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Nets sign Drew Timme to multi-year contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Drew Timme to a multi-year contract.

Timme (6’10”, 235) has appeared in 29 regular season games (28 starts) this season with Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, registering averages of 23.9 points (eighth in the league) on 57.0 percent shooting from the field, 38.5 percent shooting from 3-point range and 73.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 10.3 rebounds (fourth in the league), 4.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 35.6 minutes per game.

The 24-year-old is the only player in the NBA G League this season to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game and has tallied 17 double-doubles. The reigning NBA G League Player of the Week, Timme earned the recognition for games played from March 17 through March 23, recording averages of 35.7 points on 68.4 percent shooting from the field and 63.6 percent shooting from distance, 12.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals in 35.7 minutes per contest while leading Long Island to a 2-1 record.

Nets guard Cam Thomas out for season with hamstring injury

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain. The injury occurred during Thursday night’s game at Chicago. Given the number of days remaining in the schedule and the time needed to appropriately recover, it is expected that Thomas will miss the remainder of the season.

In 25 appearances this season, Thomas averaged 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 31.2 minutes per game. The 23-year-old tallied a team-leading six 30-point performances, including a season-high 43 points at New York on Nov. 15. Thomas notched his first career double-double with 24 points, six rebounds and a career-high 10 assists in 32 minutes at Chicago on March 13.

Nets sign Kendall Brown to two-way contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Kendall Brown to a two-way contract.

Brown (6’8″, 200) has appeared in 20 regular season games (18 starts) this season with Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, and holds averages of 16.1 points on 53.5 percent shooting from the floor, 38.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 78.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 5.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 36.3 minutes per contest. The 21-year-old also saw action in 14 Tip-Off Tournament games (nine starts) with Long Island and averaged 16.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists across 32.3 minutes per game.

Brooklyn’s roster now stands at 18 players with three two-way players.

Nets sign Tyrese Martin and Killian Hayes, waive Bojan Bogdanovic

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Tyrese Martin to a multi-year contract and guard Killian Hayes to a 10-day contract.

In a related transaction, the Nets have requested waivers on forward Bojan Bogdanovic.

Martin’s (6’6″, 215) contract was previously converted to a two-way deal on Oct. 19, 2024, after he originally joined Brooklyn on Sept. 20, 2024. The 25-year-old has appeared in 36 games (six starts) with the Nets this season and holds averages of 7.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 21.0 minutes per contest. He has recorded 10 or more points 12 times, including a career-high 30 points at Phoenix on Nov. 27, and has drained multiple 3-pointers in 13 contests. In six games as a starter, Martin has averaged 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists over 31.5 minutes per game. The Allentown, Pa., native spent last season with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League and saw action in 16 games with the Atlanta Hawks during the 2022-23 campaign. Martin was selected 51st overall in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors before Atlanta acquired his draft rights. He spent two seasons at the University of Rhode Island (2018-20) before finishing his collegiate career at the University of Connecticut (2020-22), where he earned 2022 All-Big East Tournament honors as a senior.

Hayes (6’5″, 210) has appeared in and started 13 regular season games this season with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, and averaged 21.0 points on 49.5 percent shooting from the field, 40.3 percent shooting from 3-point range and 77.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 5.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists (fifth in the NBA G League) and a league-leading 2.8 steals in 35.6 minutes per contest. Hayes also saw action in 15 Tip-Off Tournament games (all starts) with Long Island and recorded averages of 13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.8 steals in 32.3 minutes per game. The 23-year-old previously signed with Brooklyn on Sept. 20, 2024, before being waived on Oct. 19, 2024. In 210 NBA games (145 starts) over four seasons (2020-24) with the Detroit Pistons, Hayes holds career averages of 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 26.1 minutes per contest. The native of France was selected seventh overall by Detroit in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Bogdanović was acquired via trade on July 6, 2024, from New York and did not appear in any games this season while rehabilitating a left foot injury.

Clippers sign Ben Simmons

The LA Clippers have signed Ben Simmons, it was announced by Lawrence Frank, President of Basketball Operations.

Simmons, 28, has played in 33 games (24 starts) for the Brooklyn Nets this season, averaging 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and a team-leading 6.9 assists in 25.0 minutes. He is shooting 54.7% (93-170) from the field and has scored in double figures eight times.

Originally selected first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons has appeared in 365 games across seven NBA seasons with Philadelphia and Brooklyn, averaging 13.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 31.8 minutes. He is a three-time NBA All-Star (2019-21), two-time All-Defensive honoree (2020-21) and was an All-NBA Third Team selection in 2020. Simmons was also voted the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year, following a season in which he posted 12 triple-doubles, the second most by a rookie in league history.

A native of Melbourne, Australia, Simmons played his lone collegiate season at LSU, where he was the consensus National Freshman of the Year while also earning All-SEC First Team recognition.

Nets waive Ben Simmons after buyout agreement

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard/forward Ben Simmons. It was a contract buyout agreement.

Per the New York Post, “Simmons is playing on the final season of a five-year, $177.2 million deal that he originally signed with the 76ers in July 2019, and that the Nets acquired in the trade that sent James Harden to Philadelphia at the 2022 deadline… In Simmons’ first two-plus seasons with the Nets, he played in just 57 of the team’s 191 games after the blockbuster became official. The Nets paid him approximately $86.3 million during that time, meaning he earned approximately $1.5 million per game played. (He also missed all eight of the Nets’ playoff games, though that’s not included here.)”

Simmons originally joined the Nets on Feb. 10, 2022, via trade from Philadelphia. In 33 appearances (24 starts) with Brooklyn this season, Simmons averaged 6.2 points on 54.7 percent shooting from the field, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 25.0 minutes per game. In 365 career games (344 starts) with the Nets and Sixers, the native of Australia holds career averages of 13.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals across 31.8 minutes per contest.

Brooklyn’s roster now stands at 17 players.

Nets sign Tosan Evbuomwan, waive Jaylen Martin

The Brooklyn Nets last week (on January 1) signed forward Tosan Evbuomwan to a two-way contract.

In a related transaction, the Nets have requested waivers on two-way guard/forward Jaylen Martin.

Evbuomwan (6’7″, 217) appeared in 16 Tip-Off Tournament games (all starts) for the San Diego Clippers in the NBA G League this season, averaging 18.4 points on 51.9 percent shooting from the field, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 32.6 minutes per game. The Newcastle, England, native saw action in 17 games (eight starts) with the Pistons and Grizzlies last season during his rookie campaign, averaging 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds over 21.6 minutes per contest. He also played in 18 regular season games (16 starts) last season with the Pistons’ NBA G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise, posting averages of 15.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 34.5 minutes per game. Evbuomwan went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft after playing three seasons (2019-20, 2021-23) at Princeton, where he earned Ivy League Player of the Year as a junior and helped lead the Tigers to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a senior.

Martin signed a two-way contract with the Nets on Feb. 21, 2024. He appeared in three games for Brooklyn this season.

Lakers trade D’Angelo Russell to Nets

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired via trade forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. In return, the Lakers sent guard D’Angelo Russell, forward Maxwell Lewis and three future second round draft picks to the Nets.

Finney-Smith (6’7”, 225) has appeared in 20 games (all starts) for Brooklyn this season, averaging 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 29.0 minutes. On the season, the 31-year-old is shooting a career-best 43.5 percent from 3-point range. In 548 career NBA games (424 starts) across nine seasons with the Nets (2023-25) and Dallas Mavericks (2016-23), Finney-Smith has averaged 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 27.9 minutes. He has appeared in 35 career NBA playoff games (all starts) with the Nets and Mavericks, averaging 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 35.7 minutes. The Virginia native went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft before earning an opening-night roster spot with the Dallas Mavericks prior to the 2016-17 season. He played collegiately for Florida (2013-16) and Virginia Tech (2011-12).

Milton (6’5”, 212) has appeared in 27 games (one start) for Brooklyn this season, averaging 7.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 18.2 minutes. In 329 career outings (46 starts) across seven seasons with the Nets (2024-25), New York Knicks (2023-24), Detroit Pistons (2023-24), Minnesota Timberwolves (2023-24) and Philadelphia 76ers (2018-23), the 28-year-old has averaged 8.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 19.3 minutes. In 38 career NBA playoff contests (four starts) for the 76ers and Knicks, the Oklahoma native has averaged 4.8 points and 1.2 rebounds in 11.8 minutes. The SMU product (2015-18) was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 54th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft prior to being traded to Philadelphia to begin his professional career.

In 29 outings (10 starts) for the Lakers this season, Russell averaged 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 26.3 minutes. In 600 career regular season NBA games (510 starts), the 28-year-old has averaged 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 30.0 minutes.

Lewis suited up in 41 contests over the past two seasons with the Purple and Gold. He was drafted by the Lakers with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft.

Nets trade Dennis Schroder to Warriors

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired guard De’Anthony Melton and two-way guard Reece Beekman along with three unprotected second round draft picks (2026 via Atlanta, 2028 via Atlanta and 2029 Golden State’s own) in a trade with the Golden State Warriors for guard Dennis Schröder and a 2025 second round draft pick (via Miami).

In a related transaction, the Nets have requested waivers on forward Cui Yongxi.

Melton (6’2″, 201) saw action in six games with Golden State this season after signing with the team as a free agent on July 8, registering averages of 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.2 minutes per game. He suffered a season-ending partially torn left ACL on November 12.

Beekman (6’1″, 198) signed a two-way contract with the Warriors on July 3 and appeared in two games with Golden State. He also played in nine Tip-Off Tournament games (seven starts) with Golden State’s NBA G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, recording averages of 18.7 points on 51.5 percent shooting from the field, 5.2 rebounds, 7.3 assists (ninth in the NBA G League) and 2.8 steals (third in the NBA G League) in 31.5 minutes per contest. Prior to beginning his professional career, the 23-year-old Milwaukee native spent four years (2020-24) at the University of Virginia, where he was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior, becoming the third player to ever win the award in consecutive seasons. He finished his collegiate career as Virginia’s all-time leader in steals (228).

Schröder, who was originally acquired by Brooklyn on Feb. 8, 2024, in a trade with Toronto, played in a total of 52 games (48 starts) for the Nets across two seasons, posting averages of 16.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 32.7 minutes per game. Schröder has played in and started 23 games this season, registering averages of 18.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.6 minutes per game.

Cui signed a two-way contract with Brooklyn on Sept. 20, 2024. He appeared in five games for Brooklyn and five games for the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, this season.

Ben Simmons still trying to rediscover his aggression

Per the NY Daily News:

An odd play late in the Nets’ 115-102 defeat of the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday summed up the Ben Simmons experience perfectly.

Brooklyn was up 106-89 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter when Simmons created a turnover by poking the ball away from Damian Lillard. Dennis Schröder corralled the rock, then quickly whipped a one-handed pass up the court to a streaking Simmons. Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas were trailing behind him.

Brook Lopez, who had nine blocks entering the night, was Milwaukee’s last line of defense. The Nets had a 3-on-1 advantage in transition and Simmons technically made the right basketball play in that moment, pitching the ball back to Johnson, which should have resulted in an easy bucket. But Simmons barely looked at the rim, and because of his lack of aggression, Lopez did not have to cover much ground defensively. The 7-1 center could essentially guard two players at once.