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As we gear up for the 2025-26 season, one of the biggest topics in basketball media has been the cap space in Brooklyn and just what the Nets should do with it.
Some NBA Analysts feel the opportunity for an NBA Superstar to wind up in Brooklyn again is on the horizon, and whether it is through free agency or trade will remain to be seen.
According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, the Brooklyn Nets will have about $55 million in cap space, putting them at No. 1 in the league, also making them a wildcard during this year's NBA draft.
Not much of consolation prize for the Brooklyn Nets for dropping from #6 to #8 in the lottery, but they did clear about $1.4M in additional cap space with the fall back.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 13, 2025
I now projected the Nets to have $55.9M in cap space this offseason.
Outside of two large contracts belonging to Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson, the Nets' payroll does not have anything stopping it from trying to nab a premier player in the league.
There have already been several proposals that include the Brooklyn Nets in their scenarios with some NBA Analysts believing the Nets have a chance at landing two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst shared his thoughts on Brooklyn's cap space saying, "There's only one team that has a lot of cap space and they may want to do a slower rebuild and aren't looking to spend it all now." Which could be the case for Brooklyn as there is no clear cut direction for this rebuild, but it also could just be a smoke screen for the Nets who could be ready to splurge on players.
As far as their young core goes, it would be a shocker if Cam Thomas departs from Brooklyn because not to many players there have really earned an extension the way Thomas has. He is a current restricted free-agent and there's several NBA teams could certainly use a youthful scoring threat on their team.
Assuming Brooklyn matches whatever Thomas is offer, that would be their third hit to the books with still money to spare hypothetically speaking. This could open the doors for a big trade come NBA draft time, or it could also entice a savvy veteran to play in Brooklyn to help mentor their young core.
More must-reads:
- Bucks executive opens up on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors
- Insider offers opinion on Lebron James' thoughts on Lakers
- The 'Most NBA games played' quiz
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Pelicans exec makes team's stance on Zion Williamson crystal clear
It’s wild how quickly the NBA narrative can flip. A year ago, Zion Williamson was in every trade rumor possible. People were questioning his health, his work ethic, even his future in New Orleans. And the Pelicans? They didn’t really deny any of it. It felt like both sides were one step away from walking. But things have shifted this offseason — quietly, but clearly. The Pelicans could’ve pulled the plug. Zion’s contract gave them outs, and the trade market might’ve still brought back some real value. Instead, they stuck with him. And based on what one of their own just said, they’re not just keeping him around — they’re still betting big on him. In a recent interview with Spotrac’s Keith Smith, an anonymous Pelicans executive made it crystal clear. “Zion is still our guy. We’re all in on him. We think he’s going to have a huge year. We’ve had some bad injury luck and some things that just haven’t worked out. This partnership hasn’t even come close to reaching our best yet.” That’s not something you say if you’re halfway in. They backed it up with their offseason moves, too. They traded CJ McCollum and brought in Jordan Poole, a high-usage creator who can take pressure off Zion. They drafted Jeremiah Fears with the No. 7 pick, a dynamic young guard. They added Kevon Looney, a reliable veteran who brings playoff experience and toughness. Those aren’t tear-it-down moves — those are “let’s try this another way” moves. Of course, Zion’s health is still the question. That never really goes away. He played just 30 games last season, but in those games he looked solid: 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per night on 56.7 percent shooting. The explosiveness was there. The playmaking was sharp. And the hope for New Orleans is that this time, he can finally sustain it. What’s interesting is how the front office is trying to create a better environment around him. Joe Dumars has stepped in to lead basketball operations and is reportedly building a closer relationship with Zion — dinners, real conversations, not just surface-level stuff. It feels like, for once, the team is trying to meet him halfway. It’s a risk, sure. But it’s a calculated one. The West is brutal and the margin for error is thin. Still, if Zion can stay healthy for 60 games, and if Poole finds a rhythm and guys like Trey Murphy and Herb Jones keep improving — this team has a shot to be in the mix. The quote from the exec says it all. They could’ve hit reset, moved on, cleaned house. But they didn’t. They’re still in. And now it’s on Zion to hold up his end of the deal. After everything that’s happened, they’re telling the world they still believe. Now it’s time to find out if they’re right.
Steelers Teammates Are Noticing Great Differences From Aaron Rodgers: 'A Guy That's Bought In'
The Pittsburgh Steelers have an interesting quarterback situation that has been monitored by NFL fans throughout the 2025 offseason. The organization was in pursuit of four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers for over three months, and the quarterback finally signed a one-year deal. He was then in Pittsburgh for mandatory minicamp. He is the unquestioned starter heading into the 2025 season, and he is coming off of a quietly good season with the New York Jets in 2024 statistically. He was bouncing back from a serious injury, so it should be expected for him to play even better in 2025. Rodgers got better as the 2024 season went along after missing all of 2023, and he is now further removed from his Achilles injury. He has a decent amount of weapons on Pittsburgh's offense, and the team is expected to rely on its run game and defense once again. Rodgers won't be asked to do too much, which should be a recipe for success for the 41-year old quarterback. Will Howard spoke to the media in Latrobe, PA on Thursday morning, and he had nothing but great things to say about the starting quarterback for Pittsburgh. The 41-year old has been heavily criticized in the media in the past for being a bad teammate, but every report that has come out of Pittsburgh has suggested otherwise. Rodgers has already expressed his willingness to mentor Howard and show him the ropes as he goes through his rookie season, which is something that has gotten a lot of the fan base in Pittsburgh excited about the addition of Rodgers. Rodgers has always been misunderstood throughout his career. He has been blamed for countless things that simply weren't his fault. It seemed that everything that went wrong with the Jets was somehow because of the quarterback, despite the fact that the Jets organization has been one of the worst in all of sports over the last decade or so. The fan base in Pittsburgh was frustrated with the way Rodgers handled his free agency, as he seemed to drag out his signing with Pittsburgh. The quarterback said he was dealing with some things in his personal life that made him want to take his time, which some fans took issue with. After these new comments from Howard, the fans should completely flip in their opinions on Rodgers. He is approaching this job with the Steelers in a positive manner, he is bought in, and he is helping the younger guys on the roster. Steelers’ Offense Has A Chance To Be The Best Its Been With Aaron Rodgers The offense in Pittsburgh has been inconsistent, and sometimes absolutely stagnant in recent years. The run game has fallen apart at times, and the quarterback play has been abysmal on occasion. That shouldn't be the case in 2025, as Rodgers' experience and talent should be able to take the unit to the next level, especially if the offensive line can take a step forward. This will open up the run game, which will only help the offense as a whole. Rodgers will have an absolute animal to throw to on the outside in DK Metcalf, as well as some speedsters in Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson. Pittsburgh also rosters one of the best tight end rooms in the league with Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Darnell Washington. Rodgers will be able to end his career on a high note with these weapons, and the near-decade long draught of playoff success could come to a close.
Chris Pronger to Connor McDavid: A Lost Edmonton Oilers Decade
In the spring of 2006, Chris Pronger was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He then did something no one thought possible: he made the Edmonton Oilers a Stanley Cup contender again. That playoff run was legendary. Pronger logged enormous minutes, quarterbacked the power play, killed penalties, and led the team in scoring. In every zone and every moment, he was the difference-maker. He was the kind of player who gave an entire franchise a sense of direction—and belief. And then, just weeks after that Game 7 heartbreak in Carolina, he was gone. The Impact of the Oilers Losing a True No. 1 Blueliner Pronger’s trade request stunned the city and changed everything. Instead of building around a generational defenseman in his prime, the Oilers entered a prolonged decline. The team wouldn’t return to the playoffs for another decade. But what if he had stayed? It’s not just about Pronger’s elite play. It’s about the ripple effect of having that kind of presence anchoring a lineup. With Pronger in the fold, free agents might have been more willing to come. The team wouldn’t have scrambled to fill the void on the blue line with a carousel of short-term fixes. Young players could have developed under a true leader instead of inheriting pressure without support. The Oilers Championship Window Closed Too Soon The Oilers were close in 2006. It was not a fluke, but it was a team suddenly galvanized by elite goaltending from Dwayne Roloson, role players like Mike Peca, top-six grit like Ryan Smyth and Fernando Pisani, and above all, Pronger’s towering presence. Run it back even one more year, and who knows? A healthy Roloson, a stabilized core, and the confidence of a team that knew how close they came. Perhaps 2007 would be the season that ended differently for the Oilers. Instead, the Oilers lost their best player and wandered through the wilderness for ten years. How bad did the Oilers become? The 2006–07 season was a major disappointment in Edmonton, capped by the emotional deadline trade of fan favorite Smyth to the New York Islanders. That collapse marked the beginning of a long drought, as the team went on to miss the playoffs for 10 straight seasons until finally returning in 2016–17. Hockey Is Filled with What Ifs, the Oilers Are No Exception Hockey is full of what-ifs. But this one lingers. Because Pronger did come to Edmonton, and he did show what was possible. And for one electric spring, it looked like the Oilers had found the player who could lead them back to greatness. We just never got to find out how far that road might have gone. Fortunately, the team’s return to the playoffs in 2016–17 was spearheaded by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. And that’s where the team is today. It’s a new era of success, but it took ten years to get there.
Dennis Rodman reacts to the death of 'brother' and WWE legend Hulk Hogan
WWE icon Hulk Hogan died at age 71 after suffering cardiac arrest on Thursday, according to the WWE and the Associated Press. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was pronounced dead at a hospital in Clearwater, Florida, after local police responded to a call earlier. “One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s,” the WWE posted on its X account. “WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends and fans.” Former Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman mourned Hogan’s passing in a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. “N.W.O 4 Life Brother,” he wrote in the caption. Rodman, 64, had a close relationship with Hogan because they fought alongside one another during a tag team match at the WCW Bash at the Beach pay-per-view. The former NBA player joined Hogan’s faction known as the New World Order (nWo) where they fought Lex Luger and The Giant (Paul Wight) while on an episode of WCW Nitro they took on Diamond Dallas Page and NBA All-Star Karl Malone. Hogan is considered an all-time great wrestler because he captured 12 world titles, split between his time in WWE, formerly known as WWF and WCW. He faced off against the likes of the Undertaker, Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Mr. Perfect, Yokozuna, Andre the Giant, Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton. Hogan was a member of the 2005 WWE Hall of Fame class, while Rodman was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.
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