Erik Slater Articles - Page 13

Bill Belichick shocked the football world with his decision to become the head coach at the University of North Carolina. After spending two decades building a dynasty with the New England Patriots in the NFL, the head coach will now navigate the world of the transfer portal, recruiting, and NIL. Former Alabama head coach Nick […]

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama flashed his one-of-a-kind skillset on the international stage this summer. After winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, he has made it his goal to play for the French national team “every summer.” “I don’t know the exact dates, but there’s always time to make it work with […]

The Buffalo Bills are nearing full strength entering a Week 15 marquee matchup with the Detroit Lions. After missing last week’s 44-42 upset loss to the Los Angeles Rams, wide receiver Keon Coleman (wrist) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) are expected to play against Detroit. “Keon Coleman, the standout receiver, really promising receiver, battled […]

The Miami Heat are contemplating their future ahead of this year’s trade deadline. After failing to reach an extension with Jimmy Butler this summer, the team is listening to trade offers for the star forward. Butler is in the final year of his contract with a player option for next season, allowing him to become […]

Shake Milton was an afterthought on the Brooklyn Nets roster entering this season. A sign-and-trade from the New York Knicks used to match salary in the Mikal Bridges blockbuster deal, the seven-year veteran appeared out of place on a team trending toward a youth movement. However, following Cam Thomas’s injury, Milton has cracked the Nets’ […]

The NBA trade deadline is less than two months away, and several Brooklyn Nets veterans are at the center of growing speculation. With the team exceeding expectations during a presumed tanking season, general manager Sean Marks is reportedly “open for business.” However, the Nets are blocking out the noise as rumors surface with trade season […]

Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams has been sidelined for the team’s last three games due to a left knee sprain. The 24-year-old has been working through a rehab process but does not have a timetable for his return. “Just been doing a lot of simple stuff right now. Not moving too much, but definitely making […]

The Brooklyn Nets are the center of trade speculation as this year’s deadline approaches. With the team exceeding expectations during a presumed tanking season, general manager Sean Marks will field offers for several players, most notably Cam Johnson. Johnson is having the best season of his career while stepping into an expanded role following Mikal […]

Many viewed the Los Angeles Clippers as perennial title contenders from 2012-2017. However, the team, led by Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, JJ Redick and Jamal Crawford, never reached the heights many anticipated. While they won over 50 games in five consecutive seasons, they failed to advance past the second round of the playoffs. […]

A special teams blunder was at the center of the Dallas Cowboys’ 27-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. With the game tied with two minutes remaining, the Cowboys blocked a punt in Bengals territory. However, the ball traveled past the line of scrimmage, after which Dallas cornerback Amani Oruwariye made a […]

NBA trade season is nearly upon us, and the Brooklyn Nets could be among the league’s most active teams. The Nets have received trade interest and “opened exploratory conversations” around veterans Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Dennis Schroder, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania. All three players have been at the center of trade speculation since […]

Dennis Schroder has fueled the Brooklyn Nets during their surprise start to 2024-25. Sunday was the latest example of his offensive brilliance elevating the rebuilding squad’s floor. Schroder posted 34 points on 13-of-19 shooting with 11 assists and zero turnovers during a 119-113 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He is the fifth player in Nets […]

The Brooklyn Nets haven’t gotten the production they expected from Nic Claxton to start 2024-25. After signing a contract just short of nine figures, the sixth-year center has struggled to make his normal impact while battling hamstring and back injuries. Claxton received an epidural injection in November for a lower back strain, which he initially […]

Many viewers would take positives from the Brooklyn Nets’ performance during Sunday’s 118-113 loss to a full-strength Milwaukee Bucks squad. Jordi Fernandez wasn’t one of them. “Our defense was atrocious,” Fernandez said candidly following the defeat. “And if our guys who wear a Brooklyn Nets jersey don’t play harder defense, they don’t have a place […]

The Brooklyn Nets haven’t been able to hang their hat on continuity early this season. Jordi Fernandez’s squad has battled injuries to numerous key contributors, including Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton, Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson. Brooklyn has used a different starting lineup in a franchise-record ten straight games, the longest such streak in the NBA […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ frontcourt is nearing full strength for the first time this season. After welcoming back Day’Ron Sharpe earlier this week, Dorian Finney-Smith will return to the lineup on Sunday vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. Finney-Smith has missed six of Brooklyn’s last seven games due to a left ankle sprain he initially sustained in early […]

The Brooklyn Nets are among the worst rebounding teams in the NBA. Jordi Fernandez’s squad ranks 26th in defensive rebounding percentage this season, a deficiency that has played a significant role in their 23rd-ranked defense. Brooklyn hopes Day’Ron Sharpe’s return from a hamstring injury could help mitigate those struggles. “Rebounding,” Fernandez replied when asked about […]

Cam Johnson is having the best season of his career with the new-look Brooklyn Nets. The 6-foot-8 sharpshooter has taken his three-point marksmanship to another level, shooting 43.1 percent on 7.6 attempts per game, both career-highs. He ranks fourth in the NBA in three-point percentage among 61 players attempting over six per game, trailing only […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is in the early stages of his rehab process for a hamstring strain. Speaking for the first time publicly since sustaining the injury, he said he’s progressing well but does not have a timetable for his return. “I’m doing good, getting better, just taking it day by day,” Thomas said. […]

Cam Thomas is no stranger to being overlooked throughout his basketball career. The Brooklyn Nets guard’s omission from ESPN’s Top 25 NBA players under 25 is the latest example of the polarizing discourse surrounding his game. Thomas offered a blunt response to not making the list. “If you look at the numbers and look at […]

The New Orleans Saints will make significant changes this offseason after a letdown 2024 campaign. However, a new general manager is not expected to be one of them. “The early belief among league insiders is that Mickey Loomis has a good chance to remain as Saints general manager,” wrote ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “That’s not 100%, […]

Kentucky basketball suffered its first loss of the season on Tuesday, a 70-66 upset at Clemson. Following the shocking defeat, Wildcats head coach Mark Pope gave his players a reality check about the hostile environments they’ll face the rest of this season. “Well, it’s Kentucky, you know? It’s everyone’s Super Bowl,” Pope told reporters. “So […]

The Brooklyn Nets host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night at Barclays Center. Ben Simmons, Cam Johnson, and Dorian Finney-Smith are all questionable on the team’s injury report. Johnson and Finney-Smith are dealing with left ankle sprains, while Simmons is tending to left knee soreness. Here’s everything we know about their injuries and playing statuses […]

Several NBA teams will be vying for the opportunity to draft Rutgers star Dylan Harper next June. His father, former Chicago Bulls guard Ron Harper, hopes the Utah Jazz will not be one of them. Harper replied to a Jazz fan on X and said that “a trade would happen” if the team selected his […]

Justin Tucker’s hall-of-fame career has taken a turn for the worse with the Baltimore Ravens this season. By the numbers, the seven-time Pro-Bowler has been among the NFL’s worst kickers. After Tucker missed two field goals and an extra point during Baltimore’s Week 13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Bill Belichick offered his opinion on […]

The Chicago Bears are in the market for a head coach after firing Matt Eberflus. General manager Ryan Poles revealed to wide receiver DJ Moore what quality he’ll be looking for during the hiring process. “He just basically told me what had already got out in the media before he called me, but he was […]

The Brooklyn Nets weren’t set up for success during Monday’s 128-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Playing on the back end of a back-to-back while down six rotation players, including Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Ben Simmons, they faltered down the stretch against a Chicago squad on two days rest. Trailing by six […]

There weren’t many positives for the Brooklyn Nets during Monday’s 128-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls. However, the team’s lone bright spot in the season-worst defeat could loom large down the line. With the Nets down five rotation pieces, Dariq Whitehead saw his first extended action of 2024-25. The 2023 first-round pick scored a team-high […]

Ben Simmons’ clean bill of health to start 2024-25 took a turn for the worse on Sunday. The three-time All-Star exited the Brooklyn Nets’ 100-92 loss to the Orlando Magic due to a knee contusion and did not return. Simmons logged 11 minutes during the defeat, finishing scoreless on one shot attempt with five assists. […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ shorthanded offense was dealt another blow on Sunday. With Cam Thomas sidelined by a hamstring strain, Cam Johnson rolled his left ankle during the final minute of a 100-92 loss to the Orlando Magic. Johnson remained in the game for the following defensive possession before limping off the court. The injury comes […]

A whistle-happy officiating crew took centerstage during the Brooklyn Nets’ 100-92 loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday at Barclays Center. The game saw 60 fouls called, over twenty higher than the league average this season (38.8). As they did during Friday’s loss to the Magic, the Nets struggled offensively with leading scorer Cam Thomas […]

The Brooklyn Nets will receive much-needed frontcourt reinforcements in the coming week. Day’Ron Sharpe is expected to return to the lineup after missing the first six weeks of the season due to a hamstring strain. “We could see him at some point this next week,” said head coach Jordi Fernandez. “Right now, he’s going through […]

Nic Claxton has not made the impact the Brooklyn Nets expected this season after signing a four-year, $97 million contract. The sixth-year center has seen an inconsistent role due to a nagging back injury. Claxton has been battling the back ailment since the summer, which he told reporters will require management throughout the season. Head […]

Dennis Schroder has been the Brooklyn Nets’ most important player during their surprise start to 2024-25. Friday’s 123-100 loss to the Orlando Magic demonstrated how removing him could set the rebuilding squad back in its expected tanking direction. Schroder missed the matchup for personal reasons, marking his second absence of the season. Without his blend […]

Jordi Fernandez has preached a “next man up” mentality during his first season as Brooklyn Nets head coach. His team took the mantra to another level during a 3-1 road trip featuring wins over the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns. The Nets became the first team in NBA history to have a […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ frontcourt has yet to reach full strength this season. And just as the team is close to welcoming a piece back, another will be sidelined for an extended period. Day’Ron Sharpe is expected to return to the lineup within the next week, the team announced on Wednesday. The fourth-year center has been […]

The Brooklyn Nets were dealt their first major injury blow of the season on Wednesday. Cam Thomas has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain and will be sidelined for at least three weeks. Thomas has fueled the Nets’ eighth-ranked offense during a surprise 8-10 start. The 23-year-old has averaged 24.7 points, the 16th-most in […]

The Brooklyn Nets will visit the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night at Footprint Center. Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton, and Dorian Finney-Smith were all initially listed on the injury report as questionable. Johnson and Finney-Smith are tending to ankle sprains, while Claxton is dealing with lower back soreness. Here’s everything we know about their injuries and playing statuses […]

Kevin Durant will compete against several familiar faces Wednesday when the Phoenix Suns take on the Brooklyn Nets at Footprint Center. While his Nets tenure ended sourly, the 14-time All-Star voiced strong feelings about his former team before the matchup. “I’m a Net for life. I’m always gonna say that; I always feel that. It’s gonna […]