Brooklyn reshapes its summer with a cap-space gambit: taking on Denver’s Michael Porter Jr., Atlanta’s Terance Mann, and Miami’s Haywood Highsmith in deals that haul multiple first-round picks and clear room for a late-summer roster tweak. Drake Powell was drafted with one of five June picks, a signal of long-term planning. With about $14.3 million in cap space and the 15-man limit looming after signings for Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams, Brooklyn could absorb another contract-for-pick move, positioning Cam Thomas’ restricted-free-agent status to influence its perimeter future.

The Nets’ playbook centers on upside and flexibility: keep cap room to chase a late-add, push Thomas toward a favorable RFA outcome, and lean into a young core around the guard. The strategy hinges on how aggressively Marks maneuvers the remaining space and roster spots while navigating the evolving market for Thomas and the team’s long-string of draft picks.