RIP 2017 Brooklyn Nets
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This could also very well say "RIP 2018 Brooklyn Nets" for the title as well, as Brooklyn has finished with the worst record in the Eastern Conference, and is likely to be the worst team. They did this in a year with a loaded draft class, but that doesn't matter because they will be trading their pick to Boston. So now, the long, painful rebuild continues in Brooklyn, and they hope to acquire low-risk talent to try and build for when they actually have picks.
DRAFT PICKS: 2017 first rounder from Washington (mid-20's), second rounders from Boston and Indiana
CAP SPACE: $26,425,090
FREE AGENTS: G Randy Foye, G Archie Goodwin
PLAYERS UNDER CONTRACT
C-Brook Lopez, Justin Hamilton
PF-Trevor Booker, Andrew Nicholson, Quincy Acy
SF-Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Joe Harris
SG-KJ McDaniels, Sean Kilpatrick, Caris LeVert
PG-Jeremy Lin, Isaiah Whitehead, Spencer Dinwiddie
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS OFF-SEASON
All of these players under contract aren't guaranteed to be around for the long-term, but guys like Hollis-Jefferson, Whitehead, Kilpatrick and LeVert have all played solid minutes this season. Expect them to stick around, but everybody else is trade bait. Brook Lopez is the main one, as he is in his last season before he most likely walks away. They have cap space and could target more Tyler Johnson-types, but don't expect them to be in contention for the top guys on the market.
As far as what the draft holds for Brooklyn, they are a few years away from the playoffs at least and will likely go with high-reward players like Caris LeVert. Duke F Harry Giles, should he slip that far, could be an intriguing pick for Brooklyn. The team needs all positions, so don't expect a specific target.
EARLY PREDICTION FOR 2017-18
Barring another trade for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry expect Brooklyn to have a similar season this year.