Latest news with #Nets'
USA Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nets' D'Angelo Russell is really high on Spurs' Victor Wembanyama
Nets' D'Angelo Russell is really high on Spurs' Victor Wembanyama The Brooklyn Nets are still early in their offseason and many of the players are enjoying their summers before they have to come back to Brooklyn to try to improve on the 26-56 record from this season. D'Angelo Russell has been taking full advantage of his time off by touring China as part of his signature shoe promotion, but he also took the time to talk about an upcoming great NBA player. "Victor Wembanyama... He's slick. I'm telling y'all now, I'm putting this on air. Remember, I gave him his flowers last time," Russell said of San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama during the latest episode of his "The Backyard Podcast" show. Russell's podcast is not only for him to talk about what's on his mind, but also acts as a vlog of sorts that shows what he is doing behind the scenes. "This is a big statement. If they (the NBA) ever change the logo, it might be him," Russell continued while speaking about Wembanyama. "He's that special... I'm just really high on Victor Wembanyama. I think he's really special." Wembanyama, 21, is considered one of the players in the "up-and-coming" tiers usually attributed to young players that have the appearance of someone destined for stardom and he hasn't disappointed thus far. Wembanyama, the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, is not only boasting career averages of 22.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.7 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 46.9% from the field and 33.9% from three-point land, but he has always made waves in the league in terms of his accomplishments. Wembanyama, listed at 7-foot-3 and 235 pounds, was the Rookie of the Year for the 2023-24 season while being named to the All-Defensive First Team, is a one-time All-Star, and has led the NBA in blocks per game the past two seasons. Russell is a free-agent this summer and while he has spoken about wanting to come back to Brooklyn, there could be a chance that he signs with the Spurs considering his feelings about Wembanyama's future.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nets' dark-horse No. 8 pick candidate rising up draft boards
The post Nets' dark-horse No. 8 pick candidate rising up draft boards appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Brooklyn Nets can go several directions with their first selection in next month's draft. Their fall to the No. 8 pick put several household college names, such as Jeremiah Fears, Tre Johnson, Kon Kneuppel and Khaman Maluach, within their range. However, French phenom Noa Essengue is creeping into the conversation as he continues to flash his raw potential overseas. Advertisement Bleacher Report and Yahoo Sports have the Nets selecting the 6-foot-9 forward in their latest projections. 'In the past two drafts, we've rebuilding teams swing for upside overseas with the Wizards taking Bilal Coulibaly and the Hornets grabbing Tijane Salaun. The Nets have no high-upside prospects on the roster and could be enticed by the draft's second-youngest prospects who can make threes, attack, finish and defend all over,' said Jonathan Wasserman. '[Essengue's] improving on-ball skill and rising offensive production are becoming notable draft storylines, considering he's the draft's second-youngest prospect who also offers exciting defensive tools and movement.' Essengue is putting together one of his best runs of the season while playing for Ratiopharm Ulm in the BBL, Germany's top professional league. The 18-year-old has averaged 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists on 53.3 percent shooting in 22.0 minutes per game over his last eight appearances. ESPN has moved the Frenchman up to No. 9 in its latest Top 100 big board. Will Sean Marks, Nets take a chance on Noa Essengue with No. 8 pick? Brad Penner-Imagn Images In the early stages of a rebuild, there is no question that the Nets should prioritize the best player available at No. 8 rather than drafting for positional need. However, there has been much deliberation about what that entails: do they opt for a safe prospect with a high floor or take a swing on upside? Advertisement Noa Essengue would fall into the latter category. The 18-year-old's fluid athleticism, transition ball handling, finishing ability, playmaking flashes and defensive tools inspire hope that he can develop into a dominant two-way force. His ability to reach that ceiling will depend on several swing skills. First, his jumpshot must reach a respectable level. While he's shown flashes in that area, he's shot just 25.5 percent from distance across 52 appearances this season. His half-court ball-handling is just ok at this point, limiting his ability as a self-creator. And while he possesses the tools of an elite defender, his body positioning and awareness still have room for improvement. None of this should be surprising given Essengue's youth. He's the second-youngest player in this year's class, only three days older than Cooper Flagg. His production at the professional level at such a young age should be a green flag for front offices. Essengue has been a foul-drawing machine this season, attempting 7.5 free throws per 36 minutes and converting 72.0 percent. The young forward has displayed a soft touch on his drives, shooting 64.2 percent on twos. He's produced at this level offensively despite his raw handle and inconsistent jump shot. Overall, Essengue has the tools to develop into a home-run pick if he's able to round out the less-polished aspects of his game. However, he doesn't currently possess an elite skill outside of his impressive measurables and athleticism. If the Nets are confident in his player archetype and development trajectory, he could be their guy at No. 8. If not, they could opt for a safer pick with an established college star.
New York Post
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
What Giannis Antetokounmpo's sit-down with the Bucks will tell the Nets about their future
Giannis Antetokounmpo has stirred the pot. Is he cooking up a move to Brooklyn? With the two-time MVP — and the Nets' primary trade target since the 2023-24 season — set to have a pivotal meeting with the Bucks this week to discuss his future, Antetokounmpo fanned the flames of speculation by taking to social media for a Q&A with fans. The Post has reported Antetokounmpo likes New York and has business dealings here. Over the weekend, when asked what is his favorite city to play in on the road, the 30-year-old superstar answered: 'New York.' Advertisement While there are two teams here — and the Knicks tip off in the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday — the Nets are the team that has been feverishly collecting draft picks with an eye toward dealing for Antetokounmpo. And while every team in the NBA would want the Greek star, the Nets — along with the Rockets and Spurs — are viewed as a viable threat to land him if he becomes available.
New York Post
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
A single ping pong ball separated the Nets from Cooper Flagg, so now what?
Monday night's NBA Draft Lottery results — the Nets' season-long tank resulting in just the No. 8 overall pick — was like a punch in the gut to the team's fans. It's a blow they probably should have seen coming. But that doesn't mean it will hurt any less or they'll get over it any quicker. After Nets general manager Sean Marks and team governor Joe Tsai made the difficult decision to rebuild — trading away Mikal Bridges and reacquiring their own natural 2025 and 2026 first-round picks at great cost — they suffered through a tough 26-56 season to earn the sixth-best odds to win the lottery. Follow all the basketball buzz in Brooklyn Sign up for Inside the Nets by Brian Lewis, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters The odds didn't pay off. The Nets' fall to eighth not only ended any shot at Cooper Flagg, but the lottery results hurt any trade offer they could make for Giannis Antetokounmpo while simultaneously helping any potential Spurs package.
New York Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Nets get No. 8 pick in missed opportunity at 2025 NBA Draft Lottery
The Nets' first lottery pick in 15 years will be a disappointing one, falling to eighth on Monday night's 2025 NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago. When Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks and team governor Joe Tsai pivoted and made the tough decision to tank this season for a high draft pick, it ended up giving them the sixth-best odds. Advertisement They had a 9 percent chance of winning and being able to start their rebuild around Cooper Flagg. But it didn't happen, falling to eighth. It was the second-likeliest outcome for the Nets at 20.6, behind only seventh (at 29.7). But considering what it cost them, it will be a bitter outcome. Advertisement Brooklyn sent multiple first-round picks (acquired from Phoenix in the Kevin Durant trade) to Houston to re-acquire their own first-rounders this year and next. 3 The Brooklyn Nets got the 8th overall pick during the 2025 Draft Lottery on May 12, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. NBAE via Getty Images That enabled them to move Mikal Bridges, tank and rebuild through the draft. But after suffering through a 26-56 campaign, Flagg was the prize, and at least finishing in the top four was a goal. Advertisement The Nets got neither. This selection — presuming the Nets don't trade it away in a package for a veteran star — will mark the first lottery pick they'll actually have since 2010. That season, they tanked their way to a league-worst 12-70 mark in hopes of getting John Wall, but ended up falling to third and having to settle for Derrick Favors. Advertisement First-year head coach Jordi Fernandez represented the team on the dais on Monday night, having said before departing for Chicago: 'We're just ready to be lucky.' 3 Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernández reacts on the court in the first period at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, April 10, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST That luck ran out, though. As it usually does around lottery time. It's hard to find a team that has suffered more in the lottery than the Nets, both in Brooklyn and their prior New Jersey iteration. Both have lottery heartache, usually of their own making by trading away picks that eventually came good. The last half-dozen times that the Nets' pick ended up in the lottery, they all went to another team. Advertisement Damian Lillard (sixth in 2012), Jaylen Brown (third in 2016) and Jayson Tatum (third in 2017) all went elsewhere. They even saw last year's pick jump up to third, but it was owed to Houston, who took Reed Sheppard. 3 Nets GM Sean Marks addresses the media at the Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center in Brooklyn, New York, USA, Monday, April 14, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST Monday night was a chance to turn all that misfortune around. Advertisement The Nets have the most future draft picks (31) and first-rounders (15) over the next seven years, including a league-high four in the first round next month. 'This ain't coming around again,' Marks said in a documentary series, 'SCOUT,' released by the team. 'This happens once.' Brooklyn landing eighth will hurt any potential package they have to offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo. They do have the most first-rounders (15) over the next seven years, 13 of them tradable. Advertisement Dallas won the lottery, defying the odds. They had just a 1.8 percent chance of landing Flagg, the fourth-lowest of any winner in history. After trading away Luka Doncic in a wildly unpopular move, it offers the Mavericks a stunning opportunity to flip the narrative. Advertisement The Spurs vaulted up to No. 2. It gives them a chance to take Rutgers star Dylan Harper or further ammunition, along with the No. 14 pick, to package and bid for Antetokounmpo.
