The questions facing Nets as theyre linked to big-name free agents

While the Knicks have been steaming toward a title, the Nets have been suffering through a tank.Now it’s time for a turn.As Brooklyn faces the ignominy of watching a potential parade across the East River, they’ll at least try to add talent and compete.And even though they’ve missed their window on stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Donovan Mitchell, there are plenty of realistic targets to help an organic rebuild.Targets like Austin Reaves.

Or Peyton Watson or Tari Eason or others.Once Reaves opts out of the final $14.9 million year of his Lakers contract, he will become one of the most sought-after players on the market this summer.And there is widespread feeling around the league that the Nets will be the most prominent of those seekers.It should be stressed that the majority expectation is that Reaves will be back with the Lakers next year.

He has stated that he wants to be back, they want to retain him and Luka Doncic seemingly wants him.But as a soon-to-be unrestricted free agent, Reaves’ fate is in his hands, unlike restricted free agents such as Watson, Eason or Jalen Duren.

The decision is entirely up to him.Brooklyn could make picking them tempting.While the Nets are nowhere near contention, and would be ill-advised to deplete assets in a desperation trade, they do have more than enough salary cap space to lure a max player.A player like Reaves wouldn’t cost tons of draft picks.Two weeks ago, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps singled out Brooklyn as a serious rival to the Lakers for Reaves.

Then on Friday, the Athletic’s Lakers beat writer Dan Woike reported that the Nets are “expected” to offer Reaves a four-year, $178.5 million pact when free agency tips off June 30.The Athletic also cited the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks as interested teams.It should be noted that the Lakers can offer Reaves five years and $239 million, though it remains to be seen how high new owner Mark Walter will go.Nets GM Sean Marks has important offseason decisions to ...