Potential Brooklyn Nets trade prospects for the 2025-26 basketball season, well ahead of schedule
Brooklyn Nets Shake Up Roster with Potential Trades
The Brooklyn Nets, fresh off a blockbuster trade for Michael Porter Jr., are looking to rebuild their roster around young talent and roster flexibility.
Day’Ron Sharpe: A Likely Trade Candidate
Center Day'Ron Sharpe, who signed a two-year, $12 million contract to return to the Nets, is considered a likely trade candidate. Despite his strengths in rebounding and physicality, his lack of mobility and inconsistent touch around the rim make him expendable in modern NBA lineups.
Cam Thomas: Uncertain Future
Shooting guard Cam Thomas, who has been a leading scorer for Brooklyn, faces an uncertain future after the team acquired Porter Jr. and several guards in the 2025 draft. Thomas' current $15 million qualifying offer for 2025-26 includes a team option for 2026-27, which the Nets can use as leverage to potentially trade him or plan cap space.
Michael Porter Jr.: Core Player
Porter Jr., a small forward/power forward, is expected to be a core starter alongside young talent. His contract and impact position him as a valuable piece rather than a likely trade chip in the immediate future. However, trade discussions around Brooklyn suggest that experienced veterans combined with players fitting Porter's style (e.g., Nic Claxton) could be packaged in multi-player deals with other teams.
Rebuilding and Flexibility
Brooklyn’s strategy involves potential trades with playoff-contending teams looking for bench scoring and veteran presence, while the Nets aim to maintain flexibility and develop their young core. Ziaire Williams and incoming rookies Drake Powell and Nolan Traore could be younger, cheaper wing options for the Nets by the trade deadline.
Potential Dark-Horse Suitors for Porter
Potential dark-horse suitors for Porter include Sacramento, Memphis, or Atlanta. The Nets may trade players like Sharpe and Thomas to open up playing time for younger pieces like Demin, Powell, or Saraf.
A New Era for the Nets
The Nets have officially moved away from their superteam era this offseason, focusing on young talent development and long-term flexibility. Michael Porter Jr.'s long-term future in Brooklyn is unclear due to his injury history and precarious contract. Cam Thomas, entering a contract year, faces a tough decision regarding his extension.
In summary, Sharpe and Thomas are more probable trade candidates in Brooklyn’s ongoing roster restructuring, while Porter Jr. primarily figures as a foundational piece for the team’s rebuild and on-court future. The Nets' roster might look very different by February due to trade activity.
- The Brooklyn Nets might seek to trade Day'Ron Sharpe and Cam Thomas as part of their rebuilding process, aiming to add bench scoring and veteran presence while maintaining roster flexibility.
- Michael Porter Jr., a core player for the Nets, is less likely to be traded due to his contract and positive impact, but trade discussions centering around Brooklyn suggest that he could potentially be included in multi-player deals.
- Despite the uncertainty surrounding Cam Thomas' future with the team, highly competitive teams such as Sacramento, Memphis, or Atlanta might express interest in acquiring Porter Jr., potentially leading to trades involving Sharpe and Thomas.
