Brooklyn Nets Offseason RIPPED by ESPN — Is the Hate Warranted?
Heat. Heat. N. In ESPN’s latest NBA piece, they graded every team’s off season and gave the Brooklyn Nets a C minus for their moves this off season. Was it warranted? Did the Brooklyn Nets really have this bad of an offseason? We’ll get into that and so much more. Hello everyone and welcome back to the Brooklyn Boys show. I am your host Josh Wiver on this August 3rd evening. We are deep in the heart of the Nets off season. We get to talk all about what grade in school this Nets off season deserves. Make sure you smash the like button, hit subscribe. both help support this community so much on our road to 500 subscribers. I think we’re a little over 90 away. So, any and all support that you guys can bring to this community is so greatly appreciated. Not only does it help us get to our subscriber goal, but also pushes out our content to fellow Nets fans, helps us grow the community all around, brings more Nets fans together, and that’s the ultimate goal to provide the best entertainment for you guys as possible. Kevin Pelton of ESPN put out an article just a couple days ago grading each team’s off season and only the second one he put out was his lowest grade yet. It was a C minus to go to the Brooklyn Nets. I’ll read out what he said. His reasoning was quote, “Given the Nets commanding position as the only team with more than $30 million in cap space this summer, the return has been underwhelming. Brooklyn did net a 2032 unprotected firstrounder from Denver and can hope to rehabilitate Michael Porter Jr’s value. The Nets also landed the 22nd overall pick with Taran and Terrence man prior to the draft, but keeping all five first round picks and using them largely on players whose games don’t seem complimentary was confusing. He wraps up by saying Brooklyn still can create 20 plus million dollars in cap space and we’ll see whether additions materialize before training caps. So, we’ll go piece by piece, sentence by sentence here for what Mr. Pelton adds on why he gave the Nets the C minus grade of the offseason. And he’s absolutely right with what he starts out by saying, the Nets are far and away the most cap space to work with out of all the entire NBA. And what they end up doing is they don’t end up signing a big free agent. They still haven’t signed Cam Thomas, matter of fact, their own restricted free agent. But the only real contracts that they pick up and get booked are for Michael Porter Jr. who is in part of that Cam T Cam Johnson trade and then Terrence man who’s part of that three team deal including Atlanta and Boston. So the Nets really didn’t go out there and get their own free agent guy. The only thing they spent their salary on was taking in contract dumps from other teams and trying to add picks to their repertoire from it. So, personally, now that we’re into this off season and we’re nearing the end, and it doesn’t look like the Nets are going to add any more guys, and if they are, they’re probably going to be lower-end guys that are going to have to work out during training camp to get a spot on this team’s roster, but I don’t think there’s going to be another huge free agent uh decision, another free agent guy outside of maybe resigning Cam Thomas. So, it seems like the Nets, at least to me, are done this off seasonason adding more talent. And yet, as Mr. Pelton mentions at the end of his article, they still are going to be sitting on 20 plus million dollars in cap space that’s going to go, at least a large part of it, is going to go unused. So to enter this season with such high expectations from the fan base and to be able to out any team on the open market, if there’s a free agent guy they would have liked, they could have gone out there and get it. Instead, they spend their money picking up the team options on four players who shake a couple heads in and in in and around the Nets fan base. Like, yeah, all right. I’ll live with these, but these aren’t gamechanging, win, loss changing. I I I put out a video on wild card yesterday. These aren’t the guys that are going to be wild cards to either win or lose you games during this regular season. These are guys that can make a very small impact off the bench. And the fact that Shawn Marx went into this off season with all these outsets, excuse me, with all these outlets for what he could do, with all these assets, and he comes up empty-handed practically besides a couple good trades, makes it very headscratching. I’ll move on be because the cap space is one issue, but there’s also the fact that the Nets take five first round picks, all five of them, in a world where other teams out there were very open to trading. There was a point in this NBA draft where 11 straight picks were not drafted by the team who originally owned the pick. Teams were willing to move around. teams were absolutely ready and willing to trade away picks, to gain picks, to trade players for picks. The Nets had a ton of options in this year’s draft and instead Shawn Mark sits back and makes five first round selections. And I think the way Mr. Pelton put it by saying five first round picks, using them largely on players whose games don’t complement each other was confusing is a perfect way of saying it. He’s right that after you draft Jagor Demond, a tall a tall guard who has a good playmaking ability who can spread the ball out. He’s right that after drafting a guy like Demond or Domen, I should say, what’s the point of then taking Bener off at number 26? Wouldn’t you like to package a couple of those first round picks that are in the 20s? Move up to the late lottery. Move up to the early lottery. pack. Get a big man with with value. Get Malawatch. Get Patrick Queen. Not Patrick Queen, excuse me. Derek Queen from Maryland. Get Casper’s Yakuchonus. I mean, there’s a ton of options. The Nets could have taken Yakuchon. Instead, they took Trayori, which is a discussion for another day. But to me, the fact that the Nets sat back and took five first round picks while they were looking at a board filled with teams being aggressive, moving up, not being afraid to use their assets and expenditure them, especially after the Nets know they have more assets in the future to to lie back on future trade stock, future draft stock, excuse me. And the fact that they weren’t aggressive there confuses me a little bit. I beg the question, why do you not go up there and elevate your draft position to try and get more value on this team? And then the two trades he mentions, I have no problem with the Cam Johnson trade. I like getting a a 2032 first. Hopefully that’s after Denver’s cooled off. Who knows what their situation looks like. Maybe they’re just starting a rebuild right after Jokic has left and perfect. Boom. That’s a high lottery pick for you there. And then you also get a deep threat, a true power forward in Michael Porter Jr. to plug a big hole on this Net’s team and hope he can bring you a ton of value as a good scoreer and bring a Vet Peasants to the locker room. Like that trade all around. I thought it was pretty fair. fair that Denver got what they what they deserved on the other end. I think Cam Johnson benefits them, too. This Terrence man trade makes a little less sense to me. You want to pick up the 22nd overall pick. I get it. You draft Drake Pal out of UNCC who has a lot of upside. I’m excited to see what he can bring to Brooklyn. But then you take on this Terrence man contract who could eat away at minutes that a couple of younger guys might want to develop who could be hard to trade at the deadline because of his complex contract and how much Los Angeles overpaid for him to get him on the roster. So the Nets take that salary dump. But the question becomes to me, did you really need that fifth first round pick? Could you have taken Terrence man at 26 when you took Ben Saraf? So yes, you kind of sneak in a free first round pick almost, but then picking up Terrence Mann’s contract might be one that’s harder to trade away later on that you can’t get as much value for. And a true salary eat where you might just have to sit on it and watch it happen. I want to hear all your thoughts, all your chats, what you all have to say regarding Kevin Pelton’s grade of a C minus for the Brooklyn Nets offseason. Joshua Liver here with you on a late night edition of the Brooklyn boys Sunday, August 3rd. Smash the like, hit subscribe the free ways to help support the show. I got a ton of ton of comments flowing in, so I can’t wait to answer those right after a short break. Stay with us on the Brooklyn Boys Show. You are listening to the Brooklyn Boys Show with your host Connor Long. If you’re enjoying the show, drop us a sub and leave a like. It helps more Nets fans find us. Quick break, then back to talking Brooklyn Nets basketball. Today’s episode of the Brooklyn Boys Show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Shoreline Sports Cards, located at 137 Main Street in Port Washington, New York. Whether you’re chasing the newest hobby boxes, grabbing singles, or just want to talk cards with fellow collectors, Shoreline is the spot. They’ve got a massive selection across basketball, football, baseball, and more with new inventory hitting the shelves every single week. If you’re local, make sure to stop by the shop at 137 Main Street in Port Washington and check it out for yourself. If you’re not in the area, no worries at all. You can still keep up with Shoreline by following them on Instagram, eBay, and whatnot for product shops, live breaks, deals, and hobby updates. All links are right in the description down below. Huge thanks to Shoreline Sports Cars for supporting the show and the Brooklyn Nets community. Josh Woliver, it is the Brooklyn boys show. We’re reacting to Kevin Pel of ESPN. C minus grade for the Brooklyn Nets this off seasonason. Now to hear what you and the Brooklyn Nets community have to think right after you hit the smash the like and subscribe buttons. Really helps us grow to what you guys think over in the chat. We appreciate all you tuning in. I’ll start with a very complicated question from Jonathan asking Josh for nine years as the GM would do you say that Shawn Marks has done a good job or he’s done a bad job to the point he’s never built a sustainable roster. This is a very long answer to me. At times he’s shown good flashes. I think he’s hit on a couple late round picks, Sharp and Thomas. I think he maneuvered his way out of the big three situation pretty well. Obviously, there was stuff to be left desired. Everyone can look back in hindsight and say, “Well, that James Harden for Ben Simmons trade was terrible.” But what he did with KD got four first round picks for Kevin Durant. Got Cam Johnson and Muel Bridges. flipped Johnson for a first in Michael Porter, flipped Bridges for five firsts. So, he wiggled out of that well. But overall, I think Shawn Marx has had his fair share of troubles designing and sustaining good rosters. As you say, Jonathan, I think what he did in this draft was pretty inexcusable the way he handled that much draft capital and really really did not make the most of what he had. I think he’s made a couple, you know, uh, not even a couple, a lot of bad decisions on signings. O bet to the Caris Levert one, that one one was wasn’t great. Uh, the Nick Claxton one Nets fans are already regretting. So, long story short, he’s shown his flashes of brilliance, but uh, but I’m just about tired of Shawn Marx being this team’s general manager. Uh, let’s see. Jonathan again, Josiah is so caught up with collecting sports companies that he needs to remember Brooklyn Nets are his first priority. don’t need him owning the Miami Dolphins while the Nets are still horrible. I think you’re right. But what I’ll say about Josiah is I don’t actually think he’s like involved in the in the basketball operations of things. I think he has a uh a staff of people that he asks to obviously he owns the Nets, but I think he personally has a staff of people of advisors that uh give give him opinions on when he should fire people, who he should keep around. I I I don’t I truly don’t think he’s making all those decisions uh on his own. Appreciate you all tuning in. Let’s see here. Timothy Park, you and Josh do a great job with the solo shows. Appreciate you, Timothy. It’s going to be kind of the next couple days while I’m in down in Maryland. Uh but then I’ll be back towards the end of the week. Let’s see. Jonathan, this is a good one. My problem, Josh, for the Jagor, Domen, Drake Pal, and Ben Saraf picks or that they were huge reaches as opposed to choosing the best players available. Saraf still makes no sense. Saraf was my least favorite pick of the draft. I’ll put that out there now. Domen. Okay, he could be your primary ball handler. He could definitely bring you value. Was he the eighth overall pick? No. Was he a lottery pick? Probably not. Was there a chance you got him at 19? Probably. I think you’re right, Jonathan. It’s not that I hate the pick so much as that you way reached on him. You probably picked him twice as early as most other teams had him on their board. The Drake Pal pick, you probably could have gotten him where you got Danny Wolf. So, there was a lot of reaches by Shawn Marks in this draft. Kev says, “Hi, what’s up?” And Claude comes in. It all goes to show it doesn’t matter how many draft picks the Nets have, but how they use them is what that matters. Marks is off to an interesting start. Absolutely, Claude. Absolutely. Um, let’s see. Let’s see. Jonathan wants more. This feels like the old Marks and Sai playbook. where they’re saving all these picks and cap space to eventually start hunting for a third time as opposed to drafting, right? I think absolutely, Jonathan. I hate to say it, but I think in the 20 26, 2027, 28 years, 3 to five years from now, I think absolutely Brooklyn goes right back to what has never worked for them as a franchise. I think they go back to the well. I think they dive head first into overcommitting to superstars again. Unfortunately, Jonathan, I think you’re right by saying that Brooklyn does not trust their young talent long term. They don’t stick with what they’ve built now. I absolutely see them trading away draft capital, going all in as if we haven’t seen it twice already. and hasn’t been just as bad both times. Unfortunately, Jonathan, knowing Shawn Marks, this Brooklyn Nets team could very well be right back to where they were three years ago, wondering how the heck they traded for three first ballot Hall of Famers, got them to play a couple games together, and couldn’t even make the Eastern Conference Finals with them. And that’s what’s unfortunate about it. I absolutely see it happening. I could go on a huge rant about this. I won’t. I’ll spare you guys in the chat. I absolutely see it happening. Sean Marks will be the elephant in the room as long as he’s GM of the Nets. Uh having all these playmakers will will be best be utilized to help boost up Claxton’s trade value, which is at an all-time low right now. If Claxton can’t improve, we’re stuck with him. Look, to me, this Claxton trade situation is interesting. I hope that Claxton returns to his form two years ago, maybe even three years ago. I talked about this on last night’s uh live show. Go back and listen to it if you haven’t yet. That if Nick Claxton can return to his previous self, and he’s a strong rebounder, a huge paint presence defensively, getting those blocks, not shooting 51% from the free throw line. I think absolutely Nick Claxton’s trade value skyrockets. What I’ll tell you is that I think he’s probably going to be dealt at the at the end of next off seasonason if I had to guess. I don’t see him as a trade deadline piece. Look, because even if teams like his potential, I don’t think a quarter season of Nick Claxton after the season he had last year would be enough to convince teams, even if he plays well in that quarter half season, would be enough to to convince teams to to sell a good amount for Nick Claxton. So, I think what’s going to end up happening is he’s got to play a full good year on the Nets and then his trade value really rises next off seasonason. That’s where Shawn Marx gets to make the decision. But that is that feels like centuries away at this point. Nets are going to be in a completely different situation. At least I hope. Uh let’s see. Let’s see. Jonathan coming in with these long questions. I love it though. Would you be open to trading Claxton to Boston for an Anthony an Anthony an Anthony an Anthony an Anthony an Anthony an Anthony an Anthony an Anthony an Anthony an Anthony Simons expiring $27 million and a first round pick to open up Claxpace to open up Cavspace and get off Claxton’s contract. What I’ll say about that is if you end up trading for Simon and I’ll take the first. Good question. I’ll take the first. If you end up taking Simons, you got to figure out what to do with Cam Thomas. That seems like that’s a situation where you would have to trade him out of the building because I think I at least to me I find it hard to believe that Simons and Cam Thomas would be able to thrive on the same team together. Let’s see. Timothy Marks fleece the Knicks in that Bridges train. No way he is worth five first rounders. He’s worth two first rounders max. And Timothy, that’s what I tried to to I tried to tell Nicks fans this as soon as he got traded. Sure, he’s the iron horse. He played 83 games that season. I’ll tell you what, I don’t care. Five first rounders for a guy like that is ridiculous. He was a role player, a zero time all-star. It was ridiculous. Timothy, I could go on a huge rant about this, too. Jaggar is going to be hope. That’s That’s the hope. Period. Skate skateboards. That’s the hope. Got to be. If you spent that number eight overall pick on him, you had to believe in him at some point. This organization likes established talent more than developing their own talent. And the Cam Thomas drama is definitely part of that thinking, especially given how low they’re going to go with his money, right? And it goes back to the fact that they’re going to end up sitting on $20 million in space this year. I only imagine Cam Thomas getting a one two-year contract. And I don’t think the Brooklyn Nets spend the remaining cap space they have outside of Thomas. What else are you going to go do? Your training camp roster’s full at this point. So, I think if you’re going to give him a one-year deal, at least make him happy. The one thing I’ll say about that is that they got to keep him within 15 million if they want him to be midlevel exception uh available to other teams. So, there are some teams they’re going to have trouble trading for Camp Thomas if he’s not $15 million or less. So, that’s one thing. But, but I mean, if if your plans to keep him through this year, you’re going to sit on that money anyways. Timothy Jonathan, they need a big the big big man in return for Claxton, though. I completely disagree with this, Timothy. The Nets just resigned Dron Sharp, who I believe in a ton. They have Noah Clowney, who I think is going to be a flex four, but can still play center if need be. We saw him do it last year. And they just took Danny Wolf, who I’m hopeful, I’m a believer in him. I’m hopeful can be something big down the line. I disagree in saying you need a big man in return for Claxton. You let these young guys eat, you get a first round pick and you get a three for Nick Claxton. Like I wouldn’t hate it if they they got a forward or a guard for Claxton. Absolutely not. That just mean Dron Sharp gets more than two starts this year. Genuinely showcases what his ceiling is on this Net’s team. I think that would be good for the Brooklyn Nets. If Dron Sharp is the starting center after this deadline, if they if they deal Claxton, Jordy Fernandez gets to truly see what this guy they just paid has with Wolf, with Sharp, with Clowney. The Nets don’t need a big man in return for Claxton. What are your thoughts on Fanbo Zenang? I hope I said that. G-League MVP or potential two-way player. He could get that two-way contract. I saw a couple of his highlights. He’s a freak of nature. Um but but it’s going to be tough. You know, a lot a lot of times those overseas guys, they could be doing a ton out there in in China, in whatever in Sorbia, but a lot of times that stuff is tough to translate. So that’s that’s a pure talent pull right there. They got to actually develop that. Uh that’ll that’ll develop somewhere. Clyde says, “Put a Nick next flag behind you.” Absolutely not. That’s the last thing I’d do with my room. I I love my room the way it is. But I and Nicks Nick Knicks merch isn’t going anywhere near here. Uh let’s see. Josh, why aren’t you a Knicks fan? Well, I could answer this question. Born and raised in Brooklyn. First basketball games I watched were Nets uh were Nets games. Always watched him growing up. Local team, why not? And plus, my dad used to be a Knicks fan. And uh after the whole Isaiah Thomas’s general manager thing, he basically quit on them. So, he became a Nets fan. easy choice for me. Live 10-minute subway ride away from the Barklay Center. Uh, the Knicks will be next season’s NBA champion. I don’t I don’t think so. I don’t think so. I could go down this that road, but um I don’t know. New new head coach, so everything’s new for the Knicks, but um I I I would say they have a better chance now that unfortunately for these guys, Hallebertton and Tatum are going to be out for the entire year next year. So, if there’s ever a chance, the East’s pretty wide open right now. I can’t lie, I would say I I really like Orlando and what they’re doing down there in Florida. So, they might be able to give them a run for their money. We’ll wrap up here on the show. Appreciate all of your sustained support in that comment section, hitting it up, liking and subscribing. Both the best way to help this community grow. Tell your friends about us over here at the Brooklyn Boys. Share this with them. Helps us grow a ton. Let’s see. If Cam Thomas isn’t signed this month of August, how likely is it that he sign a qualifying offer? And who would Cam Thomas lift his no trade clause for if they try to trade him? Who? Okay, I’ll start with the beginning of this at if he’s not done by the end of August and first preseason game is October 4th if I’m remembering correctly off the top of my head and they have one month left after a two-month offseason. The alarms are already ringing. the alarms are going to be turned to the max. Like it this month and the beginning of September, it’s now or never. I feel like um let’s see how likely is it that they sign the qualifying offer at this point. I mean, if if Cam Thomas I think my best guess is right now he’s saying I want to I’ll play this gear out on my qualifying offer like what Gary said. I will try my absolute hardest. I’ll play the best I basketball I possibly can and try and go out there and prove why the Nets should have given me that 20 plus million dollars last off season and try and go go earn closer to 30. But if he if he really doesn’t want to be that much of a team player, a possible trade fit like I was thinking about this a couple teams he would be able to mesh with. like I I I’m having trouble thinking of them cuz he is a specific guy tailored to a system that relies on him being able to shoot a lot. So even if you put him on a team who’s not that great, but you know, the coach has to have an open mindset to have a ca guy like Cam Thomas be able to take that much shots. And he does take away shots from younger caliber guys. So that’s very interesting. I can’t put a name on a team right now. Uh, Jonathan says, “Uh, Calves and Magic might cook your next so I thought that was going to be about Cam Thomas.” Uh, good show says Jonathan. This kid pulled off another good show. I appreciate all your support, Jonathan and Claude, Timothy, everyone in the chat today. You all were a great audience. Appreciate all the support. I’ll wrap up here unless there’s any final questions as we approach the 11:00 hour here on August 3rd. I appreciate you sparing just a little bit of your Sunday evening with me as we talk Nets basketball. You’ll have Connor with you Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday evening. I’ll be back Thursday for the rest of that weekend and so on. It’s the heart of the off seasonason. We’re crawling along, but we’re doing it stronger than we ever have. To the 15 of you watching, I really appreciate your support. What you’ve done for our community. Like and subscribe on the way out. Helps us grow a ton. Appreciate it. Everyone in the chat, thank you so much. Be sure to like and subscribe. Danette’s got a C minus from ESPN. Do you think it was fair? I’ll let you give you a little time to sleep on it. Appreciate everyone tuning in. For the Brooklyn Boys show, I am Josh Woliver saying good night and we will see you later this week. I’ll end it as I always do with a good sign of faith and hope. Let’s go Nets. Have a good night every
Was the Nets’ offseason really that bad? ESPN says C-, here’s the unfiltered breakdown of what went right (and wrong).
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