While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams.
In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June.
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The Brooklyn Nets are the focus of this column, with the franchise shifting its focus to the beginnings of a rebuild. Moves made during the offseason replenished the team’s draft assets, most notably the decision to trade Mikal Bridges to the Knicks for five future first-round picks. While Brooklyn was in a bad spot regarding competing this season, the long-term rebuild is in a better place.
Brooklyn Nets 2024-2025 Season Recap
Record: 26-56 (12th, East)
Offensive Rating: 108.1 (28th)
Defensive Rating: 115.4 (23rd)
Net Rating: -7.3 (26th)
Pace: 96.73 (28th)
2025 NBA Draft Picks: Nine percent chance of winning draft lottery, 19 (from Milwaukee), 26 (from New York), 27 (from Houston), 36
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The Nets entered last offseason with a limited draft war chest, but having a clear need to rebuild set the stage for lead executive Sean Marks to address that. Mikal Bridges was traded to the Knicks, with Brooklyn receiving five future first-round picks. The Nets were also able to retrieve picks from Milwaukee and Houston, giving the franchise a total of four firsts to work with in June’s draft.
However, those changes put the Nets in a difficult spot regarding their ability to compete for the entire 2024-25 season. Jordi Fernández’s team didn’t truly get into trouble until January, enduring a stretch in which they lost 12 of their next 13 games. While there was still a chance of reaching the Play-In tournament until March, it was clear that Brooklyn’s goal was to be in the draft lottery for what is projected to be a loaded incoming rookie class.
Among the Nets’ rotation players, Cameron Johnson was the only one who exceeded his Yahoo! ADP this season. Brooklyn struggled with its offensive efficiency, ranking 29th in field goal percentage and 27th in effective field goal percentage. Add in subpar defensive production, and the result was Brooklyn finishing 12th in the East.
Fantasy Standout: Cameron Johnson
Johnson enjoyed the most productive season of his NBA career in 2024-25, capitalizing on the increased opportunities that came his way. In 57 games, he averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.8 three-pointers in 31.6 minutes, shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 89.3 percent from the foul line. Ranked just outside the top-50 in nine-cat per-game value, Johnson was a sixth-round player in eight-cat formats according to Basketball Monster. He scored at least 20 points on 21 occasions, more than triple his tally from the season prior (six), headlined by a 37-point effort in a November 22 loss to the 76ers.
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While he is extension-eligible this summer, Johnson has two more guaranteed seasons remaining on his current contract. He stands to be a key figure in Brooklyn’s future, but his availability is a concern. On three separate occasions, Johnson missed at least five straight games, and he has not made at least 60 appearances in a season since the 2021-22 campaign. While the production shows Johnson can provide middle-round value in 12-team leagues, the track record regarding his availability suggests that fantasy managers may be able to get him a little later.
Fantasy Revelation: Keon Johnson
There wasn’t a legitimate fantasy revelation in Brooklyn this season. While younger players received every opportunity to pick up additional rotation minutes, no one stood out as a “must-roster” player. Johnson is the pick here because of his availability, playing in 79 of a possible 82 games. Making a career-high 56 starts, he averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 24.4 minutes, shooting 38.9 percent from the field and 77.0 percent from the foul line.
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While Johnson kept the turnovers in check, the efficiency was lacking due to his poor shooting. However, he did play well to end the season, averaging 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 three-pointers over his last eight appearances, shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line. Johnson has a team option for next season, and his play may have been enough to earn a more concrete opportunity with the Nets in 2025-26. That said, by no means should fantasy managers target him in drafts, regardless of league size.
Fantasy Disappointment: Nic Claxton
As a career 53.7 percent shooter at the foul line, Claxton has been a player worth targeting for fantasy managers willing to punt that category. Unfortunately, his production decreased in other categories where the sixth-year center is expected to provide solid value. In 70 games, Claxton averaged 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.4 blocks in 26.9 minutes, shooting 56.3 percent from the field. His points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage were all down from the 2023-24 campaign. While still a top-75 player in free-throw percentage-punt builds, Claxton has the potential to be better, especially after nearly cracking the top-25 in 2023-24.
That said, placing the blame solely on Claxton for his 2024-25 season may not be entirely fair. The roster changed considerably, and three-plus weeks passed between the Nets’ decision to trade Dennis Schroder to the Warriors and the return of D’Angelo Russell. And Russell was not guaranteed to be in the lineup every…
