Category: Brooklyn Nets Blog

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Nets waive Ben Simmons after buyout agreement

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard/forward Ben Simmons. It was a contract buyout agreement.

Per the New York Post, “Simmons is playing on the final season of a five-year, $177.2 million deal that he originally signed with the 76ers in July 2019, and that the Nets acquired in the trade that sent James Harden to Philadelphia at the 2022 deadline… In Simmons’ first two-plus seasons with the Nets, he played in just 57 of the team’s 191 games after the blockbuster became official. The Nets paid him approximately $86.3 million during that time, meaning he earned approximately $1.5 million per game played. (He also missed all eight of the Nets’ playoff games, though that’s not included here.)”

Simmons originally joined the Nets on Feb. 10, 2022, via trade from Philadelphia. In 33 appearances (24 starts) with Brooklyn this season, Simmons averaged 6.2 points on 54.7 percent shooting from the field, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 25.0 minutes per game. In 365 career games (344 starts) with the Nets and Sixers, the native of Australia holds career averages of 13.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals across 31.8 minutes per contest.

Brooklyn’s roster now stands at 17 players.

Nets sign Tosan Evbuomwan, waive Jaylen Martin

The Brooklyn Nets last week (on January 1) signed forward Tosan Evbuomwan to a two-way contract.

In a related transaction, the Nets have requested waivers on two-way guard/forward Jaylen Martin.

Evbuomwan (6’7″, 217) appeared in 16 Tip-Off Tournament games (all starts) for the San Diego Clippers in the NBA G League this season, averaging 18.4 points on 51.9 percent shooting from the field, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 32.6 minutes per game. The Newcastle, England, native saw action in 17 games (eight starts) with the Pistons and Grizzlies last season during his rookie campaign, averaging 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds over 21.6 minutes per contest. He also played in 18 regular season games (16 starts) last season with the Pistons’ NBA G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise, posting averages of 15.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 34.5 minutes per game. Evbuomwan went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft after playing three seasons (2019-20, 2021-23) at Princeton, where he earned Ivy League Player of the Year as a junior and helped lead the Tigers to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a senior.

Martin signed a two-way contract with the Nets on Feb. 21, 2024. He appeared in three games for Brooklyn this season.

Lakers trade D’Angelo Russell to Nets

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired via trade forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. In return, the Lakers sent guard D’Angelo Russell, forward Maxwell Lewis and three future second round draft picks to the Nets.

Finney-Smith (6’7”, 225) has appeared in 20 games (all starts) for Brooklyn this season, averaging 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 29.0 minutes. On the season, the 31-year-old is shooting a career-best 43.5 percent from 3-point range. In 548 career NBA games (424 starts) across nine seasons with the Nets (2023-25) and Dallas Mavericks (2016-23), Finney-Smith has averaged 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 27.9 minutes. He has appeared in 35 career NBA playoff games (all starts) with the Nets and Mavericks, averaging 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 35.7 minutes. The Virginia native went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft before earning an opening-night roster spot with the Dallas Mavericks prior to the 2016-17 season. He played collegiately for Florida (2013-16) and Virginia Tech (2011-12).

Milton (6’5”, 212) has appeared in 27 games (one start) for Brooklyn this season, averaging 7.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 18.2 minutes. In 329 career outings (46 starts) across seven seasons with the Nets (2024-25), New York Knicks (2023-24), Detroit Pistons (2023-24), Minnesota Timberwolves (2023-24) and Philadelphia 76ers (2018-23), the 28-year-old has averaged 8.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 19.3 minutes. In 38 career NBA playoff contests (four starts) for the 76ers and Knicks, the Oklahoma native has averaged 4.8 points and 1.2 rebounds in 11.8 minutes. The SMU product (2015-18) was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 54th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft prior to being traded to Philadelphia to begin his professional career.

In 29 outings (10 starts) for the Lakers this season, Russell averaged 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 26.3 minutes. In 600 career regular season NBA games (510 starts), the 28-year-old has averaged 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 30.0 minutes.

Lewis suited up in 41 contests over the past two seasons with the Purple and Gold. He was drafted by the Lakers with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft.

Nets trade Dennis Schroder to Warriors

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired guard De’Anthony Melton and two-way guard Reece Beekman along with three unprotected second round draft picks (2026 via Atlanta, 2028 via Atlanta and 2029 Golden State’s own) in a trade with the Golden State Warriors for guard Dennis Schröder and a 2025 second round draft pick (via Miami).

In a related transaction, the Nets have requested waivers on forward Cui Yongxi.

Melton (6’2″, 201) saw action in six games with Golden State this season after signing with the team as a free agent on July 8, registering averages of 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.2 minutes per game. He suffered a season-ending partially torn left ACL on November 12.

Beekman (6’1″, 198) signed a two-way contract with the Warriors on July 3 and appeared in two games with Golden State. He also played in nine Tip-Off Tournament games (seven starts) with Golden State’s NBA G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, recording averages of 18.7 points on 51.5 percent shooting from the field, 5.2 rebounds, 7.3 assists (ninth in the NBA G League) and 2.8 steals (third in the NBA G League) in 31.5 minutes per contest. Prior to beginning his professional career, the 23-year-old Milwaukee native spent four years (2020-24) at the University of Virginia, where he was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior, becoming the third player to ever win the award in consecutive seasons. He finished his collegiate career as Virginia’s all-time leader in steals (228).

Schröder, who was originally acquired by Brooklyn on Feb. 8, 2024, in a trade with Toronto, played in a total of 52 games (48 starts) for the Nets across two seasons, posting averages of 16.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 32.7 minutes per game. Schröder has played in and started 23 games this season, registering averages of 18.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.6 minutes per game.

Cui signed a two-way contract with Brooklyn on Sept. 20, 2024. He appeared in five games for Brooklyn and five games for the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, this season.

Ben Simmons still trying to rediscover his aggression

Per the NY Daily News:

An odd play late in the Nets’ 115-102 defeat of the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday summed up the Ben Simmons experience perfectly.

Brooklyn was up 106-89 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter when Simmons created a turnover by poking the ball away from Damian Lillard. Dennis Schröder corralled the rock, then quickly whipped a one-handed pass up the court to a streaking Simmons. Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas were trailing behind him.

Brook Lopez, who had nine blocks entering the night, was Milwaukee’s last line of defense. The Nets had a 3-on-1 advantage in transition and Simmons technically made the right basketball play in that moment, pitching the ball back to Johnson, which should have resulted in an easy bucket. But Simmons barely looked at the rim, and because of his lack of aggression, Lopez did not have to cover much ground defensively. The 7-1 center could essentially guard two players at once.

Nets convert contract of Tyrese Martin to a two-way contract

The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the right to convert Tyrese Martin’s contract to a two-way contract.

Martin (6’6″, 215) has appeared in four games as a reserve for Brooklyn during the preseason, averaging 4.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 12.0 minutes per game. The 25-year-old spent last season with the Iowa Wolves, the NBA G League affiliate of the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he averaged 17.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steals over 35.1 minutes per game across 33 regular season contests (28 starts). Martin also saw action in 16 games as a reserve with the Atlanta Hawks during the 2022-23 campaign. The Allentown, Pa., native was selected 51st overall in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors before his draft rights were traded to Atlanta. Martin spent two seasons (2018-20) at the University of Rhode Island and concluded his collegiate career with two years (2020-22) at the University of Connecticut, where he earned 2022 All-Big East Tournament Team honors.

G League: Long Island Nets hire Tevin Baskin, Fortune Solomon and Jorge Gutierrez as assistant coaches

The Long Island Nets, the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, have named Tevin Baskin, Fortune Solomon and Jorge Gutiérrez as assistant coaches on Head Coach Mfon Udofia’s staff. They join Associate Head Coach Shawn Swords on Long Island’s bench.

Swords returns to Long Island for his second season as associate head coach after joining the organization ahead of the 2022-23 season as an assistant coach. Swords previously spent 15 seasons (2007-2022) as head coach at Laurentian University in Ontario, Canada, where he also played five collegiate seasons (1992-97) and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. Prior to beginning his coaching career, the Ottawa native played professionally overseas for a decade (1997-2007) in France and Italy and on Team Canada at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Baskin enters his third season with Long Island and his first as an assistant coach. He originally joined the Nets staff ahead of the 2022-23 NBA G League season as an assistant video coordinator/player development and was elevated to head video coordinator/player development the following season. Prior to joining the Nets, the Stamford, Conn., native spent one season (2021-22) at Mississippi State as the director of recruiting and analytics, where he also served as a graduate assistant for two seasons (2018-20). Baskin played two collegiate seasons (2012-14) at Appalachian State and later earned a master’s degree in workforce education leadership from Mississippi State.

Solomon joins Long Island as an assistant coach after spending the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach with the NBA G League’s Raptors 905. Prior to his stint with the 905, he spent two seasons (2021-23) as an assistant coach with the South Bay Lakers and four seasons (2017-21) with the Oklahoma City Thunder as a player development analyst. The Hayward, Calif., native also brings international coaching experience to Long Island, serving as an assistant coach for the South Sudan Men’s National Team since 2021, including the team’s recent performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Prior to beginning his professional coaching career, Solomon spent one season (2012-13) at the University of California, Bakersfield as head video coordinator before joining the University of San Francisco basketball program as a graduate assistant during the 2013-14 season, where he also earned a master’s degree in sports management.

Gutiérrez enters his first season with Long Island and his first as an assistant coach. He joins the coaching ranks after an 11-year professional career (2012-23) including three seasons (2013-16) in the NBA with Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Charlotte. Gutiérrez also played four seasons in the NBA G League with the Cleveland Charge (2012-16) and was selected by the Charge with the 26th overall pick in the 2012 NBA G League Draft. Prior to beginning his professional career, Gutiérrez played four collegiate seasons (2008-12) at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. The Chihuahua, Mexico native received Pac-12 Player of the Year and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors during his senior season with the Golden Bears.

Additionally, Steven Kaner has been elevated to head video coordinator/player development. He enters his fourth season with Long Island after joining the organization as a team attendant ahead of the 2021-22 season.

Nets 2024-25 preseason game schedule

The Brooklyn Nets tip off the 2024-25 season with a four-game preseason schedule, which includes a pair of home games at Barclays Center.

At home, Brooklyn will host the Washington Wizards on Monday, Oct. 14, and the Toronto Raptors on Friday, Oct. 18.

On the road, Brooklyn will open their preseason slate versus the Los Angeles Clippers at Frontwave Arena in San Diego on Tuesday, Oct. 8, and will travel to Philadelphia for a matchup with the 76ers on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Nets sign Keon Johnson to multi-year contract

The Brooklyn Nets recently signed guard Keon Johnson to a multi-year contract.

Johnson (6’4″, 185) originally signed a two-way contract with Brooklyn on Nov. 1, 2023, and recorded averages of 6.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game in five games with the Nets in the 2023-24 season. He also saw action in 26 regular season games (one start) last season with Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, posting averages of 18.2 points on 47.8 percent shooting from the field, 37.9 percent shooting from 3-point range and 80.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 27.7 minutes per contest. In three postseason games (all starts) with Long Island, the 22-year-old recorded averages of 19.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.0 steals over 36.5 minutes per game. Most recently, Johnson has suited up in four games (all starts) for Brooklyn’s NBA 2K25 Summer League team in Las Vegas, averaging 16.3 points on 45.1 percent shooting from the floor, 4.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.5 steals across 30.7 minutes per contest.