Category: Brooklyn Nets Blog

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Nets hire Jordi Fernandez as their new head coach

The Brooklyn Nets recently named Jordi Fernández as the 24th head coach in the franchise’s NBA history.

“We’re thrilled to announce Jordi Fernández as Brooklyn’s new head coach,” said General Manager Sean Marks. “As we progressed through an extensive search over the past six weeks, it became increasingly clear that Jordi is the best coach to lead our team forward. Jordi brings a diverse set of experiences and basketball knowledge gained over the course of a coaching career that has taken him around the world. Each step of the way, Jordi has consistently demonstrated the ability to implement strong processes and creative systems designed to optimize each team’s specific roster. He’s proven the ability to build genuine relationships and garner the respect of players of all levels, and we’re confident that our players will benefit greatly from his expertise. We look forward to Jordi, Kelsey and their children joining the Nets family and calling Brooklyn home.”

Fernández joins the Nets after spending the last two seasons (2022-24) as associate head coach of the Sacramento Kings. Last season, he helped lead the Kings to the 2023 Pacific Division title and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference in Sacramento’s first postseason appearance since the 2005-06 season.

The Badalona, Spain, native also currently serves as the head coach of Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team, a position he has held since June 2023. Last summer, he led Canada to a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, representing Canada’s first-ever medal in the event. Under Fernández’s direction, Canada registered an overall record of 6-2, including a win over Team USA for third place.

“We are excited to welcome Jordi Fernández and his family to the Nets big family. Jordi’s character as a leader and his emphasis on structure, process and habits will instill a Nets identity that our fans will want to root for,” said Nets Governor Joe Tsai. “We look forward to working with Jordi to build a sustainable winning culture in Brooklyn.”

Yet again, Nets guard Ben Simmons out for remainder of season

Brookly Nets guard Ben Simmons will remain out for the remainder of the season while he consults with specialists and explores treatment options for the nerve impingement in his lower back. Simmons, along with his representatives and Nets medical personnel, are currently in discussions with numerous experts to determine the course of action that will provide him with the best opportunity for long-term sustainable health.

Via the NY Post:

Simmons has missed 47 games this season and after he misses the next 20, he will have played in just an absurd 57 of 191 total games since the Nets acquired him at the 2022 trade deadline.

Over those three seasons, Simmons has made $103.3 million, meaning he has made an outrageous $1.82 million per game played.

With a $40 million expiring salary next season, the Nets could attempt to trade him this summer or possibly even buy him out.

Via NY Newsday:

It’s the third straight season in which Simmons’ availability and production has been extremely limited due to his back issues. It’s the second time this season he’s dealt with the injury.

Nets sign Jacob Gilyard to two-way contract

The Brooklyn Nets this past Saturday signed guard Jacob Gilyard to a two-way contract.

Gilyard (5’9″, 160) has appeared in 37 games (14 starts) with Memphis this season, posting averages of 4.7 points, 1.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 17.7 minutes per game. The 25-year-old Gilyard has also played in five games (all starts) for the Memphis Hustle in the NBA G League, recording averages of 14.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.6 steals in 34.1 minutes per contest. The second-year pro appeared in one game for the Grizzlies last season after signing a two-way contract with the team on April 8, 2023. He spent the majority of the 2022-23 season with the Hustle, appearing in 31 regular season games (25 starts) and averaging 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.9 steals in 30.4 minutes per game. The Kansas City, Mo., native went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft after a five-year collegiate career (2017-22) at the University of Richmond, where he became the NCAA’s all-time Division I steals leader with 466 career swipes. In 154 games (all starts) for the Spiders, Gilyard recorded averages of 13.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.0 steals in 37.3 minutes per contest.

Brooklyn’s roster stands at 18 players, including three two-way players.

Nets sign Jaylen Martin to two-way contract

The Brooklyn Nets yesterday signed guard/forward Jaylen Martin to a two-way contract.

Martin (6’6″, 216) has appeared in 15 games (eight starts) for the Westchester Knicks in the NBA G League this season, averaging 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 27.9 minutes per game. He also appeared in 16 Showcase Cup games (five starts) for Westchester, recording averages of 9.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.8 minutes per contest. The Tallahassee, Fla., native went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft after spending the 2022-23 season with the YNG Dreamerz of Overtime Elite. The 20-year-old posted averages of 14.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.6 steals in 23.3 minutes per game in 10 regular season Overtime Elite games last season and finished second in the league’s Most Improved Player voting.

Brooklyn’s roster now stands at 17 players.

Nets fire head coach Jacque Vaughn

The Brooklyn Nets have relieved Jacque Vaughn of his head coaching duties. An interim head coach will be named in the near future.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision, but one we feel is in the best interest of the team going forward,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “Jacque has represented this organization with exemplary character and class for the past eight years. The consistent positivity and passion he poured into our team daily will remain with the players and staff he interacted with throughout his tenure. We thank Jacque for all he has done for the Nets and the borough of Brooklyn, and wish him, Laura and their family nothing but the best in the future.”

Over parts of three seasons as head coach in Brooklyn, Vaughn compiled a record of 71-68 (.511).

Per the New York Post, “Nets actually started the season well, winning 13 of their first 23 games. But very little has gone right since, and Vaughn was made the scapegoat for the team’s many shortcomings. Star wing Mikal Bridges sounded the alarm after the ugly loss to the Celtics, questioning the team’s effort.”

Per New York Newsday, “the Nets have spiraled this season, having lost 18 of their last 24 games. In their last game before the All-Star break, the Nets lost by 50 points in Boston, the worst loss of their Brooklyn era and second-worst loss in franchise history. The Nets are 21-33 this season and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, 2.5 games out of the play-in portion of the NBA playoff race.”

Three-team trade sends Yuta Watanabe to Grizzlies, Royce O’Neale to Suns

In a three-team trade today, the Memphis Grizzlies acquired forwards Yuta Watanabe and Chimezie Metu and a future first round pick swap from the Phoenix Suns in a three-team trade also involving the Brooklyn Nets.

As part of the deal, Memphis traded forward David Roddy to Phoenix, and Brooklyn traded forward Royce O’Neale to Phoenix for forward Keita Bates-Diop, guard Jordan Goodwin and three future second round picks.

In a related move, the Grizzlies waived guard Victor Oladipo.

Watanabe (6-9, 215) has competed in 208 games (nine starts) in six seasons with Memphis, Toronto, Brooklyn and Phoenix and has averaged 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 13.3 minutes since going undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft. The 29-year-old became the second Japanese-born player in NBA history as member of the Grizzlies, where he played the first two seasons (2018-20) of his NBA career following four collegiate years at George Washington. He shot a career-high 44.4 percent from 3-point range as a member of the Nets last season.

Metu (6-9, 225) has appeared in 246 games (31 starts) in six seasons with San Antonio, Sacramento and Phoenix and has averaged 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.8 minutes since he was selected 49th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft out of USC. The 26-year-old Los Angeles native averaged 5.0 points in 12.1 minutes for the Suns this season.

Roddy (6-5, 255) has played 118 games (17 starts) in two seasons with Memphis and has averaged 7.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 20.1 minutes since he was selected by Philadelphia with the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Colorado State. The 22-year-old Minneapolis native averaged 8.4 points in 23.2 minutes in 48 appearances this season.

Oladipo (6-4, 213) was acquired by Memphis from the Houston Rockets on February 1. The 31-year-old has appeared in 504 games (397 starts) in 10 seasons.

Raptors trade Dennis Schroder, Thaddeus Young to Nets for Spencer Dinwiddie

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired guard Dennis Schröder and forward Thaddeus Young in a trade with the Toronto Raptors for guard Spencer Dinwiddie.

In a related move, the Nets have requested waivers on center Harry Giles III.

Also, the Raptors have waived Dinwiddie

Schröder (6’3″, 175) has played in 51 games (33 starts) this season for the Raptors, producing averages of 13.7 points on 44.2 percent shooting from the field, 35.0 percent shooting from 3-point range and 85.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 2.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 30.6 minutes per game. His 3.77 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks 10th in the league and represents a career-best mark, while his assists per game and turnovers per game (1.6) are both approaching the best single-season marks of his career. The 30-year-old has not missed a game this season after helping lead his native Germany to the country’s first-ever gold medal at the FIBA World Cup this past summer, earning FIBA World Cup MVP honors in the process. Across 11 NBA seasons with Atlanta (2013-18), Oklahoma City (2018-20), the Los Angeles Lakers (2020-21, 2022-23), Boston (2021-22), Houston (2022) and Toronto (2023-24), Schröder has recorded averages of 14.0 points on 43.4 percent shooting from the field, 33.8 percent shooting from distance and 83.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 2.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 27.1 minutes per contest in 739 games (350 starts). Schröder was originally selected with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft by Atlanta after playing professionally for three years in Germany, garnering Bundesliga Most Improved Player and Bundesliga Best German Young Player honors in his final season in 2013 with Phantoms Braunschweig.

Young (6’8″, 225) has seen action in 1,162 games (726 starts) across 17 seasons with Philadelphia (2007-14), Minnesota (2014-15), Brooklyn, Indiana (2016-19), Chicago (2019-21), San Antonio (2021-22) and Toronto (2022-24), registering averages of 12.2 points on 50.3 percent shooting from the field, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 28.3 minutes per contest.

Dinwiddie played in and started 48 games this season for the Nets, recording averages of 12.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 30.7 minutes per game. He appeared in 348 games (206 starts) across two stints with Brooklyn (2016-21, 2023-24), averaging 14.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 28.7 minutes per contest.

Giles played in 16 games off the bench for the Nets this season, averaging 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 5.1 minutes per game. Giles was originally signed as a free agent by Brooklyn on Sept. 6, 2023.

Nets waive Armoni Brooks

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard Armoni Brooks.

Brooks signed a two-way deal with the Nets on July 18, 2023. He appeared in 10 games as a reserve with Brooklyn this season and averaged 4.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game. Over 84 career NBA games (16 starts) in three seasons with Brooklyn, Toronto and Houston, Brooks holds career averages of 6.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.5 minutes per contest. The 25-year-old also played in 12 Showcase Cup games (four starts) with Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, averaging 14.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 26.1 minutes per game, as well as two regular season games with Long Island, averaging 17.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 22.8 minutes per contest.

Medical update on Nets guard Ben Simmons

Per the NY Post:

Nets point guard Ben Simmons has started feeling positive effects from the epidural he had in his back and has moved to the next phase of his rehab.

“He’s looking at, I think, in the matter of days to weeks, as opposed to weeks to months,” Simmons’ agent, Bernie Lee, told The Post.

Simmons, who hasn’t played since Nov. 6 and got the shot a little over a week ago, is doing aqua jogging — running in water. He’s working toward on-court activity.

FULL ARTICLE

Big Magic winning streak stopped by Nets in Brooklyn

Per the Orlando Sentinel:

The Magic went 18 days between their last two losses and both came on the road in Brooklyn.

The Nets (10-9) snapped Orlando‘s nine-game winning streak Saturday night at Barclays Center behind 42 points from forward Mikal Bridges.

Jamahl Mosley’s squad (14-6) allowed 43 points in the first quarter and was unable to fully recover in the 129-101 loss on the second night of a back-to-back.

Orlando heads to Cleveland on Wednesday for the first of two games added to their regular season schedule after the team failed to reach the knockout rounds of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament.

FULL ARTICLE