Three questions facing Brooklyn Nets ahead of 2024-25 season

The new NBA season is right around the corner. To help get ready for the 2024-25 NBA season, we're looking at three questions each NBA team could face next season. 

Here, we have the Brooklyn Nets, who went deeper into a rebuild when they chose to trade Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks at the start of the offseason. 

What version of Ben Simmons will the Nets get? 

Simmons has played in 57 games since joining the Nets in 2022. The three-time All-Star hasn't been the same player since returning from an injury that kept him out of the 2021-22 season. At 28 years old, he's still young enough to turn things around and get his career back on track, though.

At his best, Simmons is an elite perimeter defender and one of the best playmakers in the NBA. He will be entering the final year of his five-year $177.2 million contract, so should have additional motivation to get himself back to an elite level.

If Simmons is healthy, confident and hungry, the Nets could be a surprise package in the upcoming season. However, based on how he's performed over the last two years and the injuries he's been dealing with, there's a chance he has another anonymous year. 

Can Jordi Fernandez get the best out of his roster?

Fernandez replaces Jacques Vaughn as the Nets head coach. He is widely respected around the NBA. However, he must now prove he can develop the young talent at his disposal while also positioning the franchise to be competitive in the future. Fernandez does have a star young talent in Cam Thomas, and it will be interesting to see how he helps take his game to new heights.

Nevertheless, Brooklyn's front office clearly felt a change was needed and will be hoping for a more unique brand of basketball in the upcoming season. Fernandez has spent six years as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets and two with the Sacramento Kings. As such, it's fair to expect he will come with new ideas and potentially look to increase Brooklyn's tempo next season.

Will Dennis Schroder finish the season in Brooklyn?

Schroder had another big summer while playing for Germany. He is a proven commodity around the NBA and could be an important sixth man for a team looking to contend for a championship toward the end of the season. Therefore, it would make sense if the Nets explored Schroder's trade market and potentially maximized their return for a player who doesn't fit the franchise's long-term vision. 

Schroder is talented enough to be the Nets' lead guard and primary ball-handler next season. However, he may help them be more competitive than they need to be, especially in a year where there's a loaded draft class headlined by Cooper Flagg. 

Entering the final season of his two-year $25.4 million deal, Schroder could be a valuable trade chip for a franchise that is stockpiling tradable assets for the future. It will be interesting to see how Schroder's season plays out and whether he is moved nearer to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.