Brooklyn Nets silent on Day 1 of free agency
Free agency isn’t like the Draft. It goes on from June through February and the trade deadline, but the Nets, historically active on Day 1 were quiet this year It was the fourth anniversary of the “Clean Sweep,” that once in a lifetime moment when the Nets got Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan to agree to free agent deals that everyone thought was going to lead Brooklyn to win after win, title after title. But it was not to be and earlier this week, ownership and management finally ended that dream, unceremoniously moving into tanking mode.
And so on the first Sunday of free agency, the Nets were nowhere to be found. While big and small deals were being generated around the league, the biggest one being Paul George’s cross-country move from Los Angeles to Philadelphia where Tyrese Maxey also committed. Two $200 million deals assuring the 76ers of the next “Big Three.” Good luck with that!
The only peep out of Twitter was a rumor that Trendon Watford, tendered a qualifying offer on Saturday, would soon sign a deal, probably above the vets minimum. But there was no confirmation of that and no official word on the fate of the team’s other free agents, Lonnie Walker IV and Dennis Smith Jr. Nic Claxton had agreed to a four-year, $100 million deal but that was expected.
The only other deal out there was about Cam Johnson who it appears is being shopped around in hopes of gaining more draft assets, more cap space headed into next summer.
Mike Scotto of Hoopshype had the most detailed offering but he also suggested nothing was close and the teams being mentioned also had their eyes on free agents around the league.
Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson has drawn recent trade interest from several teams, including the Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings, league sources told HoopsHype. The Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic also registered exploratory trade interest in Johnson, league sources told HoopsHype. However, Indiana had other items ahead in its pecking order, including agreeing to a four-year, $60 million deal with restricted free agent Obi Toppin, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, and Orlando will pursue several free agents with their cap space, such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Isaiah Hartenstein first before considering acquiring a player and absorbing him into their cap space. According to a report from Chris Fedor, the Cleveland Cavaliers could also have interest in Johnson. However, nothing has materialized on that front to this point, HoopsHype has learned.
Brian Lewis of the Post also suggested Nets possible interest in Tyus Jones, a free agent point guard who had his best season as a pro last year — averaging a dozen points and 7.3 assists last season for Washington. Of course, he isn’t moving the needle and it would appear the Nets don’t have much interest in doing that anyway.
Nothing new as well on the possible movement of Bojan Bogdanvic, Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith. All have been rumored to be on the block in the Nets rebuild.
Also, there was nothing new of making the Mikal Bridges trade to the Knicks official, although Bobby Marks believes nothing will happen for a week. He expects the Knicks will ultimately add a player to get them out of being hard-capped at the first apron. Whether the player will come off New York’s roster or come in a sign-and-trade. In any case, Sean Marks holds the leverage. He will have to approve any significant trade.
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