Rebuilding a team in today’s NBA often becomes a brutal process, tearing down a roster to the studs while stockpiling young players and draft assets. The win-loss column tends to look ugly by the end of the year, something the Brooklyn Nets need to grow accustomed to as they continue their journey to the league’s cellar in hopes they’ll emerge to a brighter future in the end.
As NBA futures markets go live on DraftKings Sportsbook, we’re taking a look at the Nets’ win total projections. At 21.5, that line remains one of the league’s lowest marks. Read on to see which direction bettors should target.
If you’re interested in seeing any of the other NBA teams’ projected win totals, check out DKN’s master list of the full 2025-2026 NBA projected win totals.
Brooklyn Nets 2025-2026 projected win total
Analysis
The roster in Brooklyn looks quite different following a busy offseason period. Their most significant loss is Cam Johnson, one of the NBA’s premier three-and-D forwards who was traded to the Denver Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected first-round pick. The return in that deal probably could’ve been better via another team, but it implies the Nets like Porter Jr. quite a bit and could even explore moving him for additional assets if he’s not part of the long-term plans. It’s also interesting that Johnson and Porter Jr.’s averaged similar scoring production last season with Johnson at 18.8 PPG and Porter Jr. at 18.2. The former was more comfortable as a ball-handler and passer, while the latter now brings improved rebounding with less impressive on-ball chops.
Brooklyn also lost guard D’Angelo Russell in free agency, so despite his unpredictable production and health he still leaves a notable gap in the backcourt. Trendon Watford departed for Philadelphia, so his presence will also be missed as an underrated wing talent.
Porter Jr. headlines the Nets’ additions but they brought in plenty of other talent. Terance Mann likely replaces Watford at one of the wing spots and shot 38.6% from three last season. The rest of the new acquisitions came via the 2025 NBA Draft as Brooklyn made five selections in the first round. All are unproven as of now, and frankly, reactions to the team’s draft class were less than positive from most NBA pundits and analysts.
The Nets took Egor Demin at No. 8, a 6-foot-9 point forward who averaged 10.6 points with 5.5 assists and 3.9 rebounds in his lone season at BYU. However, he can’t shoot from deep and his upside remains questionable given the draft slot. At No. 19, they selected Nolan Traore, an international point guard who posted 11.2 points and 5.2 assists per game over two seasons in the French pro league.
Forward Drake Powell earned the No. 22 selection with 7.4 points and 3.4 boards a night for North Carolina while shooting nearly 38% from three-point range. Brooklyn took Ben Saraf at No. 26, another international guard who posted 12.8 PPG in EuroCup. Finally at No. 27, the Nets drafted seven-foot center Danny Wolf out of Michigan after he averaged 13.2 points and 9.7 rebounds in his third collegiate season.
Brooklyn bolstered their rotation and took plenty of swings in this draft class, so the numbers are in their favor for at least one of these guys working out. Who ends up a productive player may be hard to tell though as each have their fair share of flaws — three-point shooting may present a serious issue this season since none of Demin, Traore, or Saraf shot better than 28% from beyond the arc.
Brooklyn Nets projected win total: Best bets, predictions
Brooklyn Nets under 21.5 wins (-120)
This win total of 21.5 feels quite low but the Nets are all but guaranteed to finish with a bottom-three record in the NBA during the upcoming campaign. A squad anchored by Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas — assuming the latter returns via the RFA market — feels like a bit of a nightmare for shot selection. Those guys should get plenty of opportunities and while both can succeed in the right places, neither are the first or second option on a winning team.
Really, Nic Claxton might actually be the best player on this depth chart but even he may get the boot via the trade market as the rebuild keeps rolling. That’ll end up a common theme as the season goes on since Brooklyn finds themselves testing out talent to see which young players stick.
The Nets are in position to bottom out this season and hope they’re lucky enough in the lottery to win the AJ Dybantsa sweepstakes (or at least snag one of the Boozer twins as a consolation prize). They’re going to be bad, and that’s okay given the circumstances! Just make sure you bet the under on their win total rather than the over.
