Latest news with #SeanMarks
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets' Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf bring new wave of Jewish talent to NBA
The Nets made history this summer, becoming the first NBA team to select five players in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, including two Jewish players in Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, the first such duo selected in the same draft since 2006. Brooklyn drafted Saraf and Wolf with consecutive picks at Nos. 26 and 27, instantly doubling the league's Jewish player count from two to four, joining Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija and Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis. Amari Bailey, who played for the G League Long Island Nets last season, also identifies as Jewish. 'To be honest, it's fantastic, the way it just worked out,' Nets general manager Sean Marks said. 'If you think about it, the game of basketball is such a worldly game, played all over the globe… What I will say is, there's talent everywhere, and that's our job, to bring in the best talent regardless of race, ethnicity and so forth.' In 2023, the UJA-Federation of New York reported approximately 1.4 million Jews in the New York area. Brooklyn, the most crowded Jewish borough with about one-third of this population, now features two prominent ambassadors in Saraf and Wolf. Jacob Gurvis of Jewish Community Voice reports that Saraf, the son of two former Israeli professional basketball players, wears No. 77, symbolizing the Hebrew word 'mazal', which means luck. Wolf gained Israeli citizenship to compete for Israel at the FIBA U20 European Championship in Greece. 'It's definitely going to be unique having them both here and we're excited about that,' Marks said. 'I know the borough is excited about that. I know the Jewish community here is very excited about that, too.' Saraf, the third point guard selected by the Nets on draft night, averaged 11.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 42 games for Ratiopharm Ulm last season. In 2023-24, he played for Elitzur Kiryat Ata in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, earning the league's top young prospect award. He was also named MVP of the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024, leading the tournament with 28.1 points per game. The 19-year-old believes his overseas professional experience will set him apart in Brooklyn. 'I've been playing pro for three years now, so I've played a lot of games so far,' Saraf said. 'I think it's going to be helpful knowing how to manage your body, to really stick to your routines and be willing to compete every night so things can translate the right away for the NBA.' Wolf, the Nets' only non-guard pick in 2025, averaged 13.2 points, 3.6 assists and 1.4 blocks per game at Michigan last season, leading the Wolverines to a Big Ten Tournament title and a Sweet 16 appearance. Previously, he earned All-Ivy League honors at Yale over two seasons. The 21-year-old also helped Israel secure a silver medal at the 2023 FIBA U20 European Championship in Greece, where he practiced with Saraf. 'I think just the jump I made from Yale to Michigan and now — obviously the NBA is a different animal and going to have to keep working on a lot of different things, but I think there's just a lot of different things I can do on a basketball court,' Wolf said. 'Whatever coach Jordi and the staff want me to do, I'm going to do to the best of my ability, while still working and developing to become that kind of player.' Beyond their Jewish heritage and tireless work ethic, positional versatility connects Saraf, Wolf and Brooklyn's 2025 draft class. Marks credits David Blatt, a former NBA head coach and Israeli American basketball executive, for aiding in identifying Saraf and Wolf during the draft process. 'I think words of wisdom are always important,' Marks said. 'I have a lot of respect for Coach Blatt, as a person, as a coach. And when we do our due diligence, you want to watch the players themselves, but also you need to know all the things that you didn't know. And everything was very positive coming from coach Blatt. He really liked these two guys, and he knew them pretty well. So, he really helped us and finally we were lucky enough to get them both here.' Now teammates in Brooklyn, Saraf and Wolf have the opportunity to represent Israel on basketball's biggest stage. Though both are considered developmental projects — Saraf must improve his outside shooting, and Wolf needs to clean up turnover issues — their future looks promising. On a rebuilding Nets team, they could make an immediate impact. 'I think I really enjoyed watching Ben overseas,' Marks said. 'We went over to watch him live a couple of times, so it was great to watch how hard he competes. I think that was something that really stood out, passing ability, pride on defense. I think he's playing at a high level over there. 'Danny, I think we already sort of talked a little about the high IQ and a skill set that's very unique for a person his size. So, to see him out there, other teams continue trying to figure out, well, how do we stop him? Who do we guard him with? What system do we put around him? And that's a unique problem to have, right? How do we use both of those young men to the best of their abilities and watch them grow and so forth.'
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kevin Durant singing different tune on Steve Nash years after demanding Nets firing: ‘So much bulls–t around us'
Kevin Durant and Steve Nash likely have their opinions on what went wrong in Brooklyn. The pair actually discussed just that Tuesday on a podcast, with the former breaking down why the Nets Big 3 broke up. Advertisement Nets general manager Sean Marks built a superteam with Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden that lost in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals when Durant's toe was on the line for a potential game-winning 3-pointer, and the latter two were hurt. Nash was famously dumped by the Nets in November 2022, after Durant demanded his firing. Durant requested a trade the following February. Now, Nash — who co-hosts the 'Mind The Game' podcast with LeBron James — asked his former star what he recalled about that time. 'We had this conversation in Portland I think right before a game, and I'm like, 'Who am I spending my next five years with?' ' Durant said. 'I had just signed that deal, you had just signed a deal. It felt like we were secure, but everything else around us was going to s–t. Advertisement 'Not in a bad way, we've got GMs going to other teams, we've got coaches going to other teams, we've got players forcing trades, we've got bringing Ben Simmons, he's back [Durant pointed to his back while saying this line]. There was so much bulls–t around us. I felt like we were locked in on the same page and understanding we were trying to do something special here, but … and I feel like your hands were tied a lot because as a coach you had to deal with so much.' Steve Nash (l) and Kevin Durant (r) in 2021. for the NY POST Nash dealt with Irving's refusal to adhere to New York's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which made him ineligible for home games in 2021-22. Then Harden passive-aggressively forced his way out that February, not telling the Nets he wanted a deal until two days before the trade deadline, leaving them to swap him for the chronically injured Simmons. Kevin Durant on the 'Mind The Game' podcast. @MindTheGamePodcast/YouTube And, of course, Nets fans are as familiar with 'Ben Simmons is back' as Durant is — the point guard's start-stop recovery from back woes having been a constant issue. Advertisement It was noteworthy that Nash interrupted Durant, interjecting, 'I didn't get to coach as much as I wanted to.' That could be a double entendre. Did Nash mean that the Big 3 logged just 16 games together? Or that his tenure was abruptly cut short by Durant requesting his ouster? Or that he spent more time putting out fires than coaching? 'That's what it was. I didn't feel like we got the full Steve Nash like I wanted, like you probably wanted. I feel like it was just too many distractions in a way, and you know you can't win that way,' Durant said. 'But I felt like we had great intentions though. I feel like we cared enough. I feel like every day we were trying to push toward winning a championship. It was a great vibe in there. Advertisement 'It's some of the best times I've had. That first year, that's why I signed that deal. That first year, man, most fun ball I had. Some of the most fun ball I had playing in my life. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed playing in Brooklyn a lot. I loved playing for Brooklyn. But it's just so much around the guys who were committed to the situation. I felt like we were committed, but everybody else wasn't. It just was weird.' Durant did not mention Irving's absences or Harden by name, but he alluded to Harden demanding a trade (Irving did so the following season, finally forcing Durant to be the last star out the door). Steve Nash during the episode. @MindTheGamePodcast/YouTube For his part, Nash — who hasn't coached since — said he struggles with how to view his Nets tenure, and admits he feels like he failed Brooklyn. But he also acknowledges that there were many things out of his hands. Advertisement However, Durant — who recently told the crowd at Fanatics Fest that he was a 'Net for life' — freed Nash of any blame. LeBron James (l), Durant (c) and Nash (r) on the show. @MindTheGamePodcast/YouTube 'Hell, no. Come on, man,' Durant said. 'I just think your hands were tied too many times. You had to be a super, a principal more so than anything. … You just couldn't like inject your basketball. … Just everything that you have basketball, I didn't feel like you could inject that into everybody in the way that we all envisioned just because of the distractions.'
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brooklyn Nets' biggest mistake in 2025 NBA free agency
The post Brooklyn Nets' biggest mistake in 2025 NBA free agency appeared first on ClutchPoints. In an NBA offseason filled with headline moves, surprise trades, and power-shifting contracts, the Brooklyn Nets were… silent. No blockbuster signing. No splashy draft-night maneuvering. Not even a mid-tier veteran pickup. Just a single trade and a couple of restricted free agent tenders. This eerie stillness in an otherwise booming free agency market could ultimately be Brooklyn's biggest mistake, a strategic misstep that may leave them languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference for another year. Advertisement Armed with five first-round picks (Nos. 8, 19, 22, 26, 27), general manager Sean Marks had the assets to make a trade up the board. Instead, the Nets stood pat, becoming the first team in draft history to make five first-round selections in a single draft. The moves the Brooklyn Nets did make: A singular pivot The only transaction that registered a noticeable blip on the radar was the trade of Cameron Johnson to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 unprotected first-round pick. On paper, this looks like a swing toward the future. The Nets acquired a higher-upside scorer in Porter Jr., who, despite injury concerns, has All-Star potential. The unprotected pick sweetens the deal, adding a long-term asset to Brooklyn's collection. But this move alone does not meaningfully improve the team in the short term. Porter Jr. is a marginal upgrade at best, and the team's immediate roster remains deeply underwhelming. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Nets extended restricted free agent offers to Tyson Etienne, Tyrese Martin, Drew Timme, and Jalen Wilson, all promising but far from proven players. That's it. That's the sum of Brooklyn's offseason. What the Nets didn't do: The big mistake in the free agency Herein lies the critical error. The Nets' approach to 2025 free agency was defined not by bad decisions, but by no decisions. While teams like the Wizards, Rockets, and even the bottom-dwelling Hornets made calculated additions to their rosters, the Nets did… nothing. No new veterans to bolster their culture. No skilled role players to mentor their youth. No splash to excite the fanbase or show a sign of direction. Advertisement Brooklyn currently has an abundance of cap space, yet they've chosen to preserve it instead of invest it in talent. This 'salary flexibility' might look like prudence on paper, but inaction carries its own cost, especially when other teams are lapping you in development and identity. The bigger picture: no vision, no vibe Worse than their silence is what it suggests: the Nets seem caught between two identities. Are they rebuilding? Then why not lean fully into the youth movement, flip veterans, and gather more picks? Are they competing? Then why let your cap space rot on the bench instead of filling out a competitive rotation? This in-between space, where you're neither bad enough for a high draft pick nor good enough for playoff relevance, is the most dangerous place in the NBA. And right now, that's exactly where the Nets are headed. Advertisement With no clear floor general, no rim protection, no veteran leaders, and no high-end scorers besides maybe Porter Jr., this team is penciled in as a bottom-five team for the 2025–26 season. The good news? There's still time to pivot. Use cap space in the secondary market Plenty of veterans remain unsigned. The Nets could scoop up undervalued talent on short-term deals, players who can contribute now or become midseason trade assets. Think minimum-to-mid-level exception contracts with non-guaranteed second years. Aggressively monitor trade markets If Brooklyn truly wants to sit on cap space, they need to leverage it at the trade deadline. Absorbing unwanted contracts in exchange for picks is a valuable tool, but only if executed. Advertisement Define a clear rebuild If they're rebuilding, say it. Trade Reece Beekman and maybe even Nic Claxton for future assets. Embrace the youth, develop Cam Thomas, Porter Jr., Sharpe, and Ziaire Williams, and give fans a reason to be patient. Hire development-focused staff Brooklyn can no longer rely on star-chasing. They must become elite at player development. Bringing in coaches and staff with a track record of turning raw talent into NBA contributors will be critical. In an era where talent acquisition is everything, the Nets chose to do nothing. That silence, more than any one transaction, is their biggest mistake of 2025. While flexibility and future assets are valuable, they mean little without direction, identity, and action. Advertisement Unless Brooklyn wakes up before the season tips off, this offseason could be remembered as the one where the Nets lost not just games, but relevance. Related: Nets' Nolan Traore the 'definition of speed' in impressive Summer League debut Related: Nets' Egor Demin reveals 'deep' revelation following Summer League debut
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets free agent predictions as exclusive negotiating period begins
Nov 24, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images The post Nets free agent predictions as exclusive negotiating period begins appeared first on ClutchPoints. With the Oklahoma City Thunder crowned as the 2024-25 NBA champion on Sunday, the offseason is officially underway. Among the first order of business for the Brooklyn Nets and other teams will be deciding the fates of their free agents. NBA teams will have an exclusive negotiating period with their free agents starting Monday morning and ending June 30 at 6 PM EST. Advertisement Several key Nets contributors could hit the market. With that, we analyze each of their situations and whether they'll be back with the team next season. Cam Thomas (restricted) Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Thomas will be the main storyline of the Nets' free agent class. The team's leading scorer has made it clear that he wants to return next season. Brooklyn won't face much competition for the 23-year-old, as they are the NBA's only team with cap space. General Manager Sean Marks has a recent track record of getting deals done with his top free agents before they hit the market. He signed Cam Johnson to a four-year, $94.5 million extension in 2023 and Nic Claxton to a four-year, $97 million deal on draft night last summer. Advertisement League sources have told ClutchPoints that they expect Thomas' deal to fall in the range of $20-$25 million annually. However, the length remains a question. While the former first-round pick has flashed elite scoring ability, his limitations as a playmaker and defender continue to raise questions about his long-term role. Regardless, expect Thomas to return on a deal that offers him his first significant payday and the Nets another evaluation period as they craft their long-term plans. Day'Ron Sharpe (restricted) Sharpe emerged as a quality rotation piece during his second season as a full-time member of the Nets' rotation. He posted a +13.3 net rating swing, the highest among players who finished the season with Brooklyn and the eighth-highest among all NBA players to play over 500 minutes, per CleaningTheGlass. Advertisement Like Thomas, Sharpe has voiced a desire to return to the Nets. 'I'm new to this, so whatever happens, happens. But I like Brooklyn, so God willing [I'll be back],' he said at his exit interview. 'It's just part of the business, I guess. I don't really think too much on it. I just go with the flow.' Sharpe has cemented himself as one of the league's top offensive rebounders. He posted a 17.8 offensive rebound percentage last season, the second-highest among NBA players to play at least 600 minutes. He also made wholesale improvements defensively, posting a -6.7 defensive rating, the sixth-best mark among all NBA centers who played over 600 minutes. The Nets could face some competition for Sharpe from teams with access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($14.1 million) or room exception ($8.78 million). However, they can outbid any team using their cap space. I'd expect Sharpe to return to Brooklyn on a two or three-year deal with an annual salary that falls somewhere between the above exception values. Advertisement Ziaire Williams (restricted) Williams had the most productive season of his career after joining the Nets in an offseason salary dump from the Memphis Grizzlies. The former No. 8 pick averaged 10.0 points and 4.6 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game over 63 appearances (45 starts). He improved as a three-point shooter, his main weakness with the Grizzlies, converting at a 34.1 percent clip on 4.8 attempts per game. The 23-year-old also showed impressive flashes as a point-of-attack defender. Williams has an $18.4 million cap hold and an $8.35 million qualifying offer. The Nets are likely to renounce his rights, making him an unrestricted free agent and adding to their cap space. While the former lottery pick improved in 2024-25, he'll likely have to settle for another prove-it deal. Advertisement Given the Nets' cap space and ability to offer Williams a steady role, I'd expect him to be back on a short-term deal. D'Angelo Russell (unrestricted) Russell re-joined the Nets as a salary filler in a midseason trade that sent Dorian Finney-Smith to the Los Angeles Lakers. He struggled from an efficiency standpoint following the deal, averaging 12.9 points and 5.6 assists on 37/30/83 shooting splits. However, Brooklyn was successful during his minutes, outscoring opponents by 7.6 points per 100 possessions, per CleaningTheGlass. Given their cap flexibility, the Nets can offer Russell more than any other team. That's likely why the journeyman point guard voiced his desire to return to Brooklyn on numerous occasions. Advertisement 'I think just what the future holds with this group [is why I want to be back],' he told ClutchPoints at the end of the season. 'Obviously, what Jordi [Fernandez] and Sean [Marks] are creating, I'm familiar with it. Being somewhere familiar is something I'm definitely prioritizing.' Russell is unlikely to have an expansive market. Perhaps a point-guard-needy team like the Orlando Magic or Milwaukee Bucks could offer him a portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($14.1 million). Otherwise, the Nets could give him a short-term, mid-sized deal to add a tradable contract to their books. Trendon Watford (unrestricted) Watford had another productive season after signing a $2.7 million qualifying offer last summer. He averaged 10.2 points and 3.6 rebounds on 46.9 percent shooting in 20.8 minutes per game as a lead ball-handler with the second unit. The 25-year-old continued to show impressive flashes as a self-creator in the halfcourt and transition. Advertisement However, his three-point efficiency dipped on limited volume, as he shot 33.0 percent on 2.0 attempts per game. He also had some growing pains taking care of the ball as a primary initiator, averaging 2.6 assists and 1.9 turnovers per game. Watford still has room to grow. This season marked his second as a primary ball-handler, following his role as a small-ball five with the Portland Trail Blazers during his first two campaigns. However, he'll need to develop a consistent three-point shot and improve as a decision-maker if he hopes to carve out a role in a playoff-caliber rotation. Like Williams, Watford will likely have to settle for another prove-it deal. The Nets could re-sign him to another short-term agreement. However, there could be more competition for backcourt minutes next season, as Brooklyn has five picks in the top 36 of Wednesday's draft. Related: Why Nets have 'more first-hand information' on NBA draft class than any other team Related: NBA rumors: Why Nets are one of 2025 draft's most 'desirable' landing spots
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets' Sean Marks breaks silence on Cam Johnson-Michael Porter Jr. trade
The post Nets' Sean Marks breaks silence on Cam Johnson-Michael Porter Jr. trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Brooklyn Nets' trade sending Cam Johnson to the Denver Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick became official on Tuesday. General Manager Sean Marks broke his silence on the bombshell deal shortly after. Advertisement 'We're excited to welcome Michael and his family to Brooklyn,' Marks said. 'Michael is a dynamic offensive talent, who will add shooting and floor spacing to our team while also providing a strong presence on the boards. He's been an integral part of a team that reached the pinnacle of success, and sharing his knowledge of what it takes to achieve at the highest level will be invaluable to our young roster. 'We also want to sincerely thank Cam for everything he brought to our team these past few seasons. He embraced Brooklyn as his home from the moment he arrived, and the impact he's made both within the borough and our organization will be felt for years to come. We wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future.' Johnson had been speculated as a trade candidate over the last year after the Nets dealt his longtime teammate Mikal Bridges and entered a rebuild. Sean Marks, Nets acquire Michael Porter Jr. from Nuggets in Cam Johnson trade Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images Despite this, the 6-foot-8 sharpshooter had a career-best season in 2024-25, averaging 18.8 points and 3.4 assists on 48/39/89 shooting splits. The Nets' decision to trade Johnson further signals the team's commitment to a rebuild after making an NBA-record five first-round picks in the 2025 draft. Advertisement While Porter Jr.'s name will make headlines, Denver's unprotected 2032 first-round pick is the prize possession of the trade on Brooklyn's end. Nikola Jokic will be 37 that year, and the Nuggets are utilizing whatever assets they can to build around him now. 'That was a prized asset the Nuggets gave up,' one general manager told ESPN of Denver's 2032 pick. 'Teams have been eyeing that one to see if they'd actually use it [in a trade].' Beyond the draft pick, Porter Jr. presents some upside while replacing Johnson in Brooklyn's rotation. The 6-foot-10 forward is owed $79 million over the next two seasons. With the Nets in the early stages of a rebuild, absorbing his contract isn't a significant burden for them. While the Nuggets were motivated to shed his salary and gain financial flexibility, Porter Jr. has the potential to rehabilitate his value in Brooklyn. Advertisement The newest Net, previously coached by Jordi Fernandez in Denver, is a career 40 percent three-point shooter who has displayed secondary shot-creation ability in spurts. At 27 years old, he's young enough to be part of Brooklyn's next iteration if the team likes what it sees from him. The Nets could also package Porter Jr.'s $40.8 million expiring salary in 2026-27 with Denver's 2032 pick and other assets in a trade for a star if the opportunity presents itself. Related: Where do first NBA win totals project Nets to finish next season? Related: The move Brooklyn Nets still must make in 2025 NBA free agency
