Two Eastern Conference clubs with two very different trajectories could compete for an intriguing free agent this summer.
The Brooklyn Nets finished with a 26-56 record under first-year head coach Jose Fernandez Torres, and as of this writing are set to have five picks (including four in the first round) in next month's impending 2025 NBA Draft - starting with the No. 8 selection.
Devoid of any foundational All-Stars, Brooklyn has managed to restock its draft equity and cap space, and could look to pull a Detroit Pistons this offseason by signing competent veterans to compete alongside intriguing young players like Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton.
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After bringing in talented vets like forward Tobias Harris, shooting guard Malik Beasley, and wing Tim Hardaway Jr. over the summer (plus point guard Dennis Schroder midseason), the Pistons improved to a 43-39 record and snagged the East's No. 6 seed.
Those season pros helped point guard Cade Cunningham grow into an All-NBA talent, and abetted the growth of center Jalen Duren and shooting guard Jaden Ivey. Athletic rookie wing Ron Holland impressed, too, at least defensively.
Detroit gave the New York Knicks all they could handle in a hard-fought, first-round playoff series defeat.
Per Sam Amico of Hoops Wire, Atlanta Hawks swingman Caris LeVert will be a target for both Brooklyn and Detroit this summer.
"The Hawks would like to keep free agent wing Caris LeVert, but they're well aware that he will be drawing outside interest," Amico writes. "Two of those teams are believed to be the Pistons and Nets, sources told Hoops Wire."
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After being acquired by the Hawks midway through the 2024-25 season as part of the deal that shipped De'Andre Hunter out to the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeVert logged impressive averages of 14.9 points on .482/.338/.722 shooting splits, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks a night, in 26 games off the bench.
"As for Detroit, much depends on what happens with the team's other veteran free agents, including Sixth Man of the Year candidate Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. It's not yet known which direction the Pistons will go after a pleasant surprise of a season."
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LeVert, 30, is wrapping up a two-year, $32 million deal he inked while still in Cleveland.
The oft-injured wing may not make quite that much going forward, but he could still draw an eight-figure annual salary on a multi-year deal.
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