First comes the housecleaning. Then comes the spending.
The Nets spent Thursday sorting out their own free agents, and will spend Friday deciding what to do with some of their use-it-or-lose it cash. Free agency starts at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, and the Nets have to determine how much of their roughly $30 million in cap space to use — and on whom.
After going 0-for-3 in restricted free agency last season, will general manager Sean Marks be gun shy about going back into that market? And after trading Brook Lopez last week, will the Nets be bound and determined to add a stretch-four or stretch-five?
“I don’t think we’re in a position right now to be worried about need and position. We can’t,’’ Nets coach Kenny Atkinson told The Post. “We’re not there yet. It’s still best player available.”
Sure, this is the time of year for misdirection and disinformation. But both Marks and Atkinson admit for a team coming off an NBA-worst 20-62 campaign, they need players everywhere and any way they can get them.
“We’re going to keep all our things in our back pocket, and we’ll see what happens, whether it’s restricted free agency or free agency or capitalizing on some other trades that come up,’’ Marks said. “We’re focused on all of those things. We’re not going to limit ourselves to just one.
“We’ve never looked at it like we have to have this particular position. … We’re still trying to get best available, talent acquisition. Kenny and the staff have done a great job of fitting guys together.”
The Nets had an estimated $25.4 million in cap space, according to cap guru Bobby Marks. But that includes a $3 million cap hold for Randy Foye and another $3.5 million for K.J. McDaniels, whom the team declined an option on.
Even after picking up $1.5 million team options on Sean Kilpatrick and Joe Harris on Thursday, the Nets still have $3.4 million they must use by Friday. They could package it with an outgoing player (pay attention to what’s going on in Houston) to clear even more cap space before midnight strikes.
In short, they’ll have $30 million to spend, and could easily find more.
But who can they get with it?
The priciest stars on their wish list include J.J. Redick, Otto Porter Jr., and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Porter and Caldwell-Pope are both 24, but restricted free agents. MLive reported the Pistons will match even a $24 million maximum offer sheet for Caldwell-Pope, and a source told The Post the Wizards are leaning toward doing the same for Porter.
Redick, 33, has a condo in DUMBO and has worked out with Jeremy Lin this summer, reportedly spent time with Nets player development director Adam Harrington at last week’s Steve Nash soccer showdown.
A source told The Post the Nets feel Redick would be a good influence on newly acquired guard D’Angelo Russell, but would they give him the $18-$20 million, as the L.A. Times reported he wants?
Other players have been linked to the Nets in various reports, but some seem more like long shots.
Danilo Gallinari, a former Knick, opted out of his $16 million deal in Denver, telling Premium Sport (as translated by Sportando) that the “Nuggets are not my first choice but they are exactly at the same level of the other teams.”
He averaged 18.2 points on 38.9 percent shooting from 3-point range last season. Gallinari is just 28, but he’s missed a total of 71 games the past three seasons after missing all of 2013-14.
Andre Iguodala has also been linked to the Nets, but at 33 it is unclear how long of a deal he’d demand and how much he has left. With the Nets flush with cash, shrewd agents will try to use them to get better deals for their clients.
A more cost-effective strategy might be picking low-hanging fruit, waiting a few days and sorting through the bargain bin.
According to SB Nation, the Jazz will match any offer for restricted free agent Joe Ingles. His 44.1 percent shooting from 3-point range last season would be a perfect fit for the Nets. Milwaukee’s Tony Snell, Atlanta’s Tim Hardaway Jr., San Antonio’s Jonathon Simmons and Boston’s Kelly Olynyk could be in the mix. Olynyk is restricted, but could become unrestricted if the cap-chasing Celtics release his $7.7 million hold.
3 Nets free-agent targets
Otto Porter Jr., SF: Just 24, he could be a dream signing for the Nets, second in the NBA in offensive rating (129.1) and fourth in 3-point shooting (43.4 percent). But he’s restricted, and a source said the Wizards will match any deal.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG: Not as big or prolific as Porter, he’s also 24, and a solid two-way player who averaged 13.8 points per game. But he’s restricted as well, and will be difficult to pluck free from Detroit.
J.J. Redick, SG: With the Nets leading the NBA in pace and heaving up the sixth-most 3-pointers in history last season, Redick’s average of six 3-point attempts could spike. But the Nets are rebuilding and the 33-year-old reportedly wants $18 million-$20 million.
The Nets’ 2015 stash pick Juan Pablo Vaulet had ankle surgery, according to Bahia Blanca, his Argentine team.