Potential NBA trade options for the Brooklyn Nets to observe during the 2025-26 season
The Brooklyn Nets find themselves in a precarious yet intriguing position entering the 2025-26 NBA season. After a tumultuous period following the departure of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Nets are now focused on rebuilding their franchise, and there's real optimism in Brooklyn for the first time in years.
Sean Marks, the General Manager who masterminded the Nets' rebuild in the 2025-26 season, has been busy shaping the team's future. One potential target that has caught Marks' eye is Lauri Markkanen, the 7-foot tall player with shooting and mobility, currently with the Utah Jazz.
Markkanen's ability to stretch the floor beyond the three-point line and his size would fill the Nets' long-standing need for a versatile scoring forward. Pairing him with Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. would make Brooklyn an immediate contender in the East. However, acquiring Markkanen would require Brooklyn to commit serious assets, including draft picks and at least one young player from their promising stable.
The combination of Markkanen's inside-out game and Michael Porter Jr.'s scoring from the wing would give Brooklyn a dynamic offensive duo. Defensively, Markkanen isn't a lockdown stopper, but his size and rebounding would complement Nic Claxton's rim protection.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference landscape gives the Nets reason to dream. Teams like Miami, Boston, and Philadelphia deal with age, injuries, or roster questions, making the hierarchy more fluid than it has been in years. This opens up opportunities for a team like the Nets, one of the few rebuilding franchises positioned to swing big if the right opportunity emerges.
The Nets have already made moves to improve their roster. They have traded for Michael Porter Jr. and developed Nic Claxton as a defensive anchor. Moreover, they have re-signed every key free agent, including Tyson Etienne, Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin, Drew Timme, Ziaire Williams, Jalen Wilson, and Cam Thomas.
Another name that has been linked with the Nets is Giannis Antetokounmpo. If acquired, Antetokounmpo could instantly vault Brooklyn from a Play-In hopeful to a top-tier contender. However, acquiring Antetokounmpo would likely require the Nets to part with nearly all of their draft capital and multiple young players, potentially gutting their depth.
In addition to Markkanen and Antetokounmpo, the Nets have shown interest in Anfernee Simons, the explosive guard who could fit the Nets' roster needs and timeline. Simons has quietly become one of the league's most versatile scoring guards, averaging north of 19 points per game.
The Nets drafted Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf in the latest draft, adding to their young talent pool. With Marks at the helm, the Nets are poised to make a splash in the Eastern Conference and return to their rightful place among the league's elite.
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