Nets Linked As Potential Donovan Mitchell Landing Spot

The 2024 NBA offseason is going to be an important one for the Brooklyn Nets. They have to decide what path they want to go down, as the plan they put in place for the 2023-24 campaign did not go well.

The Nets were entering a new era this season after parting ways with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving ahead of the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline. Ownership and the front office thought there would be enough to at least compete for a spot in the postseason, but they are going to fall woefully short.

Brooklyn is 31-48 on the season and going to miss the NBA Play-In Tournament. This is a brutal spot to be in as they don’t own any of their first-round picks. The Houston Rockets do courtesy of the James Harden trade a few years ago.

While the Nets don’t have their own selections, they do have a solid collection of assets from the other trades they made. It will be interesting to see how general manager Sean Marks handles those assets, as he could look to swing a big trade this offseason.

Could Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers emerge as a target? There has been a lot of discussion about Mitchell wanting to play for the New York Knicks, but landing with the Nets could be an alternative he is okay with.

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report pitched Brooklyn as a potential suitor for Mitchell during the 2024 NBA offseason. With some solid building blocks in place, such as Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas, the Nets could factor into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference right away with Mitchell being inserted into the lineup.

“The Nets still owe multiple first-round picks to the Rockets from the James Harden trade, but they restocked their coffers by sending Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers, Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns and Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks. They now project to have two first-rounders in 2025, two in 2027, three in 2029 and one apiece in 2028 (TBD by protections), 2030 and 2031. Brooklyn also projects to have 10 second-rounders through 2031,” wrote Pincus.

If the Nets want to jump into the fray for a superstar that will cost significant draft capital, they can put together a competitive package. When you include some of the salary-matching pieces they have, such as Ben Simmons’ expiring contract, things get interesting for Brooklyn.

Marks could start to feel some pressure to turn things around sooner rather than later. Rarely do general managers survive through multiple coaching changes and eras with the roster, but to this point, Marks has.

Brooklyn has had one series win with Marks as general manager, as he has received a lot of leash. Eventually, that leash will run out, as he needs to make a move that shows he has the Nets back on the path to relevancy and competitive basketball.