The Brooklyn Nets couldn’t have asked for a better start to their upcoming rebuild. Now equipped with a slew of first-rounders, surpassed only by the Oklahoma City Thunder in terms of draft assets, general manager Sean Marks also has $23.3 million in trade exceptions to work with.
The number is slightly misleading, as it appears to be much more valuable than it actually is. The exception doesn’t allow the Nets to ignore the luxury tax line, as any player acquired will still be closer to that threshold. Marks’ best option here is to wait, see what happens in the 2024-25 campaign, and try to use the exception next season.
That $23.3 million expires on July 7, 2025, giving Brooklyn time to decide if it’s worth using. The Nets will get a small financial boost next summer, as Ben Simmons’ $40 million salary cap hit will be eliminated, with his contract expiring after next season.
Marks’ window to maximize the value of the exception will be small, but it will allow Brooklyn to add even more draft capital while accepting a salary cut. The Nets have already had one franchise leverage their future for a star, once with the Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant. If an up-and-coming team wants to outsource draft capital in hopes of nabbing a top player in the 2025 free-agent class, Brooklyn should be the first to accept the unwanted salary to continue developing its future assets.
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