I wouldn't be against packaging the picks we get from the nets in 2017 and 2018 to move up. With the salary cap increasing, the Nets could easily rebuild quick. Those future draft picks from the Nets are not looking as good as they were. Might as well try to sell high before those picks lose value.
I would say it could be the opposite. The cap increase is going to give almost every team real cap room going forward. With so many places to pick from, why would anyone choose the Nets? Their not even NYCs flagship franchise, and with Phil and Melo in NY, you figure anyone seeking a glamour market goes there. It wouldn't surprise me if all three of those picks ended up being somewhere in the lottery, even if it's late. The east is getting better, Brooklyn's getting much worse, and they really don't have many assets coming their way in the next four years. I don't think they'll all be lottery, but it could happen.
And that's not even getting into the ownership mess there.
I think the small market teams are going to struggle with the new cap structure and probably be conservative initially. At the same time, I can see over aggressive owners like the Nets getting anyone and over spending to get those players.
I just don't see how you can be optimistic that the Nets will not land at least one top talent with the new cap structure.
I can see it rather easily. Assume that by then Iso Joe is about to retire, Deron Williams will be two-three years older and a free agent. Lopez might still be around, but if he's your best player your a bottom 5 lottery team. If you were a top free agent, (of which there is probably ten-fifteen players who could actually make them a playoff team) why would you want to sign there? They can't just offer the most money because of bird rights and the fact that any "top" guy who's gonna make that big of a difference is going to get max offers elsewhere. They don't have very good players, they have no avenue to get better outside of free agency. They have a horrible GM. Sure they're in NYC, but the Knicks are far more attractive with Phil and Carmelo plus that top 5 pick. Besides, not everyone has LaLa for a wife and only cares about getting the most money in the biggest market.
Most players care more about being somewhere they will be happy, appreciated and have a real chance to win. And that's not even acknowledging the fact that Prokorov is looking to sell in the next couple years, and as long as he owns them they aren't going to spend like that again. No draft picks, no trade assets, no young core players, albatross contracts that won't be gone until 16-17.
I'm not expecting 3 lottery picks, but it wouldn't surprise me at all. They'll be lucky to get into the playoffs in the next few years.