NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Every team’s biggest question

Brooklyn Nets: Can they turn themselves into a free agent destination?

The 2019 free agency period could feature more player movement than any summer in recent memory. Multiple stars capable of altering the course of a franchise will hit the open market, and several teams could create ample cap room to sign them. The Nets, who are among those teams, have only $38.3 million in salary – including Allen Crabbe’s $18.5 million player option – committed beyond next season, and could slice that figure even lower, thus creating two max salary slots. But with so many other teams competing for the same free agents, Brooklyn must distinguish itself in some way as a destination.

The Nets have restored their reputation since they famously dealt so many first round picks to the Celtics in 2013, but remain crippled by Billy King’s shortsightedness nonetheless. Still, Brooklyn has established a modern style, solid player development and a culture of hard work under Kenny Atkinson, and that sort of reputation can be enough for certain free agents looking for a viable long-term situation. With the right amount of convincing, the Nets could pitch themselves as a team just one star – or two – away from competing in the East.

And, with the right amount of improvement, they could have a good enough supporting cast to properly accentuate a superstar. Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie both profile as multipositional playmakers on affordable contracts moving forward, while Jarrett Allen showed the makings of a prototypical rim-running and shot-blocking center. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson can defend multiple positions and doesn’t demand the ball. The Nets have proven adept at finding players off the scrap heap and nurturing them into serviceable rotation pieces. Next summer they’ll have an opportunity to swing bigger and reason to feel they might connect.