Are the Brooklyn Nets about to repeat a major mistake this summer?

The Brooklyn Nets have flown under the radar since they traded Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, but they appear to be planning for a big offseason. They have just been linked to Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, who may be available this summer and will probably also be interested in Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young.

Given that the Nets aren't particularly good at the moment, setting their signs on two stars makes sense, though they are in this position after seeing their big three of James Harden, Durant, and Irving all request a trade and subsequently be moved. That leads to questions about whether the Nets are about to repeat their same mistakes by pursuing another star. 

Should the Brooklyn Nets pursue Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young this summer? 

The Nets are already seeing the negative effects of pursuing a star, including giving up multiple picks to land one. In fact, they just gave up the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to the Houston Rockets as a part of the Harden deal, even though he is currently with the LA Clippers. To their credit, they have three picks from the Phoenix Suns via the Durant deal as well as a couple of picks from the Irving trade, each of which they can use to swap for another star.

The biggest decision that determines whether they should trade for a star is the cost and if it will actually make them a contender. Their plan is clearly to try and pair Mikal Bridges with another star but would he and Mitchell or Young be a good team?

However, they may have a tough time competing in a brutal Eastern Conference led by the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks and several other teams below them that would probably be better than the Nets.

That would limit their ceiling and deplete their remaining assets. Another option would see them try to build through the draft, even if it means moving on from Bridges and taking a longer view. The Celtics are too expensive to stay together for a long time. Philadelphia has an oft-injured superstar who is in his 30s.

The Miami Heat may trade Jimmy Butler, who is aging, and the Cleveland Cavaliers may lose Mitchell this summer. That may prove to be the best option for the Nets long-term but they seem set to try and land the best available and take their chances going forward.