nets owe Simmons $40 million for the 2024-25 season as a part of the last year of his five-year, $177 million contract he received from the Philadelphia 76ers. Once the season is over, Simmons will become an unrestricted free agent. If he were to resign with the Nets, it is unlikely he will receive a contract as hefty as his previous one.
In addition, if Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson get traded, Brooklyn could have an additional $35 million off their hands between the two of them.
All of these factors come into play when players decide who they will sign with during the 2025 NBA agency period. The Nets possess promising young talent, plenty of draft picks to build for the future and should have enough cap space to offer stars a big contract if they desire.
The 2025 offseason could mark a major positive trajectory change in Sean Marks' and the Nets' rebuilding efforts.