NBA regular season is in full swing, with the mid-season trade window opening up, as all 30 teams seek opportunities to adjust their rosters and strive towards their set goals for the season! The Brooklyn Nets made significant moves during the offseason, acquiring a first-round pick in 2025, with their intentions to tank being clear to everyone. However, the Nets took an unexpected approach at the start of the season, maintaining their position in the play-in tournament zone for a long time, gradually drifting away from the Flag Cup. It's not that the Nets have earned respect, but rather they "lost" at the starting line, as the saying goes: taking one step forward isn't necessarily happiness, while taking one step back is destined for loneliness! Facing reality, the Nets have made bold moves, becoming disruptors in the league!
Goodbye Schroder, the Nets give the Warriors a big gift
Rewind to half a month ago, when the Nets were on a winning streak and momentum was strong, yet they quickly completed a major trade involving Schroder, gifting the Warriors a significant package. The specifics of the deal are as follows: The Nets sent out Schroder + a second-round pick in 2025 (from the Heat) in exchange for the Warriors' Melton + a second-round pick in 2026 (from the Hawks) + a second-round pick in 2028 (from the Hawks) + their own second-round pick in 2029! Schroder, the World Cup MVP, played 23 games for the Nets this new season, averaging 18.4 points + 3 rebounds + 6.6 assists + 1.1 steals, with commendable performance on both offense and defense!
Saying goodbye to Schroder marks the Nets' decision to dismantle the team and tank, but the issue is that the return they received for Schroder was too meager—Melton is in a contract year and his season is already over. In an era where first-round picks are becoming increasingly inexpensive and second-round picks are akin to two-yuan lottery tickets, the Nets didn't even manage to secure a first-round pick, which is quite astonishing! As fans put it, it's not that Schroder is worthless or that the Warriors' management has silver tongues; it's that the Nets urgently needed losses and were eager to send Schroder away to achieve their goal of diving for the Flag Cup.
Trading Russell, the Nets give the Lakers a big gift
Sending away Schroder was just the first step in the Nets' dismantling process, with players like Fan, Huang Zhong, Simmons, and Bogdanovic also openly listed for trade. Just today, the Nets gave another big gift to the Lakers! According to NBA insider Shams, multiple sources revealed that the Lakers and Nets completed a major 2-for-5 trade centered around Russell and Fan. The details are as follows: The Nets sent out Fan + Milton in exchange for the Lakers' Russell + Lewis + a second-round pick in 2027 + a second-round pick in 2030 + a second-round pick in 2031. Subsequently, the Nets officially confirmed the transaction.
Similar to the Schroder trade, the Nets were equally hasty in this deal, seemingly not seeking any returns, with the biggest gain possibly being the creation of more salary cap space for next offseason! Fan's contract has 2 years remaining, with a salary of 14.92millionthisseasonandaplayeroptionworth15.38 million next season. He played 20 games for the Nets, averaging 10.4 points + 4.6 rebounds + 1.6 assists + 2.4 three-pointers, with a three-point shooting percentage of 43.5%, setting a personal career high, making him a rare top-tier 3D piece. Russell is in a contract year, earning $18.7 million. He played 29 games for the Lakers (starting in 10), averaging 26.3 minutes per game, contributing 12.4 points + 2.8 rebounds + 4.7 assists + 1.9 three-pointers, with scoring being a career low. Obviously, Russell is not part of the Nets' future plans. According to American media reports, the Grizzlies also offered Leonard + Konchar + a strictly protected first-round pick for Fan, but the Nets ultimately chose to make the deal with the Lakers!
The craziest team in the NBA is born, and Simmons has no way out
From completing the Schroder trade at any cost to the selfless completion of the Fan-Russell trade, the Nets didn't even get a first-round pick for two starting-level immediate contributors, which is too crazy! Undoubtedly, the Nets are the craziest team in the NBA this mid-season, and their craziness will continue! According to American media reports, Huang Zhong, Simmons, and others are all on the Nets' trading block! Especially Huang Zhong, who is being pursued by multiple championship-contending teams! Huang Zhong's contract has 3 years and 70millionremaining,withasalaryof22.5 million this season. He played 30 games for the Nets, averaging 19.1 points + 4.3 rebounds + 3.1 assists + 3.2 three-pointers, with a three-point shooting percentage of 42.9%. According to American media reports, the Nets are asking for multiple first-round picks for Huang Zhong, but the problem is, neither Schroder nor Fan could fetch a first-round pick, can the Nets get what they want?
Looking at it from another perspective, other teams might be taking advantage of the Nets' urgency to dismantle the team, refusing to let the Nets dictate terms, and the Nets will naturally give in in the end! I don't know if the Nets will ultimately get what they want in the Huang Zhong trade, but one thing is certain: Simmons is the Nets' biggest headache! Simmons' contract has one year left, worth $40.34 million, and he played 25 games for the Nets, averaging only 6 points + 5.4 rebounds + 6.9 assists! Simmons' expiring contract is the biggest selling point, but the question is, who would want to take on this hot potato? Following the Nets' usual practice of selling off players, Simmons might not even fetch a first-round pick! Time is tight, and the task is heavy; Simmons has no way out. He must give it his all to perform at a level that matches his value; otherwise, his career will reach a dead end! What do you think about this, basketball fans? Leave me a comment to discuss it!