This edition of OTBN 30-in-30 we take a look at the Brooklyn Nets who are stepping out of the shadows of the failed Big 3 era.
“I wasn't raised when things get tough to want to leave and get out. I know people might want to think about different situations and teams. Obviously, I've got my boys over there in New York, so everybody goes with that. I’m here now and I WANT TO STAY"
Mikal Bridges at a press conference on 2.20.24
This quote came 12 days following the trade deadline (Feb. 8th) when the idea of sending Bridges to the Knicks (although a different structured deal) would first come to fruition—coming into the ‘23-’24 season the Nets had planned to try and add an all-star to accompany Bridges; the poster boy of the Kevin Durant trade. But an identity-less 32-50 season full of injuries, befuddling coaching, and miscalculations by the front office, led to an underachieving season and thoughts of pivoting. To make matters worse, the Nets 1st round draft pick (owned by HOU via the Harden trade) soared in the draft lottery landing as the 3rd pick in the draft. A coach firing mixed in with a quiet trade deadline left the team with a vacancy at HC and a roster that seemed to counteract the direction the franchise was heading towards. That would change.
First the Nets hired Jordi Fernandez. Voted the best AC in the NBA according to the league yearly GM survey. Starting coaching at the age of 15 in youth roles Fernandez brings a passion and level of detail to the game that few match. In 2006 he left his home country of Spain to begin his NBA coaching grind building a positive reputation at every stop. From 09-24 Jordi would work in different roles (player development, assistant coach, head coach of a G-League team, associate HC, HC of Team Canada) leading to this opportunity. After having coaches in Nash & Vaughn that coached more with a “softer touch” Fernandez is a fiery coach who is extremely detailed and isn't afraid to ruffle feathers. He is everything the Nets need.
June 25th at 9:58pm the red button was officially pushed. The Nets agreed to a trade bolstering the franchise’s collection of draft picks adding (5) FIRST ROUND PICKS, (1) PICK SWAP, & (1) 2ND ROUND PICK. The cost would be Mikal Bridges who reportedly (source: Ian Begley) had told the team he wanted to be Knick and planned to use leverage against the team to make sure he wasn't traded anywhere else. Although both Bridges and Sean Marks have denied this, it’s hard for me to believe this isn't the truth. This trade allowed them to get back their own ‘25 & ‘26 1st round picks from HOU in a separate but just as shocking Woj bomb. When the dust settled the Nets had gotten (4) 1st rounders in the (supposedly) loaded 2025 draft (BKN, NYK, MIL 1-3 protected, and (1) of either HOU/OKC/PHX), the return of their own 2nd rounder in ‘25, and control of NYK’s 1st rounders in: ‘27, ’28(SWAP), ‘29, and ‘31. The roster still has a few more vets to unload but moves like trading Mamadi Diakite (added in the Bridges trade for CBA purposes) to MEM in a salary dump move to acquire assets (former lottery pick Zaire Williams and a 2030 2nd rounder) are expected to be the norm.
Coming into the season the Nets would be wise to give their young players like: 23 yr old G Cam Thomas (22 ppg 36 3p%), 20 yr old PF Noah Clowney (L6 GP: 13pts 47 3p% 7 rb), and summer league MVP Jalen Wilson more consistent minutes while trusting recently re-signed (4yrs 97M) C Nic Claxton with a bigger role in the offense. Dorian Finney-Smith, Cam Johnson, Dennis Schroder, and Bojan Bogdonavic are all older players not expected to be with the team as early as training camp or as late as the trade deadline. At PG, the franchise’s most unstable position, Ben Simmons (on the last year of his deal; 40M cap hit) and Schroder plan to shoulder most of the load at the position, but aren't seen as the long term answer for the team. Simmons has missed more games than he’s played since his trade to Brooklyn and the front office’s gamble to run the offense through him was a disaster with Simmons being able to play in only 15 games. Simmons' history of injuries will most likely lead to Schroder being held onto until the deadline. Recently re-signed 22 yr old Keon Johnson could also push for minutes at PG. Overall the goal this season should be player development and an eye to become one of the luckier teams in the draft lottery.
Peter is host of the podcast “Nets Fans You Know”. Each week he brings on guests from around the Nets & NBA from players, media personalities, beat writers, analytics analysts, to content creators.
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