Brooklyn Nets 2026-27 NBA Preseason Preview

Outside of Claxton, most of the roster remains the same as last season.

His loss is definitely the biggest among players. But arguably the team’s biggest loss is the rights to its own first-round pick. With that going to the Rockets, Brooklyn is at a disadvantage, as they could potentially lose a lottery pick or worse.

Nets’ Biggest Offseason Addition: Julius Randle

On the other side of the trade that sent their biggest loss, Claxton, away, the Brooklyn Nets received their biggest addition: Julius Randle.

After spending two seasons in Minnesota, it’s safe to say his time there didn’t work out. One positive: Randle was a good scorer with the Timberwolves, averaging over 18 points in his first season and 21.1 points per game in 2025-26. In the regular season, he was a solid option behind Anthony Edwards, helping them finish atop the Western Conference.

Randle was not bad in the regular season, but he struggled in the playoffs. His efficiency dropped compared to the regular season. His defense was not good. Those concerns, mixed with his hefty contract, were enough for Minnesota to ship him off.

Despite the struggles, Randle is a perfect fit for this Brooklyn team. Playoff struggles aside, Randle is a floor-raiser, which is something Brooklyn could really use. While Randle might not play his best in a playoff series, he will at least give Brooklyn a better shot at getting there, which hurts the value of the pick they do not have.

Concerns aside, Randle is still a very good basketball player, making him a major addition to this young Nets squad. Randle brings more scoring, and his slashing ability complements Brooklyn’s good shooters.

While there is speculation on how this team can work, Randle definitely makes the Nets’ outlook more promising this season.

Nets’ Best-Case Scenario Outcome

For Brooklyn, the best-case scenario depends on how the veterans play together and how their young players progress.

In an ideal scenario, Egor Demïn takes a huge second-year leap. He rounds out his game as both a shooter and a slasher who can attack the rim. Mikel Brown Jr. has a strong rookie season, showing off his playmaking and ability to shoot the three-ball consistently.

Alongside the youth, veterans Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle continue to perform to expectations. They both score at a high level and open up the offense, making Brooklyn a strong offensive team.

To complement the scoring, Day’Ron Sharpe plays a huge role as the starting center, bringing his rebounding and defense to the starting lineup. Off the bench, guards Nolan Traore and Keon Ellis run the second unit well enough and can play off each other. With Traore’s playmaking and Ellis’s defense and shooting, these two can be massive sparks off the bench.

Players like Josh Minott, Drake Powell, Joshua Jefferson, Noah Clowney, Ben Saraf, and Mo Wagner also have a chance to be contributors.

In this ideal scenario, Brooklyn sneaks into the playoffs or, at worst, the play-in. Intending to compete this season without a pick, they do exactly that. The newly extended Jordi Fernandez proves himself as one of the league’s best coaches, pushing for a Coach of the Year win.

Whether or not Brooklyn makes a run, an ideal season gives the youth meaningful playoff experience and helps their development.

Nets’ Worst-Case Scenario Outcome

While the best-case scenario has players taking steps up, the worst scenario sees regression and a lack of growth.

Porter Jr. and Randle don’t play well together, and the offense struggles. Demïn does not take a step up, struggles to get to the rim, and the shooting takes a drop. Brown Jr. doesn’t have a good rookie season, with high turnovers and low efficiency.

The supporting cast also struggles mightily. Traore and Sharpe can’t adjust to their bigger, full-time roles. The other bench pieces remain inconsistent, and the team looks out of sync. The young pieces still have ways to go, with some even showing they cannot be NBA-caliber players on good teams.

The Nets finish the season similar to last year: at the bottom of the NBA. Houston benefits from this result, gaining a potential top-three pick, leaving Brooklyn with a bad roster and no draft capital to improve it.

Nets’ Biggest Question Heading Into 2026-27 Season

Can the Brooklyn Nets sneak into the playoffs in a much-improved Eastern Conference?

Brooklyn made it clear this offseason that they want to be competitive. The big question is whether they did enough to be at that level. With many teams making big moves in the East, the Nets face strong competition to earn a playoff spot.

Brooklyn’s roster isn’t as talented on paper as some of the teams out East. But it has a good enough roster to give itself a shot.

Porter Jr. proved he can be a leading scorer. Randle has been the best player on a playoff team before. If the Nets have any shot at the playoffs, it starts with these two. Paired with the promising young talent and a great head coach, Brooklyn has a solid roster that can turn heads this season.