DALLAS — As the Nets took on the Mavericks in Dallas on Friday, it might have felt like a nostalgic return for Kyrie Irving. But, interestingly, this game served more as a cautionary lesson about the pitfalls of chasing star players and underscored Brooklyn’s renewed emphasis on rebuilding through tanking.
“Honestly, we’re in a rebuilding phase,” Nets owner Joe Tsai remarked in a recent podcast. “We’ve traded away all our 2025 picks—actually, we gathered five first-round picks this summer. There’s also one pick in 2026 that’s crucial for our strategy this season.” The focus on this approach remains intact.
While several teams, including Dallas, have struggled after trading high-profile players—Irving is sidelined with a torn ACL—more teams are investing in their draft capital and strengthening their rosters.
The Nets, who have been on the road since November 5 (the same day Cam Thomas got injured), are hovering around a .500 record with promising player Michael Porter Jr. Yet, their tanking strategy is unwavering as they seek to leverage their cap space for future gains.
This pursuit might start as early as Monday when the unofficial trade season kicks off. Last year, the Nets were quick to release Dennis Schroder right at the start, and he may very well be active again.
In a speech to aspiring entrepreneurs at the University of Hong Kong, Tsai advocated for a holistic approach—a principle he likely applies to his leadership at Alibaba as well.
“You have to favor organic growth over acquisitions,” Tsai noted. “Sure, we’ve made some acquisitions—some worked out, others didn’t at all. But supporting organic growth is essential because that’s how you build a strong team identity.”
This philosophy blends business and basketball, especially relevant in the current NBA climate. The trend of building superteams used to reign supreme; Brooklyn’s former trio of Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden was highly regarded for its talent, yet it came with significant risks. With new punitive collective bargaining agreements, teams are reassessing their strategies. The trend now seems to lean toward trading fewer first-round picks for established stars and hoarding draft assets instead—exactly what the Nets plan to do with their league-high $15.3 million in cap space.
League sources have confirmed that Brooklyn’s intentions remain unchanged, a sentiment echoed by ESPN and Marc Stein this week. This doesn’t necessarily point to a specific player like Anfernee Simons from Boston, but it’s indicative of a broader plan.
Nets GM Sean Marks utilized a league-leading $40 million in cap space for salary dumps this summer, picking up players like Porter, Terrence Mann, and Haywood Highsmith while acquiring Denver’s 2032 first-round pick. They even spent $100,000 to examine Kobe Bufkin before waiving him.
Even after securing a record five first-round picks in June, Marks still possesses 12 future first-rounders and 18 second-round picks—both the most in the league. I wonder if he will manage to add more to that tally?
The Nets, Wizards, Jazz, and Pistons are among the few teams with considerable cap space. Other teams, particularly Washington and Utah, might compete with Brooklyn for salary dumps. Brooklyn, meanwhile, could play a facilitating role in trades. They may have lost out on Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they can still act as a swing team in a deal for him as discussions between his representatives and Milwaukee are expected to heat up before the February 5 trade deadline.
With trade season kicking off on Monday, there are 82 players eligible for trades after the summer. Don’t be surprised if Marks jumps into action soon.
