Nets season preview: Brooklyn has first-year coach and eye on future, but plenty of players with something to prove
Nets guard Dennis Schroder, right, controls the ball next to guard Ben Simmons, left, and Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann during the first half of an NBA preseason game Tuesday in Oceanside, Calif. Credit: AP/Ryan Sun
The Nets knew the stakes when they traded Mikal Bridges in June. One year earlier, they believed he was a piece to pair with another free agent.
Instead, they sent him across the East River. Bridges enhanced the Knicks’ championships dreams and the Nets, despite adding five first-round picks for the future, are rebuilding from square one. Several betting sites projected the Nets to finish between 18.5 and 23.5 wins. There’s more talk about next year’s offseason where the Nets have four first-round picks, including their own, in a highly-regarded 2025 draft class.
But with first-year coach Jordi Fernandez, the Nets still aim to create a culture in the present. One that lays a foundation for the next era.
“What I can do is do what I think is best for our organization moving forward. That goes with building winning habits,” Fernandez said. “Right now, if you go one day at a time and you get 1% better every day, you do what’s best for the team and work on building those relationships so you’re connected, I think that’s where we’ll take steps forward.”
Fernandez comes from winning teams as an assistant with the Nuggets and Kings. As a defensive-minded coach known for player development, he’ll put both skills for a Nets roster in flux.
Seven players, including Ben Simmons and Cam Thomas, are free agents after this season. Eight players will be 23 years old or younger on opening night so a youth movement is here.
Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, both mentioned in trade rumors this offseason, could likely be moved by the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
In short, there’s a lot of moving parts for a team that will look radically different a year from now. General manager Sean Marks admitted this year is partly about figuring out which players are the best fits going forward.
However, the players remained focus on the present despite the uncertainty.
“What we have right now is the group we have, and our job is to go in there and compete,” Johnson said. “On one hand, you say we have low expectations, then we just get to come out and play how we play without all that added stress that can come with that.”
Instead of star power, the Nets have something to prove. Nic Claxton was rewarded with a four-year contract extension and now the sixth-year, defensive-minded center will get a chance to create more on offense.
Simmons is trying to stay healthy after just 15 games last season and back surgery in March. Thomas led the Nets in scoring last year and is poised to do so again for a team that needs scoring.
Dennis Schroder, another free agent this summer, thrived after being traded from Toronto at the deadline. Now Fernandez is experimenting with him and Simmons playing together as dual-point guards.
Of the younger players, Jalen Wilson and Noah Clowney look to take a second-year leap. Ziaire Williams is seeking a fresh start after three up-and-down seasons with the Grizzlies.
But fans will also keep one eye on this college basketball season. A rough year could be rewarded with Duke freshman forward Cooper Flagg, Rutgers forwards Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper or another top prospect.
It’s a goal as much as winning games and establishing an identity. The Nets also project to have at least $60 million in cap space, most in the league, to help in free agency along with those draft picks.
It just makes for a painful present but the Nets knew this when they traded Bridges. They just hope the struggles to come are merely a bridge to a better future.
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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