The Nets recently made official deals with Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Ziaire Williams. Their payroll has climbed to $138.8 million for 20 players (including two of the three eligible two-way contracts).
The league minimum for each team this season is $139.2 million, a figure Brooklyn needs to reach by opening night.
Still, the 15-man standard contract limit means the Nets must cut (or trade) at least three players. If that’s Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin, and Drew Timme, the team would only incur about $272,000 in dead money for Johnson’s partially guaranteed deal, dropping the team’s salary to $132.3 million (about $6.9 million short of the minimum required). Martin and Timme are non-guaranteed.
The Nets are required to spend that money before then. The question is how. In this deal, the team goes past that mark with Kleber by about $4.1 million. The Heat and Lakers combine to pay Brooklyn $6.6 million, yielding a $2.5 million profit.
Kleber, 33, wouldn’t make the Nets roster, hitting free agency, perhaps to join a team looking for an experienced veteran later in the season or even heading overseas to continue his career.
It’s a money move for Brooklyn, not a basketball deal. Timme is the only outgoing player, but he’s facing an uphill battle to make the team, given the already full roster.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X/Twitter @EricPincus.