Under 19.5 wins? Why Bill Simmons, Zach Love Predict ‘Disastrous Results’

Last year The Brooklyn Nets’ tough season didn’t pay off the organization she hoped for. After exceeding expectations from the start of the season with the help of first-year head coach Jordi Fernandez, the Nets finished with the sixth-worst record in the NBA and fell to the eighth pick in the draft. Brooklyn’s front office has taken steps to maximize its chances of landing a top pick this year.

After Dennis Schroeder’s hot start last season, The Nets enter the 2025-26 campaign with an all-rookie lineup at rush hour. The rebuilding team also traded their best player, Cam Johnson, to the Denver Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr.

Those offseason moves led the way Bill Simmons and Zach Love to confidently take the floor to Brooklyn’s 19.5 win.

“Jordi’s city office secured the roster this year,” Lowe said on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “The only argument for over is that three of their starters are Cam Thomas, Michael Porter Jr. and Nick Claxton. Those are NBA-ready starters, and one of them, Cam Thomas, can handle the ball and run some offense. I just think, A, they’re all going to be trade candidates, and B, if you hand them an NBA team, a guard from them, 00 they have a rookie guard, 00 overall disastrous… The offense will be a mess.”

Fans got a preview of the offensive struggles of the Nets rookies this preseason. Brooklyn averaged 24.3 turnovers in three games.

Will the Nets take a step back this season as they battle for the top draft pick?

It’s no secret that Brooklyn made its offseason moves with its 2026 draft position in mind. Nets owner Joe Tsai almost admitted his team is falling this season during an appearance on the All-In Podcast. After last year’s disappointing draft lottery result, the rebuilding team should show more urgency to maximize its 2026 pick.

General manager Sean Marks traded four first-round picks to the Houston Rockets last summer to reacquire Brooklyn’s first-rounders in 2025 and 2026. One of those four picks was the Phoenix Suns’ 2025 first-rounder, who finished 10th, just two spots behind the Nets’ pick.

Given the small early return, Brooklyn should be determined to finish higher in this year’s draft lottery. Many draft analysts believe the top of the 2026 draft, which features prospects like Darrin Peterson, AJ Dibansta and Cam Boozer, is stronger than the highly touted 2025 class.

The Nets also owe the Rockets an unprotected 2027 first-round pick swap, which is their best long-term chance to land a star-level draft prospect this year.