On the eve of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Brooklyn Nets have dramatically reshaped their roster and draft capital, positioning themselves as one of the most intriguing teams in the league’s offseason. In a blockbuster three-team trade involving the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks, the Nets acquired forward Terance Mann and the 22nd overall pick in the draft, while sending Kristaps Porziņģis to the Hawks and Georges Niang to the Celtics. This move marks yet another bold step by Brooklyn’s front office as they look to rebuild and capitalize on their vast cap space and draft assets.
The deal, finalized on June 24, 2025, saw the Celtics first trade Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons less than 24 hours prior, signaling a busy and transformative period for Boston. The Celtics then sent Porziņģis to Atlanta, receiving Niang and a second-round pick in return. Meanwhile, the Hawks received Porziņģis and a second-round pick, and the Nets welcomed Mann and the 22nd pick. Notably, the Nets did not give up any players or picks but absorbed Mann’s sizable contract, which carries three years and $47 million remaining.
Terance Mann, a 28-year-old small forward from Florida State, is known as a versatile 3-and-D player with solid defensive skills and high basketball IQ. Last season, splitting time between the Hawks and the Los Angeles Clippers, Mann averaged 7.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, shooting an efficient 49.6 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from beyond the arc. Despite a slight dip in his numbers compared to previous seasons, Mann remains a valuable contributor who could see an expanded role with the Nets, especially alongside backcourt players Cam Thomas and D’Angelo Russell.
Mann’s reaction to the trade was heartfelt and spontaneous. Shortly after the news broke, he posted on X, "I was born in Brooklyn Hospital, this is [crazy]," capturing the surreal nature of returning to his birthplace via the Nets. However, he deleted the tweet soon after, as the trade cannot officially become effective until July 6, 2025, leaving open the possibility that Mann could be rerouted to another team before then.
Brooklyn’s front office, led by GM Sean Marks, has been active in the draft and trade markets for years, and this latest maneuver adds to their already impressive haul. The Nets now hold five first-round picks—numbers 8, 19, 22, 26, and 27—and one second-round pick at 36 in the 2025 NBA Draft. No other team in the league boasts more than two first-round selections. This unprecedented draft capital gives Brooklyn unmatched flexibility: they could keep all five picks, trade up for a higher selection, or package assets for veteran talent.
While it's unlikely the Nets will keep all five first-rounders—doing so would break the NBA record set by the 2009 Minnesota Timberwolves who made four first-round picks—their options are plentiful. Analysts suggest the Nets might use some picks to acquire future assets or stash players overseas, following a model similar to Oklahoma City’s recent draft strategies. The financial implications of keeping all five first-rounders are significant, with guaranteed salaries totaling nearly $20 million for the next season and close to $96 million over the four-year rookie contracts.
Brooklyn’s decision to absorb Mann’s contract as part of the trade was strategic. The team used approximately $19 million of their cap space to facilitate the deal, still leaving them with an estimated $37.5 million in remaining cap space this offseason—the most in the NBA. This financial flexibility allows the Nets to pursue free agents, re-sign key players like Cam Thomas, or make further trades to bolster their roster.
The Celtics’ urgency to shed payroll is understandable, especially with superstar Jayson Tatum expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season due to an Achilles injury suffered in the playoffs. Moving Porziņģis and Mann’s contract helps Boston manage their salary cap while acquiring Georges Niang, a reliable forward, and a second-round pick. For Atlanta, acquiring Porziņģis adds a high-profile player who was the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and has been a significant presence in the league since his rookie season.
From a broader perspective, the Nets’ haul of draft picks and Mann’s addition come after a tough 2024-25 campaign. Brooklyn finished with a 26-56 record and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The team also saw Jordi Fernández complete his first season as head coach, marking the fourth coaching change in three years. This instability has underscored the need for a strong rebuild, which the front office appears to be aggressively pursuing through accumulating assets and cap space.
ESPN’s revised mock draft following the trade projects the Nets selecting a diverse group of prospects: Tre Johnson (No. 8), Asa Newell (No. 19), Nolan Traore (No. 22), Nique Clifford (No. 26), Rasheer Fleming (No. 27), and Hansen Yang (No. 36). With such a deep pool of picks, Brooklyn is poised to take several swings at uncovering future stars, hoping to accelerate their rise from the league’s lower ranks.
However, the trade and draft decisions remain fluid. The deal cannot officially close until July 6, and there is speculation that the Nets might expand the trade or reroute Mann. The team’s long-term strategy will likely involve balancing the development of young talent with the pursuit of established players to create a competitive roster quickly.
As the 2025 NBA Draft kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET on June 26 at Barclays Center, all eyes will be on Brooklyn. The Nets have the most picks, the most cap space, and a roster in transition, making them a focal point in one of the most dynamic offseasons in recent memory. Whether this flurry of activity will translate into success on the court remains to be seen, but the Nets’ front office has certainly laid down a marker for an ambitious rebuild.
