Splurge by Nets unlikely with Randle off to NOLA
So far in free agency, the Nets have kept their moves small, smart and strategic. If Julius Randle had tempted them to come off that plan, that temptation is gone.
Randle had been the biggest name linked with Brooklyn, and sources had told The Post that the Nets had legitimate interest. But Randle agreeing to a deal with the Pelicans for two years and $18 million — just hours after being renounced by the Lakers — took the big man off Brooklyn’s board.
The Nets had brought back Joe Harris, the paragon of their much-hyped player development, with a two-year, $16 million deal on the eve of free agency. An hour later, they added center Ed Davis on a team-friendly one-year, $4.4 million contract that was largely viewed as a steal in NBA circles.
Randle, on the other hand, would’ve been a splurge — probably the only player linked with the Nets that f it that category.
D’Angelo Russell would’ve been happy to see the Nets land Randle. The two became exceptionally close while playing together with the Lakers and working out together last summer. They also share an agent, in CAA’s Aaron Mintz, who also represents Davis and Allen Crabbe.
But they won’t be sharing the court with the Nets next season.
Now general manager Sean Marks can stay on task, hoarding anywhere from $50 million to $70 million in cap space for next summer — enough to sign two max free agents. The rest of the Nets summer may be fairly quiet — at least on the big-name signing front.
The rest of their potential signings (they’d like to add a stretch forward like Spurs restricted free agent Davis Bertans) are more likely to be under-the-radar types.
Now attention can largely turn to trades and buyouts, as in do they deal Jeremy Lin and how much do they get back from Dwight Howard?
Multiple league sources told The Post they had heard Lin could be dealt this offseason. Orlando is a logi- cal landing spot. Lin played under Magic coach Steve Clifford during their time together in Charlotte. And ESPN posited a move to Phoenix even before the Suns cut Tyler Ulis.
It’s unclear whether moving Lin’s $12.5 million expiring deal is less urgent now that Randle is off the market. Lin would be more valuable once he starts playing. He hasn’t played since rupturing his patella tendon on opening night last season.
Brooklyn has $6.6 million in cap space, according to former Nets assistant GM-turned cap guru Bobby Marks. That’ll increase once they reach a buyout agreement with Howard. But how much it increases will be determined by how big a chunk of his $23.8 million salary Howard is willing to leave on the table.