The NBA Draft is still a month away and the Brooklyn Nets participating in two \u2014 count \u2019em \u2014 two summer leagues a week after that, it\u2019s easy to forget that NBA free agency is sandwiched in between them. Last year, the Nets had nearly $60 million in cap space, most in the league, Sean Marks & co. used most of it in seven salary dumps, acquiring two first rounders, a net of three seconds and players from Michael Porter Jr. to Terance Mann to Terance Mann to Josh Minott and Ochai Agbaji .<\/p>\n
This year is different. Brooklyn still has a huge cache of cap space, as much as $48 million, third in the league, but the priorities have shifted. It\u2019s more about roster-building this time around as Nets have no interest in a high pick. They may have to swap firsts with Houston.<\/p>\n
Most importantly, if they can find an immediate contributor at No. 6 in the NBA draft and make wise moves in the veteran market, there\u2019s a pathway, narrow as it is, for the organization to become competitive sooner than fans realize. Spoiler alert: it may be exciting but it will be difficult.<\/p>\n
Here is a look at three free agents Brooklyn fans should keep an eye on as free agency approaches. Think young players, defensive-minded, and reasonably priced. We\u2019re not talking about trades for disgruntled stars and superstars just yet. We\u2019ll stick for now on players who are not (yet) franchise-changers, but big additioins.<\/p>\n
Tari Eason, Houston Rockets (RFA)<\/p>\n
Tari Eason was selected with the No. 17 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, which the Nets sent to Houston in the James Harden blockbuster deal.<\/p>\n
In 2025, the 6\u20198\u201d 25-year-old Eason compiled a solid season with Houston, averaging 10.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 41.6% from the field and 35.8% from 3-point range. With just a little improvement in his deep shooting, he could make for an ideal 3-and-D player.<\/p>\n
It will be difficult for the Rockets to bring Eason back if they want to stay under both apron levels. Last summer, they were hard-capped at the first apron thanks to the extensions of Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. This year, they\u2019ll have a lot of questions after last year\u2019s disappointments. What\u2019s their plan?<\/p>\n
Due to the Nets\u2019 abundance of cap space, they should have the ability to top any offer for the 24-year-old. While he is far from a franchise-changing player, he would join the Nets\u2019 young core and overall boost the floor of this team. He also has experience as a young piece on a playoff-caliber team, which the Nets value.<\/p>\n
Peyton Watson, Denver Nuggets (RFA)<\/p>\n
Peyton Watson is a headline name that could land with the Nets this summer.<\/p>\n
With the Nuggets in 2025, he averaged 14.6 points, 2.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 49.1% from the field and drilling an impressive 41.1% on 3-point attempts.<\/p>\n
He only played in 54 of Denver\u2019s games, though, while missing the first round of the playoffs due to recurring right hamstring strains. At one point, he was sidelined for 19 consecutive games.<\/p>\n
That is certainly something the Nets will take into account as they build out their free-agent roadmap. The year prior, he played in 68 games; in 2023-24, he played in 80.<\/p>\n