Category: Brooklyn Nets Blog

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G League: Long Island Nets hire James Maye, Jimmie Oakman, Lance Harris as assistant coaches

The Long Island Nets, the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, have named James Maye, Jimmie Oakman and Lance Harris as assistant coaches on Head Coach Adam Caporn’s staff.

Maye joins Long Island after spending the 2019-20 season as an assistant coach with the NBA G League’s Greensboro Swarm. He previously spent one season (2018-19) as an assistant coach with NBA G League’s Capital City Go-Go. Prior to beginning his coaching career, Maye played 14 professional seasons (2003-17), mainly overseas and for one season (2006-07) in the NBA G League with the Dakota Wizards. He also played five collegiate seasons (1998-03) at UNC Greensboro, where he currently ranks fifth all-time in scoring with 1,574 career points, and later earned a Master of Business Administration from the American College of Thessaloniki in Greece.

Oakman will enter his fourth season with the Long Island Nets and his second as assistant coach. He originally joined the Long Island staff ahead of the 2018-19 season as head video coordinator and served in the same role the following season with added player development responsibilities. Prior to working with the Nets, Oakman spent three seasons (2015-18) as Boston University’s director of basketball operations and one season (2014-15) as the team’s special assistant and director of advance scouting. The University of Massachusetts Amherst graduate also previously served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for three seasons (2011-14) at Daniel Webster College in Nashua, N.H.

Harris joins Long Island after spending the 2020-21 season with the Brooklyn Nets as a video seasonal assistant. He previously spent one season (2019-20) as an assistant coach at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. Prior to beginning his career in basketball operations, Harris played professionally overseas for more than a decade (2007-19) in Slovenia, France, Turkey, Russia, Italy, Ukraine and Greece following four collegiate seasons (2003-07) at Kansas State.

Nets sign forward Devontae Cacok

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent forward Devontae Cacok.

It’s probably a non-guaranteed deal made to bring Cacok to training camp.

Cacok (6’7”, 240) joins the Nets after spending the last two seasons on a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. In 21 games (one start), he recorded averages of 2.1 points on 57.1 percent shooting from the field and 1.8 rebounds in 5.1 minutes per contest. Cacok was also a member of the Lakers’ 2020 NBA championship team. In addition to his NBA experience, the 24-year-old appeared in 33 games (two starts) with the Lakers’ NBA G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, during the 2019-20 campaign, posting averages of 19.3 points on 66.0 percent shooting from the floor, 11.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 23.9 minutes per game, earning All-NBA G League First Team and NBA G League All-Rookie Team honors. Cacok went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft after spending four years (2015-19) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where he garnered Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore and was named All-CAA First Team as a junior and senior.

Nets sign Paul Millsap

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent forward Paul Millsap.

Millsap (6’7”, 257) has appeared in 1,052 career games (745 starts) across 15 NBA seasons with the Denver Nuggets (2017-21), Atlanta Hawks (2013-17) and Utah Jazz (2006-13), recording averages of 13.7 points on 49.0 percent shooting from the floor, 34.3 percent shooting from 3-point range and 73.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line, along with 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 28.6 minutes per game. Most recently with the Nuggets during the 2020-21 season, Millsap appeared in 56 games (36 starts) and averaged 9.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 20.8 minutes per contest. Millsap has appeared in the postseason 12 times, suiting up in 129 total playoff games (75 starts) and averaging 12.2 points on 45.7 percent shooting from the floor and 72.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line, to go with 6.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 blocks in 27.5 minutes per contest. The 36-year-old was originally selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round with the 47th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. After seven seasons with the Jazz, Millsap signed with the Hawks, where he was named an Eastern Conference All-Star in each of his four years (2014-17) and helped lead the team to the No. 1 seed in the East during the 2014-15 season. The Monroe, La., native was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team during the 2015-16 campaign, when he was the only player in the league to rank in the top 15 in both steals (1.8) and blocks (1.7) per game and set single-season career highs in each category (139 blocks, 147 steals). Since he entered the league in the 2006-07 season, Millsap ranks second among all players in regular season games played, trailing only LeBron James (1,072), and Millsap is the only player in the league to register 1,000 blocks and 1,000 steals in that timeframe.

Prior to beginning his NBA career, Millsap spent three seasons (2003-06) at Louisiana Tech University. He became the only player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in rebounding three consecutive seasons and was a First-Team All-WAC honoree in his final two campaigns with the Bulldogs (2005, 06).

Nets waive Jahlil Okafor

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on center Jahlil Okafor.

Okafor (6’10”, 270) was acquired by the Nets in a trade with the Detroit Pistons on September 4. He’s seen action in 247 games (116 starts) in six seasons with Detroit (2020-21), New Orleans (2018-20), Brooklyn (2017-18) and Philadelphia (2015-17), posting averages of 10.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game.

Pistons trade Sekou Doumbouya, Jahlil Okafor to Nets for DeAndre Jordan, draft picks

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired forward Sekou Doumbouya and center Jahlil Okafor from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for center DeAndre Jordan, second round draft picks in 2022, 2024 (via Washington), 2025 (via Golden State) and 2027 and cash considerations.

“We appreciate everything DeAndre has contributed to our organization over the past two seasons both on and off the court and wish him and his family the best moving forward,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks.

Doumbouya (6’8”, 230) has appeared in 94 games (30 starts) across two seasons (2019-21) with the Pistons, recording averages of 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game.

Okafor (6’10”, 270) has seen action in 247 games (116 starts) in six seasons with Detroit (2020-21), New Orleans (2018-20), Brooklyn (2017-18) and Philadelphia (2015-17), posting averages of 10.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game.

Jordan originally signed as a free agent with Brooklyn on July 6, 2019, and appeared in 113 games (49 starts) in two seasons (2019-21) with the Nets, recording averages of 7.9 points on 71.1 percent shooting from the field, 8.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 blocks in 21.9 minutes per game. In the 2020-21 campaign, Jordan averaged 7.5 points on 76.3 percent shooting from the field, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 blocks in 21.9 minutes per contest across 57 games (43 starts). The 33-year-old has played in 932 games (756 starts) in 13 seasons with Brooklyn, New York (2019), Dallas (2018-19) and the L.A. Clippers (2008-18), posting averages of 9.4 points on 67.4 percent shooting from the field, 10.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.6 blocks in 27.4 minutes per game.

LaMarcus Aldridge un-retires from NBA, re-signs with Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed free agent forward LaMarcus Aldridge.

Per ESPN.com, “after retiring with heart concerns five months ago, seven-time All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge is returning to the Brooklyn Nets on a one-year, $2.6 million deal, his agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, told ESPN on Friday. Aldridge, 36, has been medically cleared by a number of doctors — including those both independent and Nets-affiliated — to make a return for his 16th season, Schwartz told ESPN.”

Aldridge (6’11”, 265) has appeared in 1,029 career NBA games (985 starts) across 15 seasons with Brooklyn (2021), San Antonio (2015-21) and Portland (2006-15), averaging 19.4 points on 49.1 percent shooting from the field and 81.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 blocks in 34.2 minutes per contest.

A seven-time NBA All-Star (2012-16, 2018-19), Aldridge most recently saw action in 26 contests (23 starts) for the Nets (five games) and Spurs (21 games). In his five games as a Net, Aldridge recorded averages of 12.8 points on 52.1 percent shooting from the field, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.2 blocks in 26.0 minutes per game.

The Dallas native is a five-time All-NBA selection, taking home second-team honors twice (2015, 2018) and third-team honors on three occasions (2011, 2014, 2016). Among active players, Aldridge currently ranks fourth in field goals made (8,059), fifth in rebounds (8,478), seventh in points (19,951), eighth in blocks (1,140) and 10th in games played (1,029). Aldridge is one of just two active players to register 19,000 points, 8,000 rebounds and 2,000 assists, joining LeBron James. The 36-year-old, who helped lead San Antonio to the conference finals in the 2017 NBA Playoffs, has appeared in the postseason nine times in his career, averaging 20.8 points on 45.5 percent shooting from the field and 82.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line to go along with 8.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 blocks in 37.1 minutes per game in 72 total contests (all starts).

The second overall pick in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft, Aldridge played collegiately at the University of Texas for two seasons (2004-06), appearing in 53 career games (all starts) for the Longhorns and averaging 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.8 blocks in 30.2 minutes per game. Following his final season in Austin, Aldridge was named First-Team All-Big 12 and the conference’s defensive player of the year.

Nets waive forward Alize Johnson

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on forward Alize Johnson.

Johnson originally joined the Nets on two 10-day contracts (signed on March 22 and April 1) before signing a multi-year deal with Brooklyn on April 11. In 18 games with the Nets during the 2020-21 season, the 25-year-old recorded averages of 5.2 points and 5.0 rebounds in 10.5 minutes per contest. Johnson has seen action in 49 games across three seasons with Brooklyn and Indiana (2018-20), registering averages of 2.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 7.6 minutes per game.

Nets sign rookie forward Kessler Edwards to two-way contract

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

Edwards (6’8”, 215) was selected with the 44th pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft by Brooklyn after a three-year (2018-21) collegiate career at Pepperdine. In 93 career games (85 starts) for the Waves, Edwards registered averages of 13.4 points on 47.7 percent shooting from the field, 38.7 percent shooting from 3-point range and 78.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.0 steals in 32.0 minutes per game. As a junior, he saw action in 27 games (26 starts), posting averages of 17.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steals in 33.9 minutes per contest. Edwards was an All-WCC First Team selection as a junior, All-WCC Second Team selection as a sophomore and was named to the WCC All-Freshman team after his first season. The 20-year-old finished his collegiate career in Pepperdine’s top 10 in blocked shots (127), free-throw percentage (78.8 percent) and 3-pointers made (148).

A native of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Edwards has appeared in three games with the Nets’ Summer League team in Las Vegas, recording averages of 5.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game. He totaled 14 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 31 minutes in his best Summer League performance, which came in a victory over the Wizards on Aug. 12.

Brooklyn Nets re-sign Bruce Brown

The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed guard/forward Bruce Brown.

Brown was acquired by the Nets from the Detroit Pistons as part of a three-team trade on Nov. 19, 2020. In the 2020-21 campaign, he registered averages of 8.8 points on a career-best 55.6 percent shooting from the field, a career-high 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 22.3 minutes per game across 65 games (37 starts). The 24-year-old also posted career highs in offensive rating (115.9), net rating (3.5), effective field goal percentage (57.6 percent) and double-doubles (six). Brooklyn compiled a record of 20-7 in games Brown reached double figures in and a 29-8 record (15-2 at home) in games he started. In 197 career games (136 starts) in three seasons with Brooklyn and Detroit (2018-20), Brown has recorded averages of 7.2 points on 47.1 percent shooting from the field, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 23.0 minutes per contest. He’s also seen action in 16 postseason games in his career, 12 of which came in the 2021 playoffs with the Nets, where he averaged 7.9 points on 50.6 percent shooting from the field, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 23.1 minutes per game. The Boston native was originally selected with the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft by the Pistons after spending two seasons (2016-18) at the University of Miami.

Brooklyn Nets sign rookie guard Cam Thomas

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Cam Thomas, the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft, to a multi-year contract.

Thomas (6’4”, 210) spent one year at LSU, where he appeared in and started 29 games, recording averages of 23.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 34.0 minutes per game. Thomas scored 25 or more points 16 times in his lone collegiate season, representing the most 25-point games for a freshman in the SEC over the last 25 seasons, and was the leading scorer among all NCAA Division I freshmen. He led the nation in free throws made (194), led the SEC in free-throw percentage (88.2 percent) and finished first in the SEC and seventh in the nation in field goals made (203). Thomas also appeared in both of LSU’s NCAA Tournament games, averaging 28.5 points per contest. The 19-year-old native of Chesapeake, Va., earned All-SEC First Team honors, All-SEC Freshman team honors and was an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American.