Brooklyn's Youthful Rebuild: Ex-Nets Thrive Elsewhere

The Brooklyn Nets have fully committed to a youth movement, becoming the NBA's youngest team in the 2025-26 season. This rebuild has led to significant roster turnover, with 18 players from the 2024-25 team no longer with the organization.

Royce O'Neale, traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a midseason deal, later signed with the Houston Rockets. He has experienced his least productive season, largely due to ankle surgery that kept him out until late December 2025. O'Neale is now averaging 3.2 points and 2.7 rebounds over 30 games, contributing primarily through veteran guidance.

Cameron Johnson was traded to the Denver Nuggets in the offseason, a move that sent Michael Porter Jr. and a future first-round pick to Brooklyn. Despite a more crowded roster in Denver, Johnson has emerged as the team's primary three-and-D threat, averaging 11.5 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 41% from three-point range. He has started all 42 games played, overcoming an ankle injury that sidelined him for 23 games.

Camara Watford, after a career-best 2024-25 season with the Nets, was not offered an extension and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. He has established a valuable role off the bench as a play-initiating forward, averaging 6.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. While his perimeter game needs development, he provides crucial support when the 76ers are shorthanded.