Erik Slater Articles - Page 2

The Brooklyn Nets are uniquely positioned in this year’s NBA draft. With five selections in the top 36 (8, 19, 26, 27, 36) and in the early stages of a rebuild, the team can offer prospects immediate playing time in the league’s top market. Those factors have reportedly led Ace Bailey to pinpoint the Nets […]

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 […]

Cam Thomas’ future will be among the Brooklyn Nets’ top storylines this offseason. Ahead of the first free agency of his career, the 23-year-old reaffirmed his desire to remain with Brooklyn. “I definitely, definitely want to be back in Brooklyn. It’s definitely home for me. Being drafted there you definitely build bonds with a lot […]

Brooklyn Nets fans entered this season with dreams of securing a top-three draft pick. Rutgers’ Ace Bailey was among the prospects they had their sights set on. While the Nets’ fall to the No. 8 pick appeared to crush any hopes of landing the star forward, he may not be out of their reach after […]

The Brooklyn Nets will have no shortage of directions they can take with the No. 8 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Noa Essengue has been linked to the rebuilding squad amid a recent surge up draft boards. The French Phenom received a green room invite to attend the draft at Barclays Center, according to […]

The Kevin Durant sweepstakes are heating up as the NBA draft approaches. With the Phoenix Suns determined to find a trade for the 15-time All-Star, the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat have emerged as the frontrunners, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. “At this point in these conversations, you’re looking at a piece [or] two away […]

The Brooklyn Nets are investing in youth basketball in their local community. This fall, BSE Global, parent company of the Nets and New York Liberty, will open a multi-court youth basketball training facility opposite Barclays Center on Flatbush Avenue. “I have personally witnessed the way the game of basketball enriches the lives of young people […]

Kon Kneuppel’s limited athleticism has been a frequent criticism regarding his ceiling as a top-10 NBA draft pick. The Duke forward did not test at the Draft Combine last month due to an ankle injury. However, he has since completed the required pre-draft testing, and the numbers are sure to turn heads. Kneuppel posted a […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ descent from title favorite to basement dweller has been yet another gut punch for a downtrodden fan base. However, the next calendar year will present a unique opportunity for the organization. Think about the most popular and successful franchises in the NBA: the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Golden State […]

Much of the conversation surrounding the Boston Celtics this offseason has centered on their need to cut salary. With a new ownership group taking over and Jayson Tatum sidelined for possibly the entire 2025-26 season, there’s little reason for them to remain in the second apron, which imposes harsh penalties. Despite this, Boston isn’t operating […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ trade sending Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns set them up for a promising future. Two years later, they could benefit from yet another Durant trade sweepstakes. With Giannis Antetokounmpo seemingly content to remain with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Durant trade is the most significant offseason domino waiting to fall. ESPN’s Shams […]

Much of the conversation surrounding the NBA offseason has centered on one question: Will the Milwaukee Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo? Several teams have crafted their summer plans in anticipation of the two-time MVP hitting the market. However, they may be forced to look elsewhere for their star acquisition. Up to this point, Antetokounmpo has not […]

Former Brooklyn Nets guard Dennis Smith Jr. is attempting an NBA comeback. Smith Jr. worked out for the Philadelphia 76ers during a two-day veteran minicamp this week, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The seven-year NBA veteran is also scheduled to work out for his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, according to multiple […]

With the 2024-25 NBA season nearing its close, a new hierarchy is emerging amongst the league’s players. The Ringer released its updated top 100 players list on Thursday. Only one member of the Brooklyn Nets made the cut, with Cam Johnson coming in at No. 75. “Older NBA prospects—like Cam Johnson, who was 23 years […]

With the 2025 NBA Draft less than three weeks away, there is little consensus among big boards and projections beyond the first few picks. As has been the case throughout Sean Marks’ tenure, the Brooklyn Nets have kept their cards close to their vest. The No. 8 pick is the team’s first lottery selection since […]

Finding a starting-caliber center to pair with Luka Doncic will be the Los Angeles Lakers’ top priority this summer. After trading Anthony Davis, Rob Pelinka’s squad was left with a gaping hole at the position during the second half of the season. Despite this, the Lakers aren’t expected to include Austin Reaves, their top trade […]

The Brooklyn Nets are interested in acquiring a second lottery pick in this month’s NBA draft. Already in possession of No. 8, the team is exploring a trade that would send Cam Johnson and No. 19 to the Toronto Raptors for No. 9 or the Houston Rockets for No. 10, according to NetsDaily. The Nets […]

The Brooklyn Nets will get a closer look at the draft’s top international draft prospects on Wednesday. The NBA will hold pre-draft workouts in Treviso, Italy for players who were invited to the Chicago draft combine but excused from attending because they were playing with an overseas team. Noa Essengue, Joan Beringer, Nolan Traoré, Hugo […]

The Brooklyn Nets are preparing for a busy offseason as they continue their rebuild. Re-signing leading scorer Cam Thomas will be among the team’s top orders of business. ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks offered a loose prediction for Thomas’ next contract and explained why Brooklyn will hold significant leverage in negotiations. “What is his […]

A former top Brooklyn Nets assistant is close to getting his first NBA head-coaching position. Jordan Ott is one of two finalists for the Phoenix Suns’ vacancy, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Cleveland Cavaliers associate coach Johnnie Bryant joins him in the race for the job. Ott spent the bulk of his coaching career on the Nets’ […]

The Brooklyn Nets can go several directions with their first selection in next month’s draft. Their fall to the No. 8 pick put several household college names, such as Jeremiah Fears, Tre Johnson, Kon Kneuppel and Khaman Maluach, within their range. However, French phenom Noa Essengue is creeping into the conversation as he continues to […]

The Brooklyn Nets are getting an up-close look at one of the top shooters in the draft. Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier will visit the team for a predraft workout on Thursday, sources told ClutchPoints. Following an outstanding season with the Volunteers, Lanier is ranked 42nd on ESPN’s Top 100 big board. The 23-year-old could be […]

The Phoenix Suns have narrowed their coaching search to eight candidates, and Brooklyn Nets assistant Steve Hetzel is among the finalists. Hetzel is part of a list that includes Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Jordan Ott and Johnnie Bryant, Oklahoma City Thunder assistant Dave Bliss, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney, Miami Heat assistant […]

Flexibility and optionality are terms frequently associated with the Brooklyn Nets’ rebuild. However, they don’t just apply to the team’s long-term plans, but also to its position on draft night. After entering the draft lottery with the sixth-best odds and dreams of Cooper Flagg, the Nets fell to No. 8. The slip put several tier […]

The New York Liberty are making history in women’s sports. The team has raised capital from a group of investors at a valuation of $450 million, a record for a professional women’s sports franchise, sources told The Athletic. The total size of the shares sold in the capital raise is a percentage in the “mid-teens,” […]

The Indiana Pacers made history on Wednesday night with an improbable comeback win over the New York Knicks. Rick Carlisle’s squad overcame a 14-point deficit with 2:51 remaining to claim a 138-135 overtime win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith led the insane comeback while teaming up for […]

Kansas basketball is hiring one of its former stars and a recent NBA head coach to its staff for the 2025-26 season. Jacque Vaughn, who starred for the Jayhawks from 1993 to 1997 and had stints as head coach of the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets, has agreed to join Bill Self’s staff as an […]

The Brooklyn Nets entered the draft lottery with dreams of the No. 1 pick and Cooper Flagg. However, their fall to No. 8 put several tier two prospects within their range. Among those is Flagg’s Duke teammate, Kon Kneuppel. The sharpshooting forward is coming off a standout freshman season, averaging 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and […]

The 2025 NBA draft will be among the most consequential in the Brooklyn Nets’ history. With five picks within the top-36 of what many consider a generational draft, the team has an opportunity to establish a winning core for the next decade-plus. “We have four first-round picks, which I am excited, elated about,” assistant general […]

Khaman Maluach is one of the top prospects in this year’s NBA draft. However, his basketball journey began much later than his counterparts. The 7-foot-3 center, a childhood refugee from South Sudan, didn’t start playing until age 13. Maluach recently revealed the moment he decided basketball was his future. “I just went to a camp […]

The NBA world will be watching Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks this summer. Following a third consecutive first-round exit during which Damian Lillard tore his achilles, the two-time MVP’s future in Milwaukee is more uncertain than ever. NBA fans and media have speculated several teams as likely destinations should the Bucks superstar ask for […]

The Brooklyn Nets will have their choice of several top prospects with the No. 8 pick in the 2025 draft. Among the players they’re eyeing is Oklahoma point guard Jeremiah Fears. The young floor general, ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s draft rankings, met with and worked out for the Nets at the draft combine in […]

The ping pong balls didn’t bounce the Brooklyn Nets’ way at Monday’s draft lottery. After entering the night with the sixth-best odds, the Nets fell to No. 8. It was a disappointing outcome after Brooklyn reacquired its first-round pick from the Houston Rockets last summer and tanked in hopes of landing a top selection. However, […]

Luck hasn’t been on the Brooklyn Nets’ side throughout their franchise’s history. That didn’t change at Monday’s NBA draft lottery. After entering the night with the sixth-best odds, Brooklyn landed the eighth pick. The Nets descended upon Chicago with dreams of Cooper Flagg. They would’ve settled for Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe. But […]

It’s been no secret over the last two years that the Brooklyn Nets covet Giannis Antetokounmpo as a trade target. However, the Milwaukee Bucks and the two-time MVP have shut down any speculation about a trade during that timeframe. That appears to be changing after the team’s third consecutive first-round exit and Damian Lillard’s torn […]

The Golden State Warriors fell 117-93 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, tying their series at one apiece. With Stephen Curry sidelined for an extended period by a hamstring strain, the game featured several interesting lineup decisions by Steve Kerr. The Warriors became the first team in NBA history to play 14 players in the […]

Monday’s NBA Draft Lottery will be among the most consequential events in Brooklyn Nets history. The team announced on Friday that head coach Jordi Fernandez will serve as its representative in Chicago. Following a 26-56 campaign, the Nets hold the sixth-best lottery odds, giving them a 9.0 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick. […]

The Boston Celtics stuck to an identity on their way to an NBA championship last season. They were a team stocked with shooters who let it fly at a rate higher than any other team. And it worked. One year later, that same strategy has them in a stunning 2-0 second-round series deficit against the […]

Day’Ron Sharpe will be a free agent for the first time in his career this summer. Following a career-best season with the Brooklyn Nets, he hopes it will end with him back in the back and white. “I’m new to this, so whatever happens, happens. But I like Brooklyn, so God willing [I’ll be back],” […]