Category: Brooklyn Nets Blog

Here’s TMZ reporting that, if you were wondering if Donald Trump might happen to want to buy the Brooklyn Nets, you can stop wondering. The answer is no. Or so he says. Of course, if he was thinking of exploring it, there’s no reason for him to necessarily admit it at this time. Still, here’s the report:

Donald Trump is taking himself out of the running to buy the Brooklyn Nets … telling TMZ Sports he won’t even consider making a bid for the NBA team now that they’re up for sale.

Of course, Trump flirted with the idea of buying the Buffalo Bills last year … and it seemed like the guy was pretty serious about adding a major professional sports team to his portfolio.

Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams has been diagnosed with a fracture of the cartilage portion of the left 12th rib following an MRI today, General Manager Billy King announced.

Statement from Nets Medical Director Dr. Riley Williams III

“Deron reported some soreness above this area over the weekend and as a result underwent imaging studies on Monday, which were negative. Yesterday during the game he reported a new onset of symptoms below the prior area of soreness. New imaging studies done today demonstrated the fracture. There is no timetable for his return. He will be re-assessed in one week.”

Williams has appeared in 32 games (25 starts) this season, averaging 13.9 points, 6.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 31.3 minutes per game. He ranks 14th in the NBA in assists per game.

According to New York Newsday, “Williams’ diagnosis caps a rollercoaster last few days. After Sunday’s game, he said his left side locked up and he was told he had something akin to a severe cramp and that electrolytes would help. He was listed as probable leading into Monday’s loss to the Mavericks, but word came down before tipoff that he was instead out.”

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on forward Brandon Davies, General Manager Billy King announced today.

Davies was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers on December 11, 2014. In seven appearances for the Nets, Davies posted averages of 2.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 6.3 minutes per game.

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on the Nets, who are 16-16 for the season and on a three-game winning streak:

Much ballyhooed rookie Bojan Bogdanovic has fallen out of the rotation. In fact, he received his first DNP-coach’s decision Friday night. Granted, he didn’t play until garbage time in Chicago Tuesday night. He shot 38.8 percent in December. Hollins told reporters in Orlando: “It’s not what Bogie’s done, it’s what he’s not done. You’ve got to play and compete and go out and play well, and (Sergey) Karasev has shown me a lot in practice. We were struggling, I just gave (Sergey) a shot and he played well. It’s also a product of Bogie just hitting a wall and not being aggressive.” As a starter, Karasev is averaging 8.3 points on 41.7 percent shooting. His basketball IQ has been excellent, his defense competent.

The Brooklyn Nets have assigned Markel Brown and Cory Jefferson to the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League, pursuant to the flexible assignment rule, General Manager Billy King announced today. The flexible assignment rule was used because the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Nets’ D-League affiliate, had four players on assignment at the time the Nets initiated Brown and Jefferson’s assignments to the D-League.

Brown, a 6’3” rookie guard, has appeared in seven games with the Nets this season, averaging 1.9 points in 5.4 minutes per game. He was selected with the 44th pick of this year’s NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves and traded to the Nets in exchange for cash considerations.

Jefferson, a 6’9” rookie forward, has appeared in 15 games (one start) with the Nets this season, averaging 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 9.9 minutes per game. He was selected with the 60th pick of this year’s NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and traded to the Nets in exchange for cash considerations.

These will be the first D-League assignments of Brown and Jefferson’s careers and the first D-League assignments the Nets have made this season.

Here’s ESPN New York reporting some hard truths about several key Brooklyn Nets players:

They might be making a combined $432,604 per game, but Deron Williams and Brook Lopez are nothing more than sixth and seventh men right now, two max reserves coming back from injury and struggling to adapt to their new roles for the Brooklyn Nets.

On Saturday night at Barclays Center, Williams and Lopez looked like shells of their former All-Star selves. Williams shot 2-for-7 from the field and had three turnovers in 20 minutes off the bench, while Lopez missed all five of his field-goal attempts in 15 minutes and was held scoreless for the first time since Nov. 8, 2010 — the sixth game of his career.

“There are no excuses,” Nets coach Lionel Hollins said after his team was pounded by the Indiana Pacers 110-85. “[Deron and Brook] didn’t play very well, and they have to play better for us to be better or for them to get more playing time and more consistent playing time.”

You want a strong statement from a head coach of a 13-15 team that is only alive and well because it plays its games in the Eastern Conference? Try that one.