Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 10 – NBA Blog

Brooklyn Nets sign Alondes Williams to two-way contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Alondes Williams to a two-way contract.

Williams (6’5”, 210) spent the 2021-22 season as a graduate student at Wake Forest, appearing in and starting 35 games and registering averages of 18.5 points on 50.7 percent shooting from the field, 6.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 34.1 minutes per game. The 23-year-old tied for first in the ACC in assists per game and finished second in points per game en route to All-ACC First Team honors and becoming Wake Forest’s first ACC Player of the Year since Josh Howard in the 2002-03 season. Williams was one of just five players in the country to average at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, and he was the only power conference player to record those averages during the 2021-22 season. The Milwaukee native finished his lone season at Wake Forest ranked seventh on the program’s single-season scoring list (649), eighth in field goals made (242) and 11th in assists (181) and helped lead the Demon Deacons to the NIT quarterfinals. Prior to transferring to Wake Forest, Williams spent two years (2019-21) at Oklahoma, posting averages of 6.3 points on 45.8 percent shooting from the field and 2.3 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per contest across 55 games (24 starts). Williams began his collegiate career at Triton College in River Grove, Ill., competing for two years (2017-19) at the junior college, where he averaged 15.4 points per game and helped Triton capture the 2018 NJCAA Division II championship.

Williams will compete for Brooklyn’s NBA 2K23 Summer League team in Las Vegas.

Utah Jazz trade Royce O’Neale to Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired forward Royce O’Neale in a trade with the Utah Jazz for a 2023 first round draft pick (the least favorable of the Brooklyn/Houston first round pick swap and Philadelphia’s first round pick that was previously acquired by Brooklyn).

“We are excited to welcome Royce and his family to Brooklyn,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “He is a versatile wing defender and floor spacer whose tenacious style of play fits the fabric of the team we are building.”

O’Neale (6’6”, 215) appeared in 370 games (230 starts) across five seasons (2017-22) with Utah, recording averages of 6.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25.7 minutes per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from 3-point range and 79.6 percent from the free-throw line. The 29-year-old appeared in and started 77 games for Utah during the 2021-22 season, averaging a career-high 7.4 points on 45.7 percent shooting from the field, 38.9 percent shooting from 3-point range and 80.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line with 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 31.2 minutes per contest. O’Neale has also seen action in 40 career playoff games (29 starts) over five postseason appearances with the Jazz, registering averages of 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 30.9 minutes per game while shooting 47.0 percent from the field, 39.9 percent from 3-point range and 69.8 percent from the free-throw line. Prior to signing with Utah, the Killeen, Texas, native played one season (2016-17) for Gran Canaria in Spain’s ACB and one season (2015-16) for MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg of the German Bundesliga after going undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft. He previously played two collegiate seasons (2013-15) at Baylor and two collegiate seasons (2011-13) at the University of Denver.

Nets guard Seth Curry undergoes ankle surgery

Brooklyn Nets guard Seth Curry underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle earlier today. The procedure was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

The Nets expect Curry to be fully recovered prior to the start of next season’s training camp.

Curry appeared in 19 games (all starts) for Brooklyn this season after being acquired via trade in February, averaging 14.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 29.9 minutes per contest while shooting 49.3 percent from the field, 46.8 percent from 3-point range and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Celtics take 2-0 playoff series lead on Nets

Via the New York Daily News:

Steve Nash wants fans to think that the Nets’ playoff aspirations aren’t just dependent on Kevin Durant; his team’s success is a result of good teamwork rather than the superstars they signed to max contracts.

The Nets’ 114-107 Game 2 defeat to the Celtics, as well as a regular season that spiraled while both of those stars were unavailable, proved otherwise. The Nets’ supporting cast couldn’t handle the weight in a game where none of their stars showed up.

Durant, a two-time NBA Finals MVP and four-time NBA scoring champion, bowed to the pressure and intensity of the league-best Celtics’ defense for the second game in a row. And the Nets paid the price with a loss for the second game in a row, which hurt even more than the buzzer-beating game-winner that lost them Game 1.

In Game 2, Durant turned the ball over six times after missing 15 shots and turning the ball over six times in Game 1, and he shot 4-of-17 from the field for 27 points, almost all of which came at the foul line. He went to the free throw line 20 times, converting on 18 of them.

— Full Article

With playoffs set to begin, Kevin Durant assumes Ben Simmons will remain inactive

With the NBA playoffs starting this weekend, there is no reason to expect that Ben Simmons will make his Brooklyn Nets debut anytime soon. Via ESPN.com:

As the speculation surrounding Ben Simmons’ potential debut for the Brooklyn Nets continues to be a talking point inside the NBA, Nets star Kevin Durant admitted Thursday that he is preparing as if Simmons won’t return as the Nets get ready for their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup with the Boston Celtics.

“I’m not expecting him to play,” Durant said after practice Thursday. “That’s easier for me. I’m not putting any pressure on Ben to come out there and hoop. So I’m not expecting him to do anything but just to get his body right and get healthy as fast as he can. So in my mind, I’m preparing as if we’re playing with the team we have.”

Simmons, who was acquired by the Nets just before the February trade deadline from the Philadelphia 76ers, has not played in an NBA game in almost a year after requesting a trade from the Sixers last season, citing mental health concerns. Simmons has been dealing with some back soreness since late February and has not been cleared to participate in a practice since coming to Brooklyn. Nets coach Steve Nash said Thursday that Simmons still isn’t doing any “basketball conditioning” and continues to do individual rehab work.

Craig Randall II wins 2021-22 G League Most Improved Player award

Long Island Nets guard Craig Randall II has been named the 2021-22 NBA G League Most Improved Player, the NBA G League announced today.

The award, which honors the player who demonstrates the most significant improvement during the season, was voted on by NBA G League head coaches and general managers.

In his first NBA G League season, Randall (6-4, 185, Tennessee-Martin) averaged 26.7 points, 6.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 27 regular-season games. He finished second in the voting for the 2021-22 Kia NBA G League Rookie of the Year Award.

Randall earned a spot on the Nets’ roster in October 2021 after participating in a local tryout. He was named the NBA G League Player of the Month for games played in February, becoming the first local tryout player to earn Player of the Month honors.

Earlier in the regular season, Randall was named the NBA G League Player of the Week for games played from Jan. 5-9 after scoring 40 points against the College Park Skyhawks on Jan. 5 and 44 points against the Greensboro Swarm on Jan. 7.

Prior to the regular season, Randall averaged 11.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 14 games for Long Island during the 2021 NBA G League Showcase Cup.

Delaware Blue Coats forward Braxton Key and Skyhawks forward Justin Tillman finished in second and third place, respectively, in the voting for the 2021-22 Kia NBA G League Most Improved Player Award.

Nets sign Kessler Edwards, who had been on two-way deal, to standard NBA contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed two-way forward Kessler Edwards to a standard NBA contract.

Edwards (6’8”, 215) was selected by Brooklyn with the 44th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and signed a two-way contract with the Nets on Aug. 16, 2021.

In 47 games (22 starts) for Brooklyn this season, Edwards has averaged 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game while shooting 40.8 percent from the field, 35.6 percent from 3-point range and 82.4 percent from the free-throw line.

The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native’s 22 starts mark the most starts for a rookie selected 44th or lower in Nets history. He also appeared in seven games (all starts) for Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, during the NBA G League Showcase Cup, posting averages of 15.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks in 34.0 minutes per contest.

Prior to joining the Nets, Edwards played three collegiate seasons (2018-21) at Pepperdine, where he was an All-WCC First Team selection as a junior, an All-WCC Second Team selection as a sophomore and named to the WCC All-Freshman team after his first season.

Nets waive James Johnson

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on forward James Johnson.

Johnson signed with the Nets as a free agent on Aug. 6, 2021, and appeared in 62 games (10 starts) for Brooklyn this season, recording averages of 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.2 minutes per game. In 747 career games (242 starts) across 13 seasons with Brooklyn, New Orleans, Dallas, Minnesota, Miami, Toronto, Memphis, Sacramento and Chicago, he has averaged 7.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 20.5 minutes per contest.

Longtime Nets official scorer Herb Turetzky has passed away

The Brooklyn Nets mourn the loss of longtime official scorer Herb Turetzky, who passed away on Monday, April 4, at the age of 76.

For 54 years, Turetzky was synonymous with Nets Basketball. He was the one constant since the inception of the franchise, and his passing leaves a void that can never be filled. A fixture at center court, he touched the lives of generations of Nets players, staff and fans, leaving an indelible mark on those who knew him. His warm smile and kind-hearted nature will be forever missed by all at Barclays Center, and his legacy will endure for years to come.

Turetzky is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jane, their daughter, Jennifer, son, David, daughter-in-law, Heather, and grandchildren, Jack and Harper.

A native of Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood, Turetzky scored the first game in franchise history, a matchup between the New Jersey Americans and Pittsburgh Pipers of the American Basketball Association (ABA) on Oct. 23, 1967, at the Teaneck Armory while he was a senior at Long Island University. That game began a career that spanned more than 2,200 games and was eventually certified as a record for professional basketball games scored in the Guinness Book of World Records. Turetzky also worked 1,465 consecutive regular season and playoff games, beginning in the 1984-85 season and concluding in Oct. 2018. Turetzky’s tenure saw him score games in eight home arenas with more than 500 players donning a Nets uniform in that span. He was on hand to score the greatest moments in franchise history, including ABA championships in 1974 and 1976 and consecutive trips to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.

Turetzky earned a number of honors throughout his career with the Nets, including his induction into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame and the Basketball Old Timers of America Hall of Fame.

The Nets honored Turetzky at their game versus the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 16, 2021, bestowing him the title of official scorer emeritus and dedicating the scorer’s table at Barclays Center as the ‘Herb Turetzky Scorer’s Table’ in a ceremony attended by his family, former players and a group of close friends.

Nets guard/forward Joe Harris undergoes ankle ligament reconstruction surgery

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Joe Harris underwent successful left ankle ligament reconstruction surgery today. The procedure was performed by Dr. Robert Anderson at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, Wisc. Harris is expected to make a full recovery prior to next season’s training camp.

Harris appeared in 14 games this season, averaging 11.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 30.2 minutes per contest.