Dennis Schroder’s performance at the Paris Olympics proved he’ll still be a valuable member of the Brooklyn Nets’ rotation in 2024-25, but he remains one of only two true point guards the franchise currently has. The other is Killian Hayes, who is more of a project than a guaranteed contributor.
As of late August, there are still plenty of viable options looking for a new player for next season, one of them being former first overall pick Markelle Fultz. The 26-year-old has carved out a significant role for himself with the Orlando Magic over the past five seasons but still finds himself a free agent at the end of the offseason.
Fultz was traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to Orlando in 2019 after never being accepted by the team that drafted him. If he’s willing to sign a one-year deal to prove himself, Fultz is an option Brooklyn should consider.
An injury-plagued 2023-24 season has made some forget how great he was last season, when he averaged 13.9 points and 5.7 assists per game while shooting a career-high 31 percent from three-point range. Adding him to this young Nets team would allow him to reestablish himself as a solid backup or even a solid starter, depending on what Brooklyn plans to do with Schroder’s future.
Money would be an issue, but the Nets need to make some decisions about their Opening Day roster. It needs to be trimmed down seriously, as there doesn’t seem to be enough minutes to spread among the young players who need to play. If Brooklyn gets rid of Bojan Bogdanovic and his $19 million salary cap hit for 2024-25, Fultz could be signed for $5 million to $8 million.
Hayes was brought in to revive his career in hopes of becoming a regular fixture in the Nets’ future, but Fultz could be an even stronger contender for that role if the value is there.
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