Previewing Cavs opponents: Nets
Cavs news and links for Wednesday, September 18.
We’ve made it to Wednesday. Here’s your Cleveland Cavaliers news and links for the day with a side of Brooklyn Nets talk.
The first sip
The Nets finally signaled they’re going for a full rebuild after half-heartedly trying to compete once the Kevin Durant era ended. They acquired five first-round picks from the New York Knicks in exchange for Mikal Bridges and regained full control over their 2025 and ‘26 first-rounders in a separate deal with the Houston Rockets. This has left Brooklyn with a roster full of role players and a (potentially) promising young guard in Cam Thomas while they wait to use their newly acquired firsts.
The Cavs are one of the teams that have been persistently poking around trying to steal one of their role-playing wings. Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith have both been rumored to Cleveland but figuring out a deal that makes sense between both teams has been difficult. Those rumors will persist as long as either Johnson or Finney-Smith are on the roster.
Brooklyn has done a good job of coming through their failed super-team era with draft capital. They have four firsts in the ‘25 draft, their own in ‘26, two in ‘27 but not their own, three in ‘28, and three in ‘29. The Nets just need to get through this season and hope the lottery gods are kind to them next summer.
How the Cavs played the Nets last season
Cleveland won three out of their four meetings last season. The lone loss came at home when the Cavs were without Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
One of the games Mitchell was available for was their trip to Paris last January. Mitchell put on a show as he scored 45 points in a somewhat ugly 111-102 victory.
Cavs vs Nets this season
- Home - Nov. 9
- at Brooklyn - Feb. 20
- Home - March 11
Notable players who have been with both franchises
- Richard Jefferson played on the Nets’ only two teams to go to the Finals in his first two seasons in the league. It took Jefferson 13 years to return when he won the championship with the Cavs in 2016.
- Jarrett Allen spent the first four seasons with the Nets after being drafted 22nd overall in 2017. He averaged 10.1 points and 7.9 rebounds in 234 games with Brooklyn.
- Anthony Bennett started his NBA career in Cleveland and ended it in Brooklyn. The former first-overall pick played 23 games and averaged five points and 3.4 rebounds in 2017 with the Nets.