Netsbros

All #Nets News & Insights from two brothers who argue like Kyrie and the Nets front office

[Erik Slater @ErikSlater_]

Mikel Brown Jr. is putting on a show in this second half.

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

The Julius Randle trade still hasn’t been finalized. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but it could possibly indicate the Nets are exploring ways to expand the deal.

Checking in on Denver & Peyton Watson could makes sense.

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

@hoodigainer I’m all for proving Brooklyn’s picks do well, but how did Drake Powell end up in the All Star tier 😂. He has the tools to be a great defender and potential 3&D guy if he gets his 3pt % up, but I don’t know if I see all star potential from him.

[NetsDaily @NetsDaily]

Nine days till opening of California Classic in Sacramento, the start of a two-week period where Nets Summer League team will play a minimum of 8 games in 15 days. July 4 game will feature Mike Brown Jr (Nets) vs Darius Acuff (Kings.)

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

Mikel Brown Jr. is a Net.

I needed some time to digest the pick. Even though it seemed like this was the direction the Nets were leaning over the past couple of days, I wanted it to be official before giving my thoughts.

Mikel’s Stats 21 GP /18.2 PPG /3.3 RPG /4.7 APG /41% FG /34% 3PT /3.1 TO

On paper, the numbers are solid, and over the half-season he played, he showed plenty of flashes. He also seems like a genuinely humble, high-character kid who’s excited to be in the NBA. That’s the type of person every organization wants to draft.

That said, there are concerns.

He needs to become a more efficient scorer, get stronger physically, improve his assist-to-turnover ratio, and most importantly, stay healthy. Back injuries are never something to take lightly, and I really hope the Nets thoroughly evaluated that long-term before making this selection.

Would I have taken him? Personally, no.

Going into the draft, my top three guards outside of the consensus top four were:

1.Acuff
2.Wagler
3.Burries

Two of those players the Nets didn’t even reportedly meet with or work out. I especially think they should have taken a much longer look at Acuff before ultimately deciding on Brown.

I believe Acuff will be the better player early in his career, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he develops into a very good NBA player over time. Or he could very well be a bust.

That said, it’s obvious why Brooklyn fell in love with Mikel Brown Jr.

He’s incredibly talented, has elite playmaking instincts, and has shown flashes of being a special offensive player. But he’s also another high-upside prospect who still has a lot of development ahead of him.

That’s where my concern lies.

Once again, the Nets are betting on their ability to unlock the potential of a raw but promising young player. That means this fanbase is going to have to be extremely patient.

The ceiling is exciting.

If everything clicks, you could be looking at a dynamic lead guard in the mold of Tyrese Haliburton or LaMelo Ball. If it doesn’t, the outcome could look much closer to Markelle Fultz a talented prospect who didn't succeed in the NBA.

2026/2027 Mikel Predictions:

58 GP /10.3 PPG /2.3RPG /4.2APG /40%FG /32% 3PT /2.8 TO

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

Claxton definitely got too much hate. He went from competing with Kyrie, KD and Harden to a tanking team within a few years. Frustration is definitely warranted when you go from extreme high to extreme low.

However, his attitude change and how he handled himself these last few years is unjustifiable. There are ways things can be handled and the man couldn't keep his cool on the court.

Will miss him for sure but it's one of those sweet goodbyes because it hopefully signals a new era for these Nets... and we the fans desperately need it

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

🚨 Nets Trade for Julius Randle 🚨

When you make a trade and come away with the best player and improve your draft position, it’s hard not to like it. The Nets are definitely better than they were 24 hours ago, even if they’re not dramatically better. Overall, I’m leaning in favor of the deal. Here’s why:

1. It was time to move on from Claxton.

I liked Claxton a few years ago, but in my opinion, he either plateaued as a player or simply grew disinterested in being a Net. I’ve felt for some time that it was time to move on, and the organization has quietly shopped him for a while. It was a rather anti-climactic ending, but I wish him nothing but the best in Chicago.

2. Julius Randle is a good player, even if he can be frustrating.

Randle is the type of player you’ll either love or pull your hair out watching on a nightly basis. I’ve never been a huge fan of his offensive style—it can feel inefficient at times—but when he’s rolling, he has the ability to completely change games. He’s physical, plays with an edge, and brings toughness that this roster desperately needs. He’s also the type of veteran younger players can learn from.

From a contract perspective, he has two years remaining with a player option in Year 2, so it’s not a massive long-term commitment.

Assuming he stays in Brooklyn for the season, I’d predict something around:

• 22.3 PPG
• 6.7 RPG
• 4.9 APG
• 49% FG
• 33% 3PT

3. The extra first-round pick and moving up in the draft are nice bonuses.

There is a material difference between picks 33 and 28, although it’s probably not as significant as people make it out to be. It does make me wonder if Sean Marks has a specific player in mind and doesn’t believe he’ll be available in the second round.

On paper, the trade looks like “Randle plus a first-round pick,” but in reality it’s Randle plus moving up five spots. Aesthetically, the extra first sounds better than the actual difference may prove to be.

Conclusion

I think Nets fans should come away feeling better today than they did yesterday.

Brooklyn added the best player in the deal, gives MPJ another proven scorer to play alongside, still maintains flexibility, and picked up another first-round selection heading into draft night.

The team won 20 games last season. Maybe with Randle, they win 28-32 games and avoid the bottom-three basement. Either way, they’re better today than they were yesterday.

Making some progress.

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

🚨Trade🚨

Nets receive — Julius Randle + No. 28 pick

Bulls receive — Nic Claxton

Wolves receive — No. 33 pick + Free up Cap Space

Thoughts on this coming tomorrow.

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

The Nets have been extremely quiet with less than 48 hours to go. Is the front office really this locked in on evaluating the No. 6 pick, or are they quietly working on something bigger?

We have all of these first- and second-round picks, and you’re telling me Sean Marks wouldn’t even pick up the phone and call OKC about Wiggins? I’m not even upset that they didn’t acquire him. That’s not the point.

The point is that this is arguably the most important—or at worst, the second most important—time on the NBA calendar, for a team in a full rebuild mode... this should be a time to be aggressive and active.

Being quiet while conducting smart business is one thing. But when you’re a franchise with no clear direction, no franchise player, and years of mistakes to overcome, silence makes fans wonder whether anything is actually being done.

This fanbase needs transparency more than ever. We don’t need every detail, but we need some sense that there’s a vision and that risks are being taken to improve this team.

So the simple question is:

What exactly is going on?

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

We’re not in a position to draft for positional need. We need to draft the best player available.

Nate Ament has intriguing upside, and yes, being 6’10” is attractive, but he’s also a massive project with far more risk than people want to admit. This franchise cannot afford to draft based solely on physical tools and hope things magically work out.

Please stop convincing fans that THIS organization has somehow earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to turning projects into stars. They haven’t.

We’re already facing years of suffering because of the decisions this front office made. The answer isn’t to double down on long-term projects and pray. We need to start thinking differently.

Talent first. Fit later.

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

Yep. Still here. Still getting through it.

Would love to see this organization finally make the major changes necessary to end the constant cycle of suffering. It’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel right now, but whenever that day comes, we’ll be there!

Through New Jersey. Through Brooklyn. Through the highs and the lows. We’ve endured this long. We’ll endure a little or A LOT longer.

And when that day finally comes, it’ll mean that much more to those of us who never left.

[Anthony Puccio @APOOCH]

Nets fans: if you can get though this, you can get though it all…

12-70
Boston trade
J-Kidd attempted coup
COVID
Kyrie/Harden injured in 1 series
KD foot on the line
Harden quits
Acquired Ben Simmons
Bridges to Knicks
8th & 6th picks tank years
Knicks win championship

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

Can we PLEASE take a long look at Sean Marks’ biggest moves over the last five years — trades, draft picks, signings, coaching hires, and roster construction — and seriously ask whether he’s still the right man for the job? It feels like the positives don’t outweigh the negatives; they just seem to be enough to keep him employed. I believe it's time to move on. I think the fans are starting to grow impatient and frustrated with where our organization is heading.

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

With Walker Kessler reportedly unhappy with how Utah handled his free agency situation, I do have some thoughts.

First, I don’t necessarily blame Utah.

I understand why they wouldn’t want to commit a massive contract to a player who missed an entire season due to injury. They traded for JJJ, still have Lauri, and once again find themselves picking near the top of the draft. They’re likely about to add another player they view as a core piece of their future. Because of that, they don’t feel pressured to lock Kessler into a long-term deal.

Walker Kessler is also only 24 years old. We’re not talking about a 27-year-old star entering his prime. I can understand Utah wanting more time before making a major financial commitment.

Now from the Nets’ perspective.

Would I be willing to throw money at Kessler? Potentially, yes.

If the contract is somewhere in the range of what Nic Claxton received, I’m open to that discussion. I’ve never been the biggest Claxton supporter. I’ve always struggled with the idea of investing heavily in an undersized center who doesn’t provide any shooting. If you’re going to build around a traditional center, I’d prefer that center actually have traditional size.

For a while now, I’ve felt the Nets should explore moving on from Claxton and looking for an upgrade at the position. I was hoping they would draft a big man because this roster often feels undersized when your center rotation is Claxton and Sharpe.

My conclusion:

If the Nets want to take a chance on a 24-year-old, seven-foot center who plays like a true center, then I support it.

Claxton’s contract isn’t unmovable, and I think there are teams around the league that would gladly take a chance on him because of the defensive impact he can provide. If Brooklyn believes Kessler has a higher ceiling and is a better long-term fit, it’s a move worth seriously exploring.

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

The Nets are not in a position to draft based on positional need. They need to take the best player available at No. 6, regardless of position.

Sorry, SEAN, but drafting four guards in the first round last year was your decision. Don’t compound that mistake by passing on a guard this year simply because the roster already has too many of them.

This franchise lacks top-end talent. When you’re in the position the Nets are in, you draft talent first and figure out the fit later.

If Acuff is available at No. 6, passing on him because he’s a guard would be a mistake.

[Cifer @NetsCifer]

Sean Marks has been the GM since 2016

In 10 years he has had
- 1 playoff series win
- 5 head coaches
- Traded KD
- Traded Harden
- Traded Kyrie
- Traded Mikal

The Nets have been one of the worst managed organizations over the last 5 years, no other GM would still have the job

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

@Nets_Frequent Transformational? Explain

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

Pooch,

I’ve been following your work through all the ups and downs of this franchise for decades now. I’ve read the articles, followed the tweets, listened to the discussions, and watched you stay committed to covering this team through every era.

To this day, I still find myself agreeing with much of what you’ve said. Unfortunately, I believe this organization failed and significantly miscalculated its strategy over the past several years...

At some point, it’s fair to start having a serious conversation about organizational change and accountability. I’d love to hear your thoughts on where things went wrong from your personal, what the path forward looks like, and whether you believe meaningful changes are on the horizon.

Always appreciate your perspective.

[Netsbros @Netsbros]

I’d like to congratulate all the Knicks fans. This was your year, and you earned it.

The Spurs will be back at some point, and when they return, they’ll have the experience and lessons from this run to better position themselves for another championship.

As for Nets fans—our darkest days are here, and unfortunately, they may be ahead of us for some time. Our organization made a series of poorly calculated decisions that led us to this point, and it’s hard to know exactly how long the recovery will take. The organization should be taking accountability, but a conversation for another time.

But one thing I do know is this: whether the team is in New Jersey, Brooklyn, or wherever we may be forced to call home next, I’m a Nets fan until the very end.

Stay strong. Get mad.. But be patient.

One day, our time will come. And when it does, it will belong to the fans who stayed through the losing seasons, the bad decisions, the false starts, and the disappointment. The fans who never left.

That day will be ours. No one else’s.

[NetsMuse @NetsMuse]

This Knicks championship came at the worst possible time for Brooklyn. Two years of tanking and zero top draft picks to show for it. The gap has never been this wide. I'll ride for this team through anything, and this will be the most difficult time.