Basketball Gods bestow cursed Nets with the No. 8 pick in NBA Draft Lottery
Brooklyn Nets fans rooted for the team to lose games intentionally. Tanking was in vogue. Log on to your favorite social media platform, specifically Twitter/X, and droves of accounts celebrated with each passing Nets loss.
While general manager Sean Marks executed a trade with the Houston Rockets to reacquire draft picks last year, but he failed to deal several veterans before the start of this season.
A few veterans were dealt at the deadline including Dorian Finney-Smith and Dennis Schröder, but other veterans in contract years including Keon Johnson, Trendon Watford, Zaire Williams and Cam Thomas elevated their level of play.
As a result, the flawed plan of intentionally losing games went down the tubes. Add to that a rookie coach in Jordi Fernandez, who won the coaching battle on most nights, and you had a team that was not an a true tanking position.
The Nets acquired D'Angelo Russell from the Lakers in the Finney Smith trade. Russell, in his second stint with the team, had some bright moments that resulted in wins.
The Nets had some late season injuries that saw them sputter down the stretch.
Brooklyn had a puncher's chance at a top three or a top five pick, but drew number eight.
Lesson learned? There are no guarantees in the NBA draft lottery.
Tanking, and building through the draft is certainly one strategy, but it is not foolproof. The Washington Wizards are proof of that.
So as the Nets evaluate the draft field to see who they will select at number eight, they can go in any direction.
Package the pick for a star player, trade up in the draft to select a prospect they have their eyes on, or potentially trade down. Everything is on the table.
June 30th's NBA Draft promises to be a very active and perhaps monumental night in the history of the Brooklyn Nets franchise.
Brooklyn would turn into Freak Show by trading for Giannis
The message from the the Nets fan base is clear. No more shortcuts.
Sean Marks has picked up the pieces from a failed big three era and a discontented Mikal Bridges by turning ugly situations into a cupboard loaded with future first round draft picks.
Every indication from Marks and the Nets is that they will continue down the pathway of a steady rebuild by developing young assets and keeping future draft picks.
There is one clear exception, however.
Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks 30-year-old star may be staring at another first round exit in Milwaukee and might possibly ask out this summer.
The Nets' general manager indicated that he would be opportunistic if there was a player of Giannis's ilk that could single handedly change the trajectory of a franchise.
While in theory the Greek Freak might be able to be the start of a huge turnaround in Brooklyn, the timeline for the player and the organization just does not align.
The Nets would need to maximize Giannis's prime window as he enters his age 31 season next year.
Brooklyn does not have the win-now cast that Milwaukee does and that franchise is further than ever from competing truly for a title.
The Nets would need a complete roster haulover that would likely require Marks to send out multiple first round picks and young pieces.
This would be a third time in the Brooklyn Nets era that they would try the quick fix. Both times and it ended in historically bad fashion. So while the forbidden fruit of Giannis may be dangled out there this off-season, the Nets should stay on the current path and avoid the temptation altogether.
Nets season comes to merciful end with ugly loss to the Knicks
The New York Knicks rested most of their starters but that did not matter on Sunday in Brooklyn.
Mikal Bridges checked in for a mere six seconds and then exited to the bench to prolong his games, played streak and complete 82 games played this season.
Trendon Watford and Tyrese Martin had 20 each, but after scoring 66 points in a torrid shooting Pace. In the first half, the Nets offense got stuck in the mud and only scored 39 in the second half.
A miserable season has drawn to an official close for the Nets and now everyone's attention turns to May 12th NBA draft lottery.
Nets trounced by T-Wolves 117-91
Brooklyn was outpaced 28-16 in the first quarter and never recovered. The Nets were dominated in every statistical category and had no answers for Rudy Goebert's 35 points and 11 rebounds.
Keon Johnson tallied 20 and Drew Timme finished with a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Without many key vets and with the Timberwolves aiming to lock up a playoff spot, Brooklyn faced an uphill climb.
Anthony Edwards had just nine points in 31 minutes, but Minnesota hardly the support as it coasted to a 26-point victory.
Brooklyn's final game of the season comes Sunday at Barclays as they will play host to the Knicks.
In a season where Nets fans were split about whether to tank or not to tank, a win in the regular season finale against the reveled Knicks is good for the Nets fan's soul.
Hawks soar past Nets 133-109
Atlanta outscored Brooklyn 33-14 in the first and never looked back.
Zaccharie Risacher had a game high 38, while Trae Young added 24.
Jalen Wilson led Brooklyn with 20 and Toscan Evbuomwan added 18.
The Hawks scored 66 points in the paint and shot an unconscious 57.1 from the field.
The Nets play a back to back as they visit Minnesota on Friday.
Nets fail tank mission, down Pels 119-114
This wasn't part of the plan. The Nets were supposed to be well on their way to tanking the season away.
But Trendon Watford's 22 points and 6 rebounds along with Drew Timme's 16 points and nine boards was enough to get Brooklyn across the finish line.
The Nets assisted on 30 of 41 field goals, shot 49.4 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from 3-point range to capture the win.
The Nets are now locked in to the sixth best lottery odds at the number one overall pick.
Brooklyn hosts Atlanta Thursday night. See
Raptors race past Nets 120-109
The Nets had five players reach lucky or unlucky, depending how you look at it, in points on Sunday night.
The Raptors outpaced the Nets and shot a scintillating 50 percent from the field.
Brooklyn played without veterans Nic Claxton, DeAngelo Russell and Cam Johnson due to injury management and rest.
The Nets gave up an astonishing 68 points in the paint in a lackluster defensive effort from an inexperienced roster.
Anthony Edwards returns after injury scare, T-Wolves knock off Brooklyn 105-90
Anthony Edwards had a scary moment in the first half that surprisingly involved Jordi Fernandez.
As Edwards elevated in the deep corner for a three-pointer, he drifted out of bounds and into Fernandez with the Timberwolves shooting guard turning his ankle and twisting his leg in an awkward fashion.
Edwards needed assistance to get off the court and was not applying any pressure to his leg. After it appeared a serious injury was sustained and Edward looked doubtful to return, he shocked everyone in the building by returning to action.
Minnesota shot a sizzling 50 percent from the field, but 17 turnovers kept the Nets within striking distance.
Edwards paced the Timberwolves with 28 as they coasted to a 15-point victory. Nic Claxton had 18 points, six rebounds and five assists while Dariq Whitehead with 17 points.
The Nets face the Raptors on Sunday afternoon.
Nets sneak past Mavericks 113-109
The Brooklyn Nets won their second consecutive game, with ex-Net former Dinwiddie misfiring on a potential game winning three-pointer in the final seconds.
Keon Johnson led the way for Brooklyn with 24 points as the Nets assisted on 32 of their 39 field goals made.
Despite giving up 56 points in the paint, Jordi Fernandez's crew outscored Dallas 29-22 in the final quarter to take the win.
The Nets have two days off before welcoming Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves Barclays Center on Thursday night.
Drew Timme's game winner pushes Nets past Wizards 115-112
Drew Timme has had a heck of a week. Between a double-double in his NBA debut on Friday and now a game winning shot Friday against the Wizards, Timme is the toast of Brooklyn.
The Nets forward's And-1 in the closing seconds proved to be the difference in a narrow 115-112 Brooklyn win.
The Nets return to action Monday ag6ain the Mavericks.
Clippers steamroll Nets, 132-100, Simmons with zero points in Brooklyn return
The Los Angeles Clippers were too much for the Brooklyn Nets to handle.
The Clippers shot 55 percent from the field and 51.4 percent from 3-point range, while the Nets shot just 37.1 from the field and 29.8 from long range.
Kawhi Leonard led LA with 31, James Harden had 17, while Ben Simmons had zero points, three rebounds and three assists in 17 minutes.
Rookie Drew Timme notched a double-double with 11 points and ten rebounds, but the Clippers outscored the Nets 42-21 in the second quarter to run away with it.
Brooklyn lost its final meeting of the year with the Clippers by a whooping 32 points on Friday.
Nets a no-show in 30-point blowout to Toronto
The Brooklyn Nets don't mail games on often. But you can count Wednesday night's 30-point runaway loss as just one of those nights.
Nic Claxton tallied 22 points and 11 rebounds , while the Raptors Orlando Robinson poured in 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Brooklyn was out-rebounded 63-43 and the Nets shot just 19.5 percent from 3-point range.
The Nets have a day off before welcoming Kawhi Leonard and James Harden to Barclays Center.
Mavs coast past Nets in Anthony Davis' return from injury
Dallas took much of the drama out of Monday night's game in Brooklyn with the Mavericks riding a 32-17 first quarter advantage to a 120-101c victory.
Nic Claxton has 19 and Cam Johnson 17, while Naji Marshall paced Dallas with 22, ex-Net Spencer Dinwiddie and Anthony Davis had 12 points and six boards in 27 minutes.
Jason Kidd returned to Barclays Center for the first time since his former teammate Vince Carter's No. 15 was retired and raised to the rafters.
The Nets face the Raptors on Wednesday in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn drops second game in three days to Pacers in another Indy slugfest
The Nets and Pacers are developing quite a rivalry.
For those that thought Brooklyn was going to mail it in, think again.
The Nets fought to the bitter end, but once again couldn't get over the hump. Brooklyn went on a 19-2 run with over 5 minutes left to put a major scare into Indy.
Trendon Watford had a career night with 26 points in 30 minutes, coming out with a purpose after being ejected late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss on Indiana.
Pascal Siakam matched Watford's 26 and the Pacers shared the ball with 32 assists.
The Nets return home Monday to face Dallas looking to get back in the win column.
Nets, Pacers gets chippy, Indy prevails in OT
D'Angelo Russell and Zaire Williams scored 22 apiece but the Nets blew a late lead and eventually fell to Indiana 105-99.
Trendon Watford was ejected in the fourth quarter after shoving Myles Turner and Brooklyn lost a bit of its mojo.
The Nets shot just 35.6 percent from the field and was out-rebounded 57-47.
Jordi Fernandez and company will have a second chance to beat Rick Carlisle's Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.
Brooklyn pushes Boston to limit, but falls just short 115-113
The Nets gave the Celtics all they could handle even with Cam Thomas being shutdown for the season with a hamstring strain, along with Trendon Watford and Noah Clowney out for Saturday.
Cam Johnson's potential game winning heave from near midcourt missed to the left and came just after the final buzzer sounded. Cam Johnson poured in 23, Keon Johnson 21, while Kristaps Porzingis had 24, Payton Pritchard 22 and Jayson Tatum 20.
Jordi Fernandez and crew have nothing to hang their heads about after putting a serious scare into the defending champs.
Nets falter in fourth quarter, bested by Bulls 116-110
Brooklyn lead by as many as 12 points, but once again an offensively stagnant fourth quarter doomed them in the end.
Chicago outscored the Nets 34-18 in the final frame Cam Thomas tallied the first double-double of his career with 24 points and 10 assists, Tyrese Martin added 19 and Nic Claxton chipped in 18.
The Nets likely waived goodbye to their likelihood of putting a scare into the Bulls for the final play-in spot.
The Nets take on Boston Saturday night back at Barclays Center.
Nets relinquish 18-point lead to Cavs without Mitchell, Hunter
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't have Donovan Mitchell or De'Andre Hunter there to save them, but in the end, they had enough to get past Brooklyn.
Despite leading by as many as 18 points, the Cavs chipped away at the lead until taking it for good midway through the fourth quarter.
Darius Garland proved to be unstoppable down the stretch with 30 points and 8 assists while Jarrett Allen added 23 points and 13 boards.
Cam Thomas dropped 17 points, but shot just 4 of 13 in the second half after a hot start. The Cavs punished the Nets in the paint for 52 points to win their fifteenth consecutive game.
Brooklyn takes on Chicago on Thursday at the United Center.
Brooklyn back on winning track as it knocks off short-handed Lakers
Without LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith and Max Christie, the Nets capitalized on an advantageous situation and escaped with a 111-108 victory on Monday night.
Luka Doncic had 22, but without much of their offensive and defensive firepower, the Lakers came up short.
Noah Clowney paced Brooklyn with 19 and Keon Johnson added 18.
Brooklyn finally snapped an elongated 17 game losing streak to pull back to within five losses back of Chicago for the final play-in spot.
No rest for the wicked as Brooklyn travels to Cleveland tomorrow night.
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