The Brooklyn Nets are pretty much done with their offseason after going through the 2026 NBA Draft, summer league circuit, and free-agency before hitting the slow period that happens in August. Brooklyn’s biggest move of the summer was trading for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, but there are some who wonder if the Nets should have pursued a bigger target this offseason.
“I thought it would have been interesting because you got Jaylen Brown, who’s in the prime of his career right now and a guy that was one of the top MVP candidates last year,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto said during his appearance on the “Locked On Nets” podcast with ClutchPoints’ Erik Slater and Third Apron’s Yossi Gozlan. Guard Jaylen Brown, who was once considered a trade candidate for the Nets, was ultimately traded from the Boston Celtics to the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason.
“He [Brown] showed what he can do carrying a team by himself for the most part of the year with Jayson Tatum out. Whether you think he’s a 1A or 1B, they had a pretty high floor with him,” Scotto continued. “To me, I thought it would have been worthwhile for Brooklyn because you’re at a bit of a crossroads where you got all these young guys. You got Porter, you go get Julius Randle, and you’re obviously trying to get better. There’s no incentive to tank anymore.”
The reason that some around the league were wondering whether the Nets made a mistake by not trading for Brown was due to the lack of return that the Celtics received for a player that was firmly in the MVP conversation last season. Boston traded Brown to Philadelphia for a return of forward Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks, leading many to believe that the Celtics sold low on Brown after failing to get Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks.
As Scotto noted, the Nets could have used any of their 12 first-round picks that they have between 2027 and 2033 to trade for Brown, but it seems like general manager Sean Marks stayed put with Brooklyn’s assets. Heading into next season, the Nets have Randle and forward Michael Porter Jr. leading the way, but that won’t stop some around the league from wondering what could have been for Brooklyn’s roster.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Did the Nets make a mistake not trading for Jaylen Brown this summer?
