Brooklyn Nets DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Free agent guard Killian Hayes is on his way to Brooklyn after agreeing to an Exhibit 10 deal to try to find his way on the Nets' roster. The former seventh-overall pick has been looking for a new home after being waived by the Detroit Pistons. Hayes was still on his rookie deal and saw a decrease in stats across the board before he was let go. Through his first four seasons, Hayes averaged 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.0 turnovers per game with shooting splits of .382/.277/.775. If Hayes can't prove that he's grown in shooting efficiency and ball security, then he won't likely stick on an NBA roster. Brooklyn will be one of his best opportunities as they've started the rebuild after trading away Mikal Bridges this offseason.

Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson has been in trade rumors all offseason, but the team has failed to find a deal to move him because the Nets reportedly have high trade demands for Johnson. The 28-year-old has played out a couple of solid campaigns in Brooklyn, but he doesn't appear to fit the team's long-term plans. Last season, Johnson notched 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 27.6 minutes. Following Mikal Bridges' exit, Johnson could have a bigger part to play with the Nets if he remains with the team.

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is ready for an expanded role this season after the team traded Mikal Bridges to the Knicks. "I'm not really worried about it," said Thomas when asked about the pressures of becoming a leader for the Nets. "I'm just excited to get it going and to try to do it in the league. I'm not really worried about it at all; I'm just ready." The 22-year-old averaged 22.5 points in 2023-24, easily the highest of his career. Fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised to see Thomas enter the All-Star conversation during the 2024-25 campaign, although he'll need to stay healthy, with the 2021 No. 27 overall pick appearing in just 66 games last season.

Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell picked up his $18.7 million player option on Saturday. The 28-year-old had one of the best seasons of his career in 2023-24, finishing the campaign by averaging 18.0 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds while shooting a career-high 41.5% from behind the arc. Despite Russell's decade of service in the National Basketball Association, he's showing no signs of slowing down. He also played in 76 games last season, his most since 2018-19, so his fantasy worth may continue to climb if he continues to stay healthy moving ahead.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton plans to sign a four-year, $100 million deal to remain with the team. The Nets are heading toward a rebuild. However, Claxton remains a pivotal piece of the Nets' long-term plans. He's played at least 71 games in the last two seasons, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks while shooting 62.9% from the field. It's reasonable to assume the 25-year-old will improve, especially on the scoring end, if Brooklyn can't bring in a reliable scorer to replace Mikal Bridges, who was traded to the Knicks on Tuesday evening.