It sure looks like the up-and-coming Brooklyn Nets will be very active in free agency this coming summer.
We had previously noted that Brooklyn would be interested in Philadelphia 76ers All-Star win Jimmy Butler. Showing interest in a player and having said player return the favor are two different things.
Now, according to Brian Lewis of the NY Post, the Nets are expected to be players for Butler’s services in free agency.
Coming off a surprising playoff appearance, Brooklyn has the capability to add a max-contract player in July. Its primary targets are obviously Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Though, the team can’t bring them in together. That’s something the cross-city rival New York Knicks can do.
Butler as a fallback option wouldn’t be bad. Depending on what happens with D’Angelo Russell in free agency, that would be a solid twosome in Brooklyn.
Impressive young general manager Sean Marks also has the draft pick assets to add even more cap room for other veterans.
Brooklyn boasts three of the top-31 picks in next month’s draft. Those assets could be used to get rid of Allen Crabbe’s bloated contract.
Either way, look for the Nets to go big-game hunting in free agency. Whether that means they add an elite talent remains to be seen. But Brooklyn remains an attractive destination.