NBA Power Rankings: Where all 30 teams stand after the draft, free agency

15. Brooklyn Nets

Key offseason move: Re-signed Cam Johnson, signed Lonnie Walker 

Somehow, after trading both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving at the NBA Trade Deadline last season, the Brooklyn Nets weren’t in a terrible spot heading into the offseason. With plenty of assets to make a bigger move, the Nets are thriving in their forced retooling. The Nets did well by re-signing Cam Johnson this offseason and took a shot on low-risk, high-reward player Lonnie Walker. If the Nets can prove they’re a star away from true contention in the Eastern Conference, this is a team that could emerge as an intriguing landing spot for the next slate of stars that hit the trade market.

It’s tough to project what to expect from the Nets this upcoming season considering we only say the new-look roster for a handful of games before the start of the playoffs, but they should be feisty. Mikal Bridges has proven that he has what it takes to be a star and Johnson showed he may have a higher ceiling in Brooklyn.

If the supporting cast is good enough, there’s no question that the Nets could emerge as a top 5 or 6 team in the East. This roster looks completely different than it looked 12 months ago. It has less star talent and fewer big names. That said, the Nets might be in a better spot right now than they were a year ago.