In a perfect world, the Brooklyn Nets would be able to give all of their young players significant minutes while maintaining one of the worst records in the league next season. Now armed with a huge ransom of draft capital thanks to the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns, the Nets have plenty of flexibility in choosing their next big thing.
If Brooklyn lands a top-three pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the franchise will become an even more attractive landing spot for potential free agents than it already is. Ben Simmons’ $40 million cap hit will come off the books after the 2024-25 campaign, paving the way for a true game-changer at point guard.
NBA champion Jamal Murray, who admittedly struggled in the Olympics, could fit right in with Brooklyn. The performance in Paris will have no impact on this hypothetical trade, because fans and management know what Murray can bring to the team.
All of this assumes, of course, that Murray doesn’t renew his contract in Denver. The salary cap space the Nets will have next summer, plus potentially Cooper Flagg or another top prospect and Cam Thomas? Not to mention that Murray would be a star in New York, a much different atmosphere than the one he spent his NBA tenure in.
Thomas and Murray were going to be a nightmare for opposing defenses. The two were going to become a modern version of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum from their Portland days, albeit with a much better supporting cast.
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