Nets receive C- from ESPN for 2025 NBA offseason moves
"Given the Nets' commanding position as the only team with more than $30 million in cap space this summer, their return has been underwhelming," ESPN's Kevin Pelton wrote when explaining his grade for Brooklyn's offseason moves. Pelton gave the Nets a C- grade for the moves that they made and it seems that most around the league were not impressed by Brooklyn trading for Porter.
"Brooklyn did net a 2032 unprotected first-rounder from Denver and can hope to rehabilitate Michael Porter Jr.'s value," Pelton continued. "The Nets also landed the No. 22 pick with Terance Mann prior to the draft, but keeping all five first-round picks and using them largely on players whose games don't seem complementary was confusing. Brooklyn still can create $20-plus million in cap space, and we'll see whether additional deals materialize before training camp."
Pelton makes some valid criticisms of the Nets' offseason, especially when it comes to how much cap space they had during a summer in which few teams had enough money to offer free-agents more than the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception (NTMLE), valued at $14.1 million for the 2025-26 season. Brooklyn did not use their cap space to go after available talent, but rather rented out their cap space to other teams in exchange for players and/or draft picks.
For example, the Nets gave up $15.5 million to take on Mann along with the 22nd overall pick and essentially used about $17 million worth of space to take on Porter, including having to part ways with forward Cam Johnson, who was coming off a career year. With that being said, Porter and Mann are two players who can help the Nets next season on the floor and getting two first-round picks along the way could be part of the plan for general manager Sean Marks and the front office.
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