Brooklyn Nets youth will now be a bigger part of team strategy going forward
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
It’s not only about tanking for lottery picks. Rebuilds are dependent on getting the most out of your own young players Fans often focus on the big news out of a trade: who’s going where? How much leeway do the Nets have this year in free agency ... as they try to avoid luxury taxes? How does the new CBA affect things? Etc. But while the comings and goings, rumored and real, are grabbing all the headlines, things like development aren’t being much talked about. Rebuilds normally aren’t successful without growth from the team’s youngest players.
For the Nets, that’s everyone from Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe, both 22, to Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead, both 19. The team has some other additions that have a shot at the G League roster, either as a two-way or standard hire. And Nic Claxton just turned 25
As Brian Lewis wrote Thursday, even though Cam Thomas has developed his game since arriving in the 2021 Draft, he’s about to move into the spotlight.
This is where hope lies, starting with Thomas who averaged 22.5 points last season but will now become the face of the franchise and more importantly, be the defensive focus of every team that enters Barclays or welcomes Brooklyn on the road.
On a rebuilding Nets team that figures to be starved for offense? He’ll likely have a green light that never turns yellow, and a usage rate that borders on absurd.
He will be controversial and as Lewis notes in this story Saturday, opinion remains divided on Thomas no matter where you turn.
“I’ve always gone through that stuff,” Thomas said before the two offseason trades that will rock every part of the Nets ownership, the front office and locker room. “Whenever I … have a big season or leap, it goes a little under the radar or unnoticed. If other players do it, it’s all talked about a lot.
“Obviously, I’m kind of used to it in a way. I don’t really care. I go out there and play for my guys and the organization to be the best player I can be. … I want to go out there and be the best version of myself.”
Sean Marks in his April 24 media availability following Jordi Fernandez’s introduction, said positive things about Thomas.
“I have to give Cam a lot of credit,” said Marks then, well before the team decided to trade Bridges. “The bucket-getter that he’s sort of known as, he can do that, he’s got that confidence, but I think you can see how his game has changed. He’s worked on his game over the course of this last year. Trying to make other people better, how can he find other people out there? He’s become a little bit more of a facilitator, more of a playmaker.”
He also said Thomas has improved on defense and highlights Thomas’ improvement in defensive rebounding as well.
With the uncertain return of Cam Johnson, Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith, Thomas will likely put up more than the 24 shots he put up last year — including six three’s.
Another question is how much Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead be able to contribute. Clowney played 33 games for Long Island before wowing fans at the end of last season with 3-point shooting (shooting splits of 55/43/68) and shot blocking, including one game where he erased seven shots. He was one of only four rookies to put up seven or more blocks in any game last season. In April, Clowney averaged 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks.
“We should have high expectations for him,” he told Sarah Kustok. “And I have it. I wanted his summer to be very structured, very organized. Keep getting better because now he is not the player he was before. I know he’ll be ready.”
Whitehead, hurt by foot issues, was basically an NBA redshirt last season. Before being shut down in April before shin surgery (this third foot surgery in 22 months), he played in only two NBA games, scoring three points. Whitehead played another 13 games in the G League — scoring 8.8 points a game — but he was on minutes restrictions and didn’t play in back-to-backs.
“Dariq should play in summer league, should be available in summer league. Whether or not he plays the entire summer league or not, that’ll be TBD,” Sean Marks said following Fernandez’s press conference. “But the plan right now is he’s in the gym every day.”
There’s been no updates since then, but Whitehead himself has used his social media in recent weeks to offer positive assessments of his progress. It should also be noted that while the Nets didn’t make any picks in the NBA Draft this week, Whitehead and Clowney were younger than more than half the selections this week. They were the second and fourth youngest players in the NBA last season.
The Nets will also be looking at Sharpe’s progress. There have been a couple of reports that the Grizzlies have been interested in trading for the 6’10” power forward.
Friday, the agents for Long Island Nets center David Muoka announced the 23-year-old will be playing for Brooklyn in the Las Vegas Summer League starting July 12. Muoka has said he wants to be the first player in the NBA from Hong Kong.
The other likely candidates for Vegas roster slots besides him, Clowney, Whitehead and Jalen Wilson include Jaylen Martin, who the Nets signed to a two-year two-way last season, as well as their two training camp signings so far: Division II Player of the Year KJ Jones II and Villanova’s starting point guard last season, Mark Armstrong. No word on Keon Johnson’s status. He was high scorer and a leader on Long Island last season.
Also Saturday, Lewis reported that the Nets have made Trendon Watford a restricted free agent, meaning Brooklyn can match any offers he may receive starting Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. ET. Watford, 23, was Thomas’ teammate at LSU as well as the Nets,
Cam Thomas positioned for massive role in Nets’ rebuild with chance to silence critics - Brian Lewis - New York Post
Nets teardown puts spotlight on pair of 2023 first-round picks - Zach Braziller - New York Post
Nets expected to give Trendon Watford qualifying offer in latest rebuild move - Brian Lewis - New York Post
Nets Notebook: Post-draft analysis, free agency goals, confirmed Exhibit 10 deals and more (%) - C.J. Holmes - New York Daily News
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