Erik Slater Articles - Page 20

The Brooklyn Nets attempted to re-ignite their struggling starting lineup before the new year, removing leading scorer Cam Thomas in favor of Dorian Finney-Smith. Head coach Jacque Vaughn’s decision came amid a 2-6 stretch, during which the Nets had posted the NBA’s third-worst defensive rating. The change has had little impact on the team’s struggles. […]

The Brooklyn Nets are in need of a shakeup midway through the 2023-24 season. Head coach Jacque Vaughn’s squad has lost 12 of its last 15 games while showing little signs of life over the last month. Brooklyn ranks 25th in offensive rating and 24th in defensive rating during that span. The Nets have a […]

The Brooklyn Nets have a hole in their rotation amid another extended absence for an emerging contributor. Day’Ron Sharpe will be sidelined for at least two weeks after hyperextending his knee during Sunday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. The injury comes amid a breakout campaign for the third-year center after he cracked Brooklyn’s rotation […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons spoke to the media following Wednesday’s practice in Paris for the first time in two weeks. Simmons has been sidelined for over two months due to a nerve impingement in his back. “It’s good. I’m getting there,” he said of the injury. “Just progressing every day, so I’ll be […]

The Brooklyn Nets are no strangers to foreign environments during the franchise’s 56-year history. Thursday’s matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers in Paris will mark the team’s 24th game outside of the United States, the most of any NBA team. After competing for Team USA alongside Nets teammate Mikal Bridges in the FIBA World Cup this […]

Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe has been diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee and will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, the team announced Tuesday. After suffering what the team initially called a knee sprain during Sunday’s overtime loss to Portland, Sharpe received an MRI on Monday. The 22-year-old’s knee buckled while landing after contesting […]

The phrase “living and dying by the three” becomes more applicable to the NBA each season with the league shifting towards a fast-paced, perimeter game. While the term typically refers to offensive strategy, it has also applied defensively for Jacque Vaughn and the Brooklyn Nets this season. Brooklyn reinvented its defense in 2023-24 after ranking […]

The Brooklyn Nets may have lost another rotation player for an extended period Sunday, with emerging center Day’Ron Sharpe suffering a knee injury during a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. The 22-year-old’s knee buckled while landing after contesting a layup. Sharpe was in clear pain and needed to be helped to the locker room. […]

The Brooklyn Nets solidified the back end of their roster Sunday, fully guaranteeing the contracts of Trendon Watford and Harry Giles. Jan. 7 is the last day NBA teams can cut players before their contracts become fully guaranteed. Watford has been productive in limited playing time after leaving the Portland Trail Blazers this summer to […]

The Brooklyn Nets are waiving two-way guard Armoni Brooks, the team announced Saturday. Brooks, who made 74 NBA appearances (16 starts) for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors from 2020-22, played in 10 games with Brooklyn this season, averaging 4.2 points on 32.6 percent shooting from the field and 34.4 percent from three. The 6-foot-3 […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons’ return to the floor remains up in the air amid a two-month absence. The three-time All-Star, who has missed the team’s last 28 games due to a nerve impingement in his back, began on-court workouts with coaches but does not have a timeline for his return, according to head […]

The Brooklyn Nets garnered heavy criticism after they rested nearly their entire rotation during a Dec. 27th home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. The league office was among those to take notice, fining the Nets $100,000 Thursday for violating the NBA’s player participation policy. Head coach Jacque Vaughn defended the team’s decision following the loss, […]

The Brooklyn Nets are set to receive a significant boost to their struggling offense. After missing the team’s last 17 games due to a left hamstring strain, Lonnie Walker IV is expected to return to the lineup Friday vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. After signing for the minimum, Walker emerged as one of the NBA’s […]

The NBA has fined the Brooklyn Nets $100,000 for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy during a Dec. 27 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Head coach Jacque Vaughn did not play Spencer Dinwiddie, Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton, or Dorian Finney-Smith vs. Milwaukee, with the team citing rest and injury maintenance on its status report. “Following […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has developed a reputation as a tough shotmaker during his young NBA career. However, the Nets’ offense has stalled amid the team’s recent struggles, and with it has come a career-worst shooting slump from Thomas. The 22-year-old has missed 20 straight field goal attempts over his last three games. Thomas […]

Following a promising start to the season, the Brooklyn Nets have lost nine of their last 11 games. The new-look squad has not been competitive during that span, ranking 27th in net rating with seven losses by double digits. Mikal Bridges’ struggles have played a significant role in the cold stretch. After averaging 24.7 points […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons is taking another step towards returning from a two-month absence. After missing 27 games due to a nerve impingement in his surgically repaired back, the three-time All-Star will be cleared to play two-on-two when the team returns from a four-game road trip, according to the New York Post’s Brian […]

The Brooklyn Nets entered New Orleans Tuesday amidst a downward spiral. Just when it felt like the team couldn’t fall any further, the Pelicans caved in the Nets’ floor with a 112-85 drubbing at Smoothie King Center. New Orleans jumped out to a 16-3 advantage and did not look back, leading by as many as […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Lonnie Walker IV won’t play Wednesday against the Houston Rockets, according to the New York Post’s Brian Lewis. The update comes after Walker was ruled out for Tuesday’s road matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans despite hope that he would be able to return during the back-to-back. The 24-year-old has missed Brooklyn’s […]

The New York Knicks kicked off NBA trade season Saturday, sending RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Toronto Raptors for OG Anunoby in a move that could have major implications for the Brooklyn Nets. The Knicks and Nets have been rumored landing spots if the Cleveland Cavaliers were to trade star guard Donovan Mitchell. […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Lonnie Walker IV is nearing a return after missing the team’s last 14 games due to a hamstring injury. Walker was ruled out for Sunday’s road matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder but has progressed well and could return Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans, per the New York Post’s Brian Lewis. […]

The Brooklyn Nets moved Cam Thomas to the bench in favor of Dorian Finney-Smith during a 110-104 loss to the Washington Wizards Friday. Thomas, who is leading the team in scoring at 22.8 points per game on 45/37/85 shooting splits, had started Brooklyn’s last 14 games after returning from an ankle injury. Head coach Jacque […]

Trade season is nearly upon us, and for the Brooklyn Nets, that means deciding on the futures of several key veterans. Among those names are Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale, two players who should draw interest from numerous contenders ahead of the trade deadline. The Los Angeles Lakers are on that list, according to The […]

The Brooklyn Nets rested most of their rotation against the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday on the back end of a back-to-back. While they fell 144-122 with Milwaukee pulling away late, several Nets rookies impressed during the first extended action of their NBA careers. Among those players was 2023 first-round pick Noah Clowney, who posted 14 points, […]

The shorthanded Brooklyn Nets fell 144-122 to the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday at Barclays Center. Brooklyn rested nearly its entire rotation on the back end of a back-to-back after defeating the Pistons in Detroit Tuesday. The Nets ruled out Spencer Dinwiddie, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Nic Claxton ahead of the game. Mikal Bridges, Cam Thomas […]

The Brooklyn Nets will be short-handed when they return home on Wednesday night to face the Milwaukee Bucks. Spencer Dinwiddie (rest), Cam Johnson (right knee sprain – injury maintenance), and Nic Claxton (left ankle sprain – injury maintenance) are all listed as out with the team set to play their second game in as many […]

The Brooklyn Nets made history Tuesday, handing the Detroit Pistons an NBA single-season record 27th straight loss, 118-112, at Little Caesars Arena. However, one of the top Nets storylines wasn’t what was happening on the floor but rather who Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn decided to have off of it (Cam Thomas) in the game’s […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Lonnie Walker IV’s return will have to wait at least another two games. Head coach Jacque Vaughn said Tuesday that Walker is ill and will miss at least the next two games, according to the New York Post’s Brian Lewis. The offseason minimum signing has missed Brooklyn’s last 11 games due to […]

The Phoenix Suns began an organizational makeover when they traded Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson for Kevin Durant at last year’s deadline. The team continued that revamp following a second-round loss to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets by firing head coach Monty Williams. Williams was reunited with Bridges and Johnson, who played under him from […]

The Brooklyn Nets made a bet against the Phoenix Suns’ future when they traded Kevin Durant at last year’s deadline. General manager Sean Marks acquired Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029, and an unprotected first-round pick swap in 2028. While that bet is still in its infancy, Brooklyn appears […]

The Detroit Pistons made history Saturday at Barclays Center with a 126-115 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. The defeat marks Detroit’s 26th straight, tying the longest single-season streak in NBA history, also held by the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers and 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers. Before the record-matching loss, Pistons head coach Monty Williams took full responsibility for […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons doesn’t know when he will be able to return to the floor amid a six-week absence due to a back injury. The Nets announced Wednesday that Simmons has “displayed consistent strength improvement” and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. However, the three-time All-Star said Friday that he has not […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons spoke to the media Friday for the first time since being sidelined by a nerve impingement in his surgically repaired back. The three-time All-Star has missed the last six weeks due to the injury. The Nets released a statement Wednesday saying Simmons has “displayed consistent strength improvement” and “further […]

The NBA’s age-old adage goes, “It’s a make-or-miss league.” Mikal Bridges has been on the wrong end of that saying of late, and the result has been a 1-5 stretch for the Brooklyn Nets. Bridges is averaging 16.3 points per game on 31.9 percent shooting during that span. After a disappointing five-game West Coast trip, […]

The slumping Brooklyn Nets are expected to receive much-needed reinforcements ahead of Friday’s matchup with the Denver Nuggets. The Nets listed guard Dennis Smith Jr. as probable vs. Denver after he missed the team’s last seven games due to an upper back sprain. After missing six games from Nov. 19-30 due to a lower back […]

The Brooklyn Nets fell 121-102 to the New York Knicks Wednesday at Barclays Center. The blowout loss comes after a disappointing 1-4 West Coast swing from head coach Jacque Vaughn’s squad. Here are three key takeaways from another lackluster Nets performance: Cam Johnson bounces back after disappointing road trip Johnson could not find his rhythm […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons will remain sidelined indefinitely due to a nerve impingement in his back, the team announced Wednesday. “Simmons has displayed consistent strength improvement in the affected area over the past two weeks and has further increased individual court work. His status will be updated again in approximately two weeks,” Brooklyn […]

Nic Claxton’s impending unrestricted free agency is among the Brooklyn Nets’ top question marks of the 2023-24 season. Despite his uncertain future with the Nets, the breakout center recently expressed his desire to make Brooklyn his long-term home, via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “A place where I’m wanted,” Claxton said of his free agency desires. […]

The Brooklyn Nets fell victim to the injury bug during all four seasons of the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving era. A quarter of the way into 2023-24, it has been more of the same. After Nic Claxton, Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas all missed multiple weeks early in the year, Ben Simmons has been sidelined for […]