NBA Preview: Nets turn to Julius Randle, young core for signs of progress

The Nets won 20 games last season. The Knicks won the NBA championship. That pretty much summarizes the current basketball arrangement in New York. Brooklyn isn’t expected to close that gap anytime soon. The more immediate goal is to stop…

Published: Monday, 21 September 2026 at 5:53 AM
NBA Preview: Nets turn to Julius Randle, young core for signs of progress
Key Things to Know
  • The Brooklyn Nets acquired forward Julius Randle in a trade that sent Nic Claxton to the Timberwolves.
  • Brooklyn added guard Keon Ellis, center Moritz Wagner, and draft pick Mikel Brown Jr. to the roster.
  • The Nets retained Day'Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott while preserving future salary-cap flexibility.
The Story in 60 Seconds

The Brooklyn Nets are entering the upcoming NBA season focused on developing their young core and establishing a clear direction. After winning just 20 games last season, the franchise is looking to identify legitimate building blocks. To assist in this transition, the Nets acquired veteran forward Julius Randle in a trade that sent Nic Claxton to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In addition to Randle, Brooklyn has added guard Keon Ellis, center Moritz Wagner, and rookie Mikel Brown Jr. General manager Sean Marks has assembled a large group of young prospects while maintaining significant salary-cap flexibility for future roster moves.

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