The Nets have a front office trying to tank, a coach trying to build a winning culture and players with something to prove.
Whether Brooklyn can turn that paradox into progress will determine how successful their season was in the long run.
They committed to a painful rebuild on June 25, when Nets owner Joe Tsai and general manager Sean Marks pulled off double deals to ship star Mikal Bridges to the rival Knicks for a record-tying five first-round picks (along with a swap) and also reclaimed their own 2025 and ’26 selections from Houston.
The Nets didn’t do all that without the intention of being in the lottery at the end of the season. They know how painful this season will be.
