The Brooklyn Nets are in the unenviable position of having no cap room and only one draft first round draft pick until 2019, yet this season has made it clear that the Nets need to make some serious upgrades to their roster if they want to compete for a championship.
However, the Nets have shown they're more than willing to go over the salary cap, and they're trying to quicken their rebuilding process by signing a marquee free agent. Here are their top five targets:
SG Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
Butler is a restricted free agent, and while the league’s Most Improved Player will obviously be offered a max contract by someone, Chicago will (probably) do whatever it takes to make sure he stays with the Bulls. However, that won't stop Brooklyn from trying to lure one of the league's brightest young stars to the Big Apple.
C DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers
Jordan enjoys playing for the Clippers, but they might not be willing to offer him the money that’s necessary to keep him in Los Angeles. Teams have cap space to give him close to max deal if they so choose, and while that may seem like an overpay, going over the cap to get Jordan’s elite rebounding and shot-blocking abilities would greatly improve the Nets.
PF Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Green has emerged as a star in just his second season in the league, but his short and cheap contract from being a second-round pick will come off the books this offseason. Golden State is paying him just $915K this year, and Green is likely to receive a max contract on the open market. As much as the Warriors would like to keep him, they might not be able to afford it with Klay Thompson’s max extension kicking in next season.
PF Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks
Millsap’s versatility would be a dream complement for Brook Lopez in the front court, as he possesses true two-way talent and an underrated motor. He’s averaging a quiet 17 points and 8 rebounds for the Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta Hawks, and his deft shooting touch and impressive versatility makes him a prime target for several teams as they continue forward in the triangle offense.
PF/C Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons
Monroe hasn’t wanted to commit to Detroit long-term, and he’ll be looking elsewhere in free agency. Several teams were connected to the Pistons center in sign-and-trade talks last year and trade rumors once again this year, and his evolving offensive arsenal and bruising work in the low post would be a perfect building block to work with going forward. Monroe isn’t a max player and would save teams some money while still getting a really productive big man.
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