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Nets' Owner, Coach, send mixed messages on tanking plans

NBA.com


 Any organization needs full alignment and a shared vision starting at the top of the organization on down to the players. 

It should comes as no surprise that a rudderless organization for the better part of its existence is having trouble getting on the same page. 

Speaking with Brian Lewis of the New York Post, Nets owner Joe Tsai shared a few concise, but direct thoughts on the upcoming season. 


 After a 2024-25 campaign where the Nets did not truly tank and drew the eight spot in the NBA Draft Lottery, it seems that the plan is clear. 

Well, maybe to everyone but head coach, Jordi Fernandez. 


 The Nets overachieved under Fernandez last season until ill-fated injuries became just too much to overcome. 

Brooklyn is expected to be among the NBA's bottom feeders, but an interesting dynamic will play out between the culture building and compete to the last whistle Fernandez, and the star-starved owner and front office that wants that next marquee young player to land in Brooklyn. 

While Tsai is not alone by declaring his team's intention to have one eye on the NBA Draft Lottery and tank,  his comments are likely fine-worthy as it flies in the face of the competitive landscape Adam Silver is trying to create. 

Perhaps Fernandez is trying to cover for his owner, but it's also possible the young coach loves taking on an immense challenge of taking a roster bereft of top tier talent and playoff experience into league relevance. 

Even large portions of the Nets fan base will root for losses to endure short-term pain for long-term gain. What Tsai and Marks may have overlooked is that folding is not in Fernandez's DNA. 

Good luck tanking with a coach that doesn't seem to be fully onboard with the marching orders from up top. 

Cam Thomas sends early message to Nets front office

 



Cam Thomas bet on himself this off-season and early returns are promising. 

The Nets young shooting guard, who was in a contract standoff with the Nets front office, made a major statement during the NBA's China games in Macao. 

Thomas started the game 6-6 with 14 points in the first quarter. He finished with 22 points on 7-12 from the field and led the team in assists with six in just 24 minutes. 

Jordi Fernandez wanted to see more playmaking and sharing the ball from the pure scorer and his preseason debut far exceeded those expectations.  

If Thomas keeps this type of performance up throughout the season, he'll likely go to the highest bidder. Beyond improving his passing and defense, Thomas will need to prove that he can stay healthy and on the court night in and night out.

If Thomas can check all those boxes, it might really be his Last Dance here in Brooklyn. 


The Nets were defeated by the Suns in OT, 132-127. 

Trade with Nets handcuffed Knicks from acquiring this superstar

 

Keith Allison | WikiCommons


The Knicks and the Nets are seldom trade partners. When both sides of the East River agree to a deal, it is newsworthy. 

So when Brooklyn's rising playmaker Mikal Bridges was sent in a blockbuster move that brought five future first round picks to the Nets last summer, it raised a lot of eyebrows. 

Leon Rose pushed all his chips to the middle of the table to bring in fellow Villanova product Bridges to play alongside Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. 

What the Knicks executive didn't think about at the time was that the move precluded him from acquiring a true superstar down the road. Bridges was extended this summer and the future core of the Knicks is intact.


Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Giannis Antentekoumpo was linked the the Knicks with ongoing trade talks taking place over the last couple of months. 



 The harsh reality for the Knicks is they gave away the future draft picks that would have brought the Greek Freak to MSG. New York has yet to win a division title, conference title or NBA title with Brunson, Hart and Bridges leading the way.  


Acquiring Antentekoumpo would have planted the Knicks firmly as the favorites in the Eastern Conference, but without him they'll be in a dog fight with Cleveland, Orlando and Indiana in a quest to capture the East. 

ESPN Preseason Power Index pegs Nets among NBA's worst

NBA.com


 The Brooklyn Nets are in a full rebuild. Taking five first round draft picks was unprecedented by Sean Marks and company.

 So while Terance Mann at the ripe old age of 27 is the oldest player on the roster,  hope for the young nucleus of players developing remains high. 

Sixteen players 25 years or younger, including five rookies spells a developmental year for Brooklyn. 

Expectations from fans are at an all-time low. 

The national pundits are also tabbing the Nets as a bottom feeder team. 

ESPN's Power Index has the Nets among the cellar dwellers. 



For those hopeful the team can draft in the top 3 position in a front-loaded 2026 NBA draft, ESPN's Power Index doubles down on the fact the Nets will struggle to find wins this upcoming season. 

Some fans will be rejoicing at the fact the franchise won't be in NBA purgatory like last year where they're not bad enough to land a top draft pick, but not competitive enough to clinch a playoff berth.

Jordi Fernandez, Marks and his staff will look to evaluate what pieces will be building blocks in the seasons ahead.  But there will likely be some major growing pains in Brooklyn for 2025-26. 



NBA 2K26 takes another stride in the right direction

 

2K26

Originally posted at GauntletofGaming.com

Nothing about 2K26 is ground moving or earth shattering. Perhaps it's more like a few aftershocks or minor tremors for a franchise largely in need of a major shake-up.

In that regard, it delivers. 

With gameplay nuances absent from season's past, 2K26 presents the most realistic and rewarding simulation since its 2K22 installment. 

2K26


Animations are less clunky, buckets are more realistic and in rhythm, while defending the 91'x49' hardwood is as challenging as ever. 

Taking a charge is a thing of yesteryear and finishing through contact is more painstaking than ever. 


2K26

Defending the rim with even the most feared shot blocker is no easy task, and forget closing out at a 3-point sniper starting from the paint. 

2K26


MyGM mode has negligible improvements, while a revamped and a bit more intriguing MYCAREER mode will capture your attention with a compelling storyline. 




2K26 


Tutorials and mini games while fun at first but elementary for returning players playing offline. 

Overall, the 2K26 experience is harkening back to its 2010 decade heyday, but there's still room for improvement as it's not quite at must-have status with this installment. 

Score: 8.2











 

Giannis confirms rumors linking him to Brooklyn, others



 Giannis Antetokounmpo is a Buck.

 For now. 

Speaking with Dario Melendez of WISN 12 News in Milwaukee and other beat reporters, The Greek Freak didn't exactly dismiss all of the juicy rumors that indicated the superstar's interest in playing outside Milwaukee if the organization can't compete for a title. 

The Nets were one of several teams linked to Giannis, with many disregarding the trade rumors as ludicrous. 

Clearly, Giannis is still committed to the Bucks, but if things go sideways for the organization yet again this upcoming year, the trade talks will only intensify at the deadline and really heat up in the summer. 

 

Nets fading into NBA obscurity




Brooklyn is not the center of the NBA universe. In fact, the Nets are an afterthought in their own media market. 

While James Dolan's Knicks making a strong push for another title run, the Nets are simply trying to find their way. 

With a trio of rookies providing potential upside in Noah Traore, Egor Demin, Ben Saraf, the promise for a bright future is far from guaranteed. 

The Nets have a likely deadend leading scorer in Cam Thomas, who is back on the qualifying offer and likely in his last dance scenario in New York. 

Meanwhile, another scoring guard in Michael Porter Jr. is making headlines for controversial and clearly braindead arguments online. 

The Nets don't have a superstar player to boast and they're forcing Thomas out, while propping up Porter Jr. as a franchise savior and potential NBA scoring leader. 

Some may call it wishful thinking. I call it delusional. The Nets are not just watch TV. In fact, they have one nationally televised game all season, and rightfully so. 

Other than the development of their rookies and scoring flashes from two players not part of the team's long-term plans, there's not a heck of a lot to get excited about in Brooklyn this upcoming season. 

Kyrie Irving responds to tweet about COVID era Nets

 



Kyrie Irving didn't exactly leave the Nets on great terms. After demanding a trade and being dealt to Dallas ahead of the 2023 NBA Trade deadline, both Irving and Nets fans can't help but think what could have been in Brooklyn. 



It's amazing to think what the Nets' big three could have achieved had a pandemic not disrupted the world, but alas, we'll never truly know.

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. 



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