Is this the biggest off-season ever for the Nets franchise? Bigger than 2001 when Rod Thorn traded for Jason Kidd after drafting Richard Jefferson and Jason Collins? Bigger than 2019 when Sean Marks engineered the Clean Sweep? Hard to tell at the moment. With so much dependent on the Draft Lottery, then the Draft, we may not know for a couple of years just how big whereas in 2001 and 2019, the effect was near-immediate. You could even argue this is just another transition year in a multi-year rebuild. So not so big a deal!
In any event, it sure will be interesting and it starts this week. Meanwhile, the New York Liberty, fresh off their practice facility announcement, will be gearing up for their defense of the WNBA championship as well as the banner raising at Barclays five days after the Draft Lottery.
—April 7: NCAA men’s championship game. Florida vs. Houston. Not as interesting as what it would have been if Duke was playing, but some mocks have Florida PG Will Clayton Jr. near the end of the first round, beginning of the second where the Nets currently have three picks.
—April 13: NBA Regular Season ends. All 30 teams to play. Nets close out season vs. Knicks at Barclays Center. It appears the game will be meaningless for both teams. One more loss for the Nets and they’ll secure the sixth best odds in the lottery. One more win for the Knicks and they’ll secure the third seed in the playoffs.
With the NBA season and March Madness over, the Nets will starting working out prospects, dozens of them. Also, construction will begin soon on the second phase of BSE Global’s $100 million enhancements at Barclays Center will begin.
—April 14 – WNBA Draft. New York has the 38th and final pick in the three-round draft. Last month, they traded the seventh pick for Natasha Cloud.
—April 15-18: NBA Play-In Tournament.
—April 16-19: Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth VA. The first of the post-season draft combines, this one for college seniors. All 30 teams will be there along with international leagues.
—April 19: NBA Playoffs begin.
—April 23: Draft position ties broken by virtual coin toss. With the Nets late first rounders bunched up, it seems possible, even likely, that the Nets will wind up in the mix.
—April 26: NBA Draft Early Entry Deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)
—April 29: WNBA Training Camp begins. It will be the team’s next to last at Barclays Center. By 2027, they’ll be in their new $80 million digs in Greenpoint.
—May 9-11: G League Combine in Chicago. NBA teams as well as G League teams will be on hand.
—May 9: Liberty open two-game preseason vs. Connecticut Sun at Barclays Center.
—May 11-18: NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. More draft workouts, more scouts in Chicago for all the measurements and scrimmages … plus player interviews.
—May 12: NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago. Where will the Nets pick? What happens if you drink champagne after taking Zanax? With the sixth best odds, the Nets would have 9.0% chance at Cooper Flagg and a 37.2% chance at a top four pick.
One other thing to watch other than where the Nets will pick. If the 76ers retain their first in the 2025 lottery — it’s protected 1-6 — the first rounder Philly owes the Nets moves from 2027, protected 1-8, to 2028.
—-May 12: Second Liberty preseason game at University of Oregon where Libs’ Sabrina Ionescu is being honored. Opponent is the Toyota Antelopes of Japan’s Women ‘s Basketball League.
—May 17: New York Liberty open defense of their WNBA title. Banner raising and ring ceremony at Barclays Center!
—May 31-June 2: Adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy. The NBA’s international draft combine. Expect some international players to rise.
—June 5: NBA Finals 2025 begin. All games will be televised on ABC.
—June 15: NBA Draft Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline (5 p.m. ET)
—June 25-26: NBA Draft. Both rounds are at Barclays Center, the first on the night of June 25, the second the next night. Who will the Nets pick? At the moment, the Nets have four first rounders and a second rounder, most in the league. More than the February trade deadline, the days before the Draft is historically Sean Marks’ time. In eight of his nine years as GM, he’s made at least one move, some big, some small, within 48 hours of the draft. Last year, he made two with the Nets and Rockets that changed the direction of the franchise almost precisely 48 hours before Adam Silver stepped to the stage.
—June 29: Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin, Maxwell Lewis and Drew Timme have team options for 2025-26. Qualifying Offers must be extended to Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams.
—June 30: NBA teams may begin negotiating with free agents (beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET). Applies to re-signings as well. Nets will have an estimated $50 million to $70 million in cap space, more than any other team by a long shot. Brooklyn can tender offer sheets to restricted free agents. And other teams can do the same with the Nets RFAs.
—July 6: Free agent signings and Draft Day trades become official. Cam Johnson can be extended.
—July 7: Nets $23.3 million trade exception from Mikal Bridges trade expires.
—July 10-20: NBA Summer League in Las Vegas With all those draft picks plus a number of young players from this year’s team, Brooklyn should be one of the most interesting squads.
—July 17–21: WNBA All-Star Break
—July 19: WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
—Early August TBA: NBA schedule for 2025-26 is released.
—September 28: Rough starting date for training camp and Media Day for those teams like the Nets who play overseas in preseason The Nets, of course, are playing in China.
—October 10: First of two NBA China Games vs. Phoenix Suns at the 14,000 capacity Venetian in Macao.
—October 12: Second of two NBA China Games. Same opponent, same venue
