We’re a week away from the Draft and less than that ahead of Sean Marks’ trade window. The man likes making deals in June. Matt Moore offers some tasty rumors
We are now days away from the Sean Marks trade window (trademark pending.) The Nets GM has made trades — significant trades — in the 48 hours before the Draft in six of the eight years he’s led the front office.
From here on out, expect daily if not hourly rumors on the Brooklyn Nets … and 29 other teams, too, of course. The NBA is open for business with the Finals over and the Boston Celtics crowned champion.
Matt Moore, the veteran NBA reporter who works for Hardwood Paroxysm and Action Network got a head start Wednesday with two Nets items in his free agency preview. Bottom lines: The Nets will take calls on Mikal Bridges but don’t expect them to succumb, not even to a “godfather” offer of first rounders.
Moore also offered some details, usually a telltale sign of interest, on a potential trade of Day’Ron Sharpe to the Memphis Grizzlies for a “one of their bench wings” and a second rounder. We will have to wait on more details … but that’s where the Devil resides. He also assumes Nic Claxton’s extension will be around $100 million. And in a big surprise for some: the Nets have not given up. They’re active in conversations seeking “draft capital,” “young players,” and “existing win-now pieces,” not further described.
Here’s what Moore wrote about Bridges who is indeed highly valued:
First off, there’s little expectation that Mikal Bridges will wear a different uniform next season. Brooklyn has been willing to take calls for the versatile wing, but despite a disappointing season from Bridges in 23-24, the asking price is still considered too high.
“The Nets view him higher than everyone else, like everyone views their top guys,” one source said. “They’ll take the call because of their situation, but no one’s going to [put forth a] Godfather offer for him. They traded Kevin Durant for him, for crying out loud.”
That of course is what most pundits have been writing or opining now for months. Moore also joins a couple of other writers in suggesting the Houston Rockets offers for Bridges may not have as expansive as reported by other pundits. (I know, I know pundits should speak with a single voice, unlike agents.)
Multiple sources said talks with Houston were mostly about simply returning the picks the Nets gave up in the James Harden deal, which Brooklyn would love, but that alone isn’t enough to send Bridges to Houston.
Next Moore gets to the big question a lot of fans have: what’s this franchise’s “direction?”
There is, however, a sense from teams that have talked with Brooklyn that the Nets want to choose a direction. There have been conversations about moves for draft capital and young players, and conversations about existing win-now pieces.
Brooklyn would love a star to pair with Bridges. This isn’t remarkable, every team always wants another star to pair with their guys, even when they have two. (Looking at you, Suns.) The only thing notable here is that Brooklyn isn’t only looking at a long-term future. The Nets are trying to figure out a clear direction to take.
That indeed would be big news for some fans who believe the Nets 2024-25 direction will be more like 2023-24: Keep a steady course headed towards next summer when they will have tens of millions of dollars in salary cap space, no concerns about luxury taxes, 10 first rounders and 11 seconds starting with two (likely to be low) in 2025, etc.
Most teams are operating under the assumption that Nic Claxton won’t hit the market and will instead return to Brooklyn on a multi-year deal in the $20-$25 million annually range.
That range has now been mentioned multiple times by multiple reporters in the run-up to free agency which for the Nets and Claxton opened at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. (There have been no major agreements announced yet by any NBA front office. Perhaps it’s because the NBA put some teeth into enforcement of their free agency timing rules last year. Adam Silver ordered the forfeiture of the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia second round picks this year because the teams jumped the starter gun on contacting free agents. Can’t be too careful.)
Speaking of big men, the latest name to hit the trade rumor mill. Following Dorian Finney-Smith on the list is Day’Ron Sharpe’s. The fourth year center is someone the Nets seemed high on. He’s a first rank rebounder on both ends of the floor and with an improving offensive game. That said, Sharpe has also gotten into trouble with turnovers and while he’s improved his free throw and 3-point shoot, he’s not much on offense. Of course, the Nets also have high hopes for the 19-year-old Noah Clowney who was a big and positive surprise at the end of last season and could replace Sharpe up front. In his “Other Notes” section, a compendium of here-and-there rumors compared to the comprehensive analyses of all 30 teams, Moore had this to report:
The Grizzlies are expected to try and add multiple centers this summer, which is one reason they’ve been linked to trade-up rumors in the draft. Another name to watch as a potential reserve option is Day’Ron Sharpe from the Nets with one of their bench wings and a second rounder being part of a potential deal.
So who might be “one of their bench wings?” The Grizzlies have a slew of them. Better We put aside any thought of Desmond Bane or Jaren Jackson Jr. being available. That leaves among others…
Vince Williams Jr. the 23-year-old who filled in ably for the Grizzlies’ various fallen last season and is still on his rookie contract;
Luke Kennard, the 27-year-old sharpshooter who was among those fallen last season but has an expiring $17.4 contract, ideal for big trades.
Jake LaRavia, who’s 22 and was playing well when he too went down.
LaMar Stevens, a defensive playmaker and versatile veteran of several NBA clubs.
There are others further down the rotation like Zaire Williams who’s been a disappointment after going 10th in the Draft two years ago. He still only 22 (and is Jalen Wilson’s best friend forever. They grew up in Denton, Tex.)
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