Five Nets storylines as training camp sets to open
Nets center Nic Claxton looks on against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first half of an NBA game at Barclays Center on Jan. 7. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Nets’ rebuild started in June trading Mikal Bridges to the Knicks. But it begins in earnest Tuesday with the start of training camp.
There’s hope with a new coach in Jordi Fernandez. There’s also low expectations for a Nets roster that’s expected to be near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The good news? The reward could be a top-five pick in the well-regarded 2025 draft.
Here are five storylines as camp set to open.
Uncertain futures
The Nets got five first-round draft picks after trading Bridges. It also let the NBA know they’ll be sellers this season.
There’s questions if Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith will be traded after being in rumors this summer. Also, seven additional Nets are on expiring contracts, which can create tension with players having one eye on their futures.
It’s why Fernandez and his staff have their hands full managing personalities as much as X’s and O’s. The same applies to the front office that must be wise managing this season while navigating what’s bound to be a multi-year rebuild.
“For us, it's just to keep the door open,” general manager Sean Marks said regarding players and potential trades. “If they need to come in and have a conversation with Jordi or myself, it's always open and we'll be clear and honest with them.”
Ben Simmons’ health
Simmons was cleared to start training camp and if that sounds familiar, it should. The same thing was said 12 months ago.
One can only hope Simmons’ body holds up after a second back surgery in March. But the reality is the Nets must account for him not being available as well as what he brings to the floor.
It’s a delicate balance, especially with Simmons making $40.3 million in the last year of his contract. Simmons is still valuable when healthy but can the Nets bank on that? They made that mistake last season. How the Nets handle and plan for him this season will show how much they’ve learned.
How will Nic Claxton look as centerpiece?
Nic Claxton got his $100 million contract extension this summer. But the sixth-year center also got seniority as the longest tenured Net and the 25-year-old is now expected to be a team leader.
“Right now, he has to be an example for the younger guys, for everybody else,” Fernandez said. “He has to lead by example.”
Fernandez added to expect more from Claxton on offense. He’s already proven he’s a great rim protector the last two seasons but now, the Nets want to expand what he can do on the offensive end.
It’s a challenge that Claxton will take. After deferring to stars in the past, now he has a chance to raise his profile.
Cam Thomas’ future?
Two things are true about Thomas. He’s a gifted scorer and a free agent after this season. Both things matter with evaluating him.
Fernandez said he wants to help Thomas, last season’s leading scorer, to be more efficient. The Nets know he can score in bunches. But they need him to do it and be a playmaker, something Thomas showed at times last season.
How that looks will determine if the Nets choose to extend him or not. They have until Oct. 21 or they’ll wait until free agency. It’s more likely the latter will happen so the Nets can evaluate how Thomas follows up his breakout year.
It won’t surprise if Thomas averages more points per game than the Nets’ final win total. But his growth under Fernandez is critical not just for his development, but the Nets figuring out his future this summer.
Welcome to the youth movement.
After being one of the league’s oldest teams during the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving era, the Nets will be one of the youngest. Eight players on the Nets’ roster are 23 years old or younger.
How will Noah Clowney, Dariq Whitehead and Jalen Wilson grow in their second seasons? For Whitehead, it means shaking off a rough Summer League after shin surgery. Clowney and Wilson can build on decent rookie seasons and even better Summer League showings.
There’s also Ziaire Williams looking for a fresh start after the former top-10 pick spent three seasons in Memphis. Among the training camp invitees, former top-10 pick Killian Hayes is also eyeing a second chance after being waived by the Pistons last year.
How Fernandez handles this is key because the Nets could get younger next season with four first-round picks. If they struggle as many expect, they could be in play for a top-five pick. So it’s crucial how the Nets develop their current youth because they’ll have more by next summer.
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
