Nets quietly building leverage with cap space and draft capital

The Nets aren’t winning many games, but the bigger picture is starting to come into focus.

Brooklyn sits at 15-41 with a projected finish near the bottom of the standings and a 13 percent chance at the No. 1 pick. Since the trade deadline, the Nets have removed some of the lingering questions around their direction, writes ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Moving on from Cam Thomas clarified his future, and while general manager Sean Marks held onto all five first-round picks from last year, the immediate returns haven’t been overwhelming.

That’s not necessarily a problem.

Brooklyn’s cap sheet remains the cleanest in the league, and that flexibility is the real asset. The Nets aren’t racing to the bottom. They’re evaluating young pieces like Nolan Traore and Egor Demin without pressure while keeping an eye on what’s expected to be a strong draft in June.

The lottery matters. Brooklyn added size and ball movement with last year’s rookies, but still lacks a true centerpiece. Landing a top-tier prospect could tie the roster together in a meaningful way.

The offseason offers even more options. The Nets could have up to $50 million in cap space and still hold a massive collection of draft assets. They’ll also have to decide how to handle Michael Porter Jr. and his $40.8 million expiring deal.

Brooklyn isn’t close yet. But it’s positioned to move quickly when the moment arrives.