Brooklyn has already traded one veteran piece in Thaddeus Young this offseason.
Should Brook Lopez be next? What other moves should the team make?
Our NBA Insiders debate the future of the Nets.
1. What do you foresee and advise for the Nets this offseason?
Mike Mazzeo, ESPN.com: Bring in young, perhaps undervalued players with potential and complement them with veteran leadership and a more established point guard who can make them better while ultimately maintaining financial flexibility. And then hope that new coach Kenny Atkinson -- who is strong on player development -- and the rest of his staff can help them grow. The Nets have a ton of needs but intend to rebuild step by step by making smart transactions under GM Sean Marks, which is a welcome change.
Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN.com: Right now, the Nets are a poor draw despite a new regime and new coach Kenny Atkinson's infectious enthusiasm to sell. If I'm new GM Sean Marks, I try to make smart plays for second- and third-tier free agents who haven't reached their potential but could develop into something special under Atkinson. (Allen Crabbe fits the description.)
The Nets also need to get Atkinson a point guard to work with. But I would not break the bank and start handing out insane contracts for players who aren't worth it. This is a new Brooklyn, one in which owner Mikhail Prokhorov has to be patient and let Marks build smartly and slowly and not go after the flashy names again.
Jeremias Engelmann, ESPN Insider: Given that the Nets essentially owe their next two first-round picks to the Celtics, rebuilding is basically out of the question. Since the fans have few young players to get excited about, the Nets should try to be as competitive as possible, signing every high-impact free agent they can.
Bradford Doolittle, ESPN Insider: With no premium draft picks the next couple of years, tanking is not an option for the Nets. Nevertheless, the multi-year objective is still to build a foundation with as many young talents as possible.
In Brooklyn's case, this will have to be done by mining the overseas markets, plumbing the lower tiers of free agency for buy-low, fair-value deals and winning every trade. This will be an incremental process where you build up undervalued or underachieving players to turn them into trade chips.
Kevin Pelton, ESPN Insider: A measured approach to free agency. The Nets know they aren't a destination, and they aren't competing in the East any time soon. At the same time, draft picks aren't a consideration for Brooklyn. So the Nets should try to find players who are undervalued and will have trade value on their new contracts. That seems to more or less be their direction.
2. Fact or Fiction: The Nets should look to trade Brook Lopez.
Mazzeo: Fiction, for now. They've said they won't -- for what it's worth -- and Lopez has always liked being with the only franchise he's ever known despite all the potential trades that never went through in the past. Plus, he's their best player and on a reasonable contract, so they could always revisit this at the trade deadline to gauge how many assets he'd potentially fetch.
Youngmisuk: Fiction. Short of some insane offer from another team that stocks the Nets' bare cupboards with assets, the Nets should hold onto Lopez. Atkinson is known for his development and he helped Al Horford add his perimeter game. It will be fun seeing what Lopez can do with his new coach.
Engelmann: Fiction, unless they get a better player or very high first round pick in return. Getting the 20th pick, like they did in the Thaddeus Young trade just a few days ago, probably won't net them rookies that are good enough to have great future impact. Also, Lopez's impact is actually quite high (real plus-minus of +2.6), which opposing GMs might not realize -- that's the worst setup for a trade.
Doolittle: Fact, though the only urgency in the matter is generated by Lopez's fragile feet. The Nets need to turn Lopez into multiple draft picks but since they have so much money to spend and have to pay someone to get to the salary floor, they can bide their time searching for the right opportunity. But another major Lopez injury would be a serious blow.
Pelton: Fact. I would look to trade him this season. The closer Lopez gets to free agency, the more likely his trade value is to decline, and he'll always be at risk of recurrence of the foot injuries that sidelined him for most of 2011-12 and 2013-14. At the same time, with so many starting-caliber centers on the market this summer, Lopez could prove more valuable in a year. So I wouldn't move him just for the sake of moving him.
3. Fact or Fiction: The Nets have the worst future in the NBA.
Mazzeo: Fact. Given that they don't have total control over their own first-round pick until 2019, it's hard to disagree, although Marks and his front office staff will do their best in trying to unearth assets elsewhere -- specifically by scouting and evaluating talent on the international level. Atkinson helped spawn "Linsanity" across the East River a few years ago; Brooklyn sure could use a similar miracle.
Youngmisuk: I would have the Kings and Nets grappling for this distinction, but at least Sacramento has DeMarcus Cousins ... for now. For Brooklyn, a new direction means there is at least a little optimism despite not having control of its own first-round pick until 2019.
Engelmann: Fact. Things could change in a heartbeat if the Nets are able to land some of the better free agents. But, for now, it certainly looks like they'll have the worst future for about the next three years. Not owning your first-round picks and yet being so bad that you win only 21 games is the worst situation to be in as an NBA franchise.
Doolittle: Fiction. They still have great facilities, an eager fan base and an ultra-competitive owner who seems to be learning on the job, even if he's still prone to uttering the absurd from time to time. In hopes of becoming the latest Spurs spin-off, the Nets have a template to work from and in focusing on player development, they've chosen a clear direction.
Pelton: Fact. If the Nets manage free agency well, they might not end up with the worst record in the league over that span. Still, their ceiling is lower than that of anyone other team in the league. I don't see a realistic path to winning more than 40 games or contending to win a playoff series any time in the near future.
4. Fact or Fiction: Brooklyn will be a major free-agent destination in the next five years.
Mazzeo: If ownership stays patient and the organization can finally develop the type of continuity at the head-coaching position and in the front office that leads to sustainable success, why not? The Nets have everything else -- market, money, arena, practice facility -- they just don't have players. Of course, in a win-loss business, that's everything.
Youngmisuk: Fiction, it appears right now, because they just don't have the young assets to attract a premier free agent to want to build something in Brooklyn. But Marks and Atkinson are two good first steps.
Engelmann: Fiction. The Nets don't have anyone on the roster now that could attract free agents through his play, a la LeBron. They don't have particularly low taxes in New York, nor are the Nets attracting free agents that are chasing rings. The only reason I see someone signing with Brooklyn would be that the Nets offered more money.
Doolittle: Faction. While the Nets have done well in pivoting from their ill-fated push for contention, Brooklyn's talent base is poor and the draft stock is nil. I like the intangible elements of the franchise and am optimistic that GM Sean Marks and coach Kenny Atkinson are the right guys to rebuild. But both are unproven in their current roles.
Pelton: Fact. Five years is a long time for the Nets to dig their way out of their current hole and provide some hope of contending to free agents, so I would bet on that happening at even odds.
5. What should provide the most hope for Nets fans?
Mazzeo: The Marks-Atkinson tandem. Both appear to have a very firm grasp on what they're up against and seem prepared for the challenge that awaits them. Both come from winning cultures, and it will be fascinating to watch them try to instill those values into an organization that has been a mess for some time.
Youngmisuk: The Nets can still do well in free agency. Perhaps Atkinson can convince a budding two-way player like Kent Bazemore to come (Atkinson coached Bazemore when he was an assistant with the Hawks). Maybe Marks will be OK with a Jeremy Lin-Atkinson reunion for the right price.
And then maybe the Nets can be advantageous and lucky and land some solid young players from other teams looking to unload some salary. The hope is the Nets can land young players who can reach their potential with an abundance of opportunity in Brooklyn.
Engelmann: Probably that Billy King is not the GM anymore. While that doesn't guarantee future signings and trades will help the team's long-term outlook, Brooklyn fans can sleep a little better knowing that the person who drove the team into the ground like few GMs ever before is (finally) removed from his powers.
Doolittle: There are no shortcuts here, but Mikhail Prokhorov seems to have accepted that and his team's new architect has started in the only direction that makes sense: a true rebuild. It will take time, but when the Nets have their scaffolding in place, they will still have a great market, a great arena and an owner willing to invest.
Pelton: The rational moves the Nets have made since Sean Marks took over as GM. Sitting out Lopez and Thaddeus Young late in the regular season when there was nothing to play for, then dealing Young for a first-round pick, are business as usual in most of the NBA. That hasn't been the case in Brooklyn in recent seasons, where the excessive focus has been on winning now.