The Nets were the only NBA team with substantial cap space this offseason and have actively engaged in salary dump trades, as expected, absorbing contracts to acquire players and draft picks.
First, they facilitated the Kristaps Porzingis trade to the Atlanta Hawks, absorbing the final three years and $47 million of Terrance Mann’s contract and acquiring the draft rights to Drake Powell, one of Brooklyn’s five first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Next, they traded Cam Johnson to the Denver Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick, enabling Denver to shed the final two years and $79.6 million of Porter’s contract while adding a skilled perimeter scorer to Brooklyn’s roster.
Earlier in the month, they acquired Haywood Highsmith and an unprotected 2032 second-round pick from the Miami Heat in exchange for a protected 2026 second-round pick, a deal that helped Miami avoid the luxury tax by shedding Highsmith’s $5.6 million salary, while Brooklyn added a veteran 3-and-D wing with NBA Finals experience and a draft pick at minimal cost.
And the Nets could be gearing up for more trades as training camp approaches.
After acquiring Mann, Porter and Highsmith, Brooklyn has $131.9 million in total salaries for the 2025-26 season with roughly $16.5 million left to spend. It is $22.5 million below the cap and $19 million below the minimum floor. That means the Nets still have moves to make.
The Nets have most recently been linked to the Dallas Mavericks, who have ramped up their efforts to create roster space after signing Dante Exum, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. That could involve finding a new home for 2023 first-round pick Olivier-Maxence Prosper, a 6-7 forward who has averaged just 10 minutes per game across his first 92 appearances in Dallas with five starts.
There have been reports that the Nets may be willing to take on Prosper’s $3 million contract, perhaps with some draft compensation thrown in, to help Dallas create roster space and get under the second apron. This potential move would make sense because Prosper is the type of player that fits the Nets’ M.O. The Clemson product is only 23 with developmental needs that fit the franchise’s rebuilding timeline. While he’s averaged just 3.5 points per game in his young career, he possesses impressive defensive versatility, which head coach Jordi Fernandez covets.
According to cap expert Yossi Gozland, the Mavericks have two second-round picks to trade as an incentive for a team willing to take on Prosper’s contract. Dallas could also waive and stretch Prosper to create apron space to sign Exum and keep draft equity ahead of Friday’s salary-stretch deadline.
The Nets have 13 incoming future draft picks, 10 of which are tradeable, along with 19 future second-round picks. Dallas’ tradable second-round picks are the Philadelphia 76ers’ in 2030 and their own in 2032. Brooklyn also controls Dallas second-round picks in 2029 and 2030.
Whether the Nets view Dallas’ assets, including Prosper, as enticing enough to finalize a trade remains uncertain, but it would align seamlessly with their rebuilding strategy this offseason. Either way, consider Prosper a name to watch, along with other salary-dump candidates such as Cleveland’s Max Strus and Orlando’s Jett Howard.
