Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 9 – NBA Blog

Brooklyn Nets re-sign Nic Claxton

The Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, July 7 re-signed center Nic Claxton to a multi-year contract.

“Nic is an ascending player who has only begun to scratch the surface of what he’s capable of on both ends of the court,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “With his defensive versatility and developing offensive skillset, we believe Nic has a bright future ahead of him and we’re looking forward to his continued growth in Brooklyn.”

Claxton has spent his entire three-year NBA career with the Nets after being selected with the 31st overall pick in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft by Brooklyn. In 94 games (20 starts), Claxton holds career averages of 7.3 points on 64.6 percent shooting from the field, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 18.7 minutes per contest. The 23-year-old South Carolina native has increased his games played, starts, points per game, field goal percentage and rebounds per game in each of his three seasons. In the 2021-22 campaign, Claxton saw action in 47 games (19 starts), registering averages of 8.7 points on 67.4 percent shooting from the field, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 20.7 minutes per game. After the All-Star break, Claxton posted a team-best defensive rating of 106.1 and ranked third on the team in net rating (7.4), trailing only Kevin Durant (10.0) and Kyrie Irving (9.6). Claxton has also appeared in 16 playoff games across the last two seasons, averaging 4.5 points on 62.3 percent shooting from the field, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 14.2 minutes per contest. In four games in Brooklyn’s first round series versus Boston in 2022, Claxton recorded averages of 10.5 points on 79.2 percent shooting from the field, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.3 blocks in 24.5 minutes per game.

Prior to beginning his NBA career, Claxton spent two collegiate seasons (2017-19) at the University of Georgia. As a sophomore, he averaged a team-high 13.0 points, 8.6 rebounds (third in the SEC), 1.1 steals and 2.5 blocks (10th in the nation) while adding 1.8 assists in 31.6 minutes per game on his way to being named to the All-SEC Second Team. Overall, Claxton appeared in 65 games for the Bulldogs, averaging 8.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.9 blocks in 23.0 minutes per contest.

Nets sign T.J. Warren

The Brooklyn Nets yesterday signed free agent forward T.J. Warren to a contract.

“T.J. is a proven three-level scorer with the size and versatility to make an impact for us,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “We think T.J. is a great fit on the wing, and we’re excited to welcome him and his family to Brooklyn.”

Warren (6’8”, 215) has appeared in 332 games (236 starts) across seven seasons with the Indiana Pacers (2019-21) and Phoenix Suns (2014-19), registering averages of 15.5 points on 50.7 percent shooting from the field, 35.7 percent shooting from 3-point range and 78.0 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 28.8 minutes per game. The 28-year-old played in just four games in the last two seasons due to injury, but in his last full season in 2019-20 with the Pacers, he appeared in and started a career-high 67 games, while averaging a career-high 19.8 points per game on a career-high 53.6 percent shooting from the field, 40.3 percent shooting from 3-point range and a career-high 81.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 32.9 minutes per contest. In six seeding games in the Orlando Bubble in the summer of 2020, Warren put together the best stretch of his career, averaging 31.0 points on 57.8 percent shooting from the field, 52.4 percent shooting from 3-point range and 88.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 36.4 minutes per game, trailing only Damian Lillard (38.9 points per game), James Harden (31.7 points per game) and Devin Booker (31.0 points per game) in seeding game Orlando Bubble points per game. The Durham, N.C., native also saw the first playoff action of his career in Orlando in 2020, posting averages of 20.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.3 steals in four games in a first round series against the Miami Heat.

Warren was originally selected with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft by Phoenix after spending two years (2012-14) at North Carolina State University. At NC State, Warren was named to the ACC All-Freshmen Team in his first season and then earned All-ACC First Team, ACC Player of the Year and consensus second-team All-American honors in his second and final collegiate season.

Brooklyn Nets sign Edmond Sumner

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent guard Edmond Sumner.

Sumner (6’4”, 196) has appeared in 108 games (29 starts) across four seasons (2017-21) with the Indiana Pacers, recording averages of 5.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14.1 minutes per game. The 26-year-old was most recently acquired via trade by the Nets on Oct. 6, 2021, before being waived on Oct. 10, and did not participate in the 2021-22 NBA season due to a torn left Achilles tendon. In his last full season in 2020-21 with the Pacers, he appeared in 53 games (24 starts) and averaged a career-high 7.5 points on 52.5 percent shooting from the field (career high), 39.8 percent shooting from 3-point range (career high) and 81.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line (career high) and 1.8 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per game. During his time in Indiana, Sumner saw action in four career playoff games and recorded averages of 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 10.5 minutes per contest. Sumner was originally selected by the New Orleans Pelicans with the 52nd overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft before being dealt to Indiana in a draft-night trade.

The Michigan native spent three collegiate seasons (2014-17) at Xavier University, appearing in 58 games (all starts) and averaging 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 26.6 minutes per game. As a junior in 2015-16, Sumner was named Second Team All-Big East.

Nets hire Igor Kokoskov, Adam Caporn and Trevor Hendry as assistant coaches

The Brooklyn Nets have named Igor Kokoškov, Adam Caporn and Trevor Hendry as assistant coaches. They join Jacque Vaughn, Brian Keefe, Tiago Splitter, Royal Ivey and Ryan Forehan-Kelly on Head Coach Steve Nash’s staff.

Kokoškov has more than two decades of NBA coaching experience and most recently served as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks during the 2021-22 season, helping lead the team to the Western Conference Finals. The Serbian native began his NBA coaching career as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2000-01 season, becoming the first non-American to serve as a full-time NBA assistant coach. Kokoškov spent three seasons (2000-03) with the Clippers before moving on to the Detroit Pistons, spending five seasons (2003-08) in Detroit and helping guide the Pistons to the 2004 NBA Championship. From there, Kokoškov worked as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns (2008-13), Cleveland Cavaliers (2013-14), Orlando Magic (2014-15), Utah Jazz (2015-18) and Sacramento Kings (2019-20), while also leading the Suns as the franchise’s head coach during the 2018-19 season. In addition to his time in the NBA, Kokoškov spent the 2020-21 season as head coach of the Turkish League’s Fenerbahce. Prior to beginning his professional coaching career in the United States, Kokoškov worked as an assistant coach at the University of Missouri (1999-2000), becoming the first European to work as part of a full-time coaching staff in NCAA Division I men’s basketball.

Kokoškov has extensive experience coaching internationally, having served as the head coach of the national teams of Georgia (2008-15), Slovenia (2016-17), where he guided the team to the gold medal at EuroBasket 2017 in Turkey, and Serbia (2019-21).

Caporn joins Brooklyn after serving as head coach of the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, for the 2021-22 season, leading the team to its second playoff berth in franchise history with an 18-15 overall record and earning NBA G League Coach of the Month honors in February after Long Island went 8-2 for the month. The Australian native spent the previous seven seasons (2014-21) as head coach of Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence, the country’s leading player development program. He currently serves as an assistant coach for the Australian National Team, a position he has held since 2017, and helped lead the Boomers to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games last summer. Previously, he served two years (2014-16) as head coach of Australia’s U19 National Team and was an assistant coach at Saint Mary’s College of California for four seasons (2010-14). Caporn also spent one season (2010-11) as a scholarship assistant coach at the Centre of Excellence, one season (2009-10) as head coach of the East Perth Eagles in Australia’s NBL1 and one season (2007-08) as an assistant coach for the Willetton Tigers in Australia’s NBL1 while still in the midst of his playing career.

Prior to pursuing coaching, Caporn played two collegiate seasons (2001-03) at Saint Mary’s and six professional seasons in Australia and New Zealand’s National Basketball League with the Illawarra Hawks (2003-06), Wellington Saints (2004) and Perth Wildcats (2006-09).

Hendry has been named assistant coach after spending the last four seasons as Brooklyn’s head video coordinator. He originally joined the Nets organization in 2014 and served in a variety of basketball operations roles prior to entering the video room. He then spent one season (2016-17) as a video and player development seasonal assistant for Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, and one season (2017-18) in the same role for Brooklyn before becoming head video coordinator. Prior to joining the Nets, the Waterford, Conn., native earned both a Bachelor of Arts in business and a Master of Business Administration from Clark University.

Brooklyn Nets re-sign Kessler Edwards

The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed forward Kessler Edwards to a multi-year contract.

Edwards appeared in 48 games (23 starts) in his rookie season with the Nets, registering averages of 5.9 points on 41.2 percent shooting from the field, 35.3 percent shooting from 3-point range and 84.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line and 3.6 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game. He also saw action in two playoff games in Brooklyn’s first round series versus Boston. In addition to his NBA experience, Edwards appeared in and started seven games 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. The 21-year-old was originally selected with the 44th pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft by Brooklyn and signed a two-way contract with the team on Aug. 16, 2021, before signing a standard NBA contract with the Nets on April 10, 2022. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native’s 23 starts marked the most starts for a rookie selected 44th or lower in Nets history.

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.

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

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.