Nets’ Dennis Schroder shines light on roster uncertainty amid star trade rumors
The NBA is centered on its superstars. If a team has one, they are immediately under pressure to assemble a championship team that will persuade that player to stay. Teams that don’t spend their days trying to figure out how to get one to be in the conversation for a title. The Brooklyn Nets are a member of the latter category.
Following the trade of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant at the 2023 deadline, Brooklyn was left holding a wealth of draft assets along with a number of elite role players. But the new-look team still lacks a star to guide them; they haven’t settled on a name. This season’s 32–50 record, the team’s lowest since 2017–18, puts general manager Sean Marks under pressure to sign a big-name player.
The impending celebrity pursuit has raised questions.
Which former Nets players are said to be available for trade?
In 29 games with Brooklyn last season, Dennis Schroder averaged 14.6 points and 6.0 assists on 42/41/80 shooting splits. The seasoned floor general would be a strong contender to be utilized as a contract filler in a trade if the Nets target a star this summer. Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson belong to the same group. Johnson and Finney-Smith will earn $23.6 million and $14.9 million, respectively, while Schroder, who is nearing the end of his contract, will receive $13 million in 2024–2025.
In 29 games with Brooklyn last season, Dennis Schroder averaged 14.6 points and 6.0 assists on 42/41/80 shooting splits. In the event that the Nets sign a star this summer, the seasoned floor general
In light of the uncertainty surrounding the two-time MVP’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks, Schroder brought up Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee was quite disappointing this season, falling in the first round for the second consecutive year, even though Antetokounmpo signed an extension. In exchange for Damian Lillard last summer, the Bucks gave up the majority of their remaining assets, including Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, a 2029 first-round selection, and two first-round pick swaps (2028, 2030).
It was a bad move. Compared to 2022–23, Lillard’s output drastically decreased, averaging just 24.3 points on 42.4 percent shooting from the field and 35.4 percent from three. Milwaukee’s defense, which fell from fourth place to 19th this year, did the same. After obtaining Holiday from the Trail, the Boston Celtics are poised to win a championship in the meantime.
Sean Marks is certain that he can entice celebrities to Brooklyn.
If one of the stars becomes available via trade this summer or next, the Nets might make a compelling offer. Mikal Bridges has a two-season value contract that pays $24 million a year. Depending on roster selections, they might have roughly $80 million in cap space available to them next offseason in addition to their collection of draft picks.
When questioned earlier this season about his ability to draw stars, Marks cited those advantages as well as the attraction of the New York market.
The Nets might very well run it again in 2024–25 with a roster akin to the one from the previous campaign. But with resources at their disposal and managers driven to take action,
