Erik Slater Articles - Page 3

Brooklyn Nets forward Haywood Highsmith hoped to return from offseason knee surgery in time for the team’s regular season opener. However, following an injury setback, he’ll be sidelined much longer. Highsmith recently experienced right knee swelling during the course of his rehab from an August meniscus procedure. Following an evaluation, the Nets determined that the veteran […]

The Brooklyn Nets waived guard Kobe Bufkin on Sunday, trimming their roster down to 15 standard contracts. Bufkin joined the Nets in September as a salary dump from the Atlanta Hawks. Brooklyn sent cash considerations to the Hawks and did not acquire a draft pick in the deal. Bufkin entered the mix for a Nets […]

Egor Demin’s NBA debut was the most anticipated for a Brooklyn Nets rookie since the team’s move from New Jersey. After missing most of the preseason with a plantar fascia tear, the No. 8 pick finally took the floor on Friday, and Nets fans should be encouraged by what they saw. Demin played 19 minutes […]

Brooklyn Nets rookie Egor Demin will make his NBA debut during Friday’s preseason finale against the Toronto Raptors. Demin missed the beginning of training camp and Brooklyn’s first three preseason games due to a plantar fascia tear. However, he participated in five-on-five scrimmages last week and will play “some minutes” against the Raptors. “He’s been […]

Last year’s tanking Brooklyn Nets season didn’t result in the payoff the organization hoped for. After exceeding early-season expectations with the help of first-year head coach Jordi Fernandez, the Nets finished with the NBA’s sixth-worst record and fell to the eighth pick in the draft. Brooklyn’s front office has taken measures to maximize its chances […]

The Brooklyn Nets are projected to be among the NBA’s worst teams this season. However, the rebuilding squad boasts several impact veterans who could be of interest to contenders down the line. CBS Sports released its top 100 player rankings for the 2025-26 campaign, and two Nets made the cut. Nic Claxton came in at […]

The Brooklyn Nets signed former Alabama star Grant Nelson on Wednesday, the team announced. As per team policy, the terms of the deal were not released. However, it’s likely a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract. After going undrafted, Nelson played for the Nets’ Summer League team but did not open training camp with a deal amid a […]

The Brooklyn Nets waived Chinese star Fanbo Zeng on Wednesday, the team announced. Zeng joined the Nets on an Exhibit 10 contract before training camp. Brooklyn’s decision to part ways with the 22-year-old comes days after their landmark trip to China. While Zeng was a fan favorite in Macao, he saw limited opportunities during the […]

Brooklyn Nets rookie Egor Demin has yet to take the floor this preseason while recovering from a plantar fascia tear. However, the No. 8 pick’s return is on the horizon as the regular season approaches. Demin participated in five-on-five scrimmages last week during the Nets’ trip to China. His status for Friday’s preseason finale against […]

There were many positive Brooklyn Nets takeaways from last year’s tanking campaign. However, Jordi Fernandez’s coaching ability loomed large for the rebuilding squad. The first-time head coach exceeded expectations, leading the Nets to a 9-10 start before management traded away Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith. CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn released his NBA head coach rankings […]

The Brooklyn Nets waived Dariq Whitehead and Drew Timme on Monday, the team announced. The pair of moves comes as the rebuilding squad works to trim its roster to 15 standard contracts ahead of its Oct. 22 regular season opener. Brooklyn selected Whitehead with the No. 22 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. However, the […]

Player development and draft position remain the Brooklyn Nets’ top focuses entering year two of a rebuild. Following an eventful offseason, the team begins the 2025-26 campaign with a revamped roster. Former NBA executive Johnson Hollinger recently released his record predictions for every NBA team. Hollinger projected the Nets to go 26-56, the third-worst record […]

The Brooklyn Nets were the butt of many jokes for their 2025 draft. General Manager Sean Marks’ decision to make an NBA-record five first-round picks, three of which were point guards, left many scratching their heads. However, entrenched in a rebuild, the Nets are playing the numbers game, hoping one or more of their selections […]

You’ll rarely hear an NBA owner, front office executive or coach admit to tanking. Nets owner Joe Tsai came close during a recent appearance at the All-In Summit in Los Angeles. “Well, I have to say that we’re in a rebuilding year,” Tsai said. “We spent all of our [2025] picks — we had five […]

This year’s Brooklyn Nets training camp has featured a steady drumbeat of Ben Saraf praise. While he was the last point guard the team selected in June’s draft, the 19-year-old impressed this offseason with his poise as a lead ball handler. With Egor Demin sidelined by a plantar fascia tear, Saraf and fellow rookie Nolan […]

Tanking has become a taboo subject for NBA organizations. While numerous teams enter each season angling for a top draft pick, you’ll rarely hear an owner, front office executive or coach use the word “tank.” Last month at the All-In Summit in Los Angeles, Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai didn’t explicitly admit to his team […]

With Egor Demin sidelined by a foot injury, Ben Saraf and Nolan Traore are competing for the Brooklyn Nets’ starting point guard reps this preseason. Both players got their first taste of NBA competition during Friday’s 132-127 overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns in Macao. While Traore and Saraf showed brief scoring flashes, they struggled […]

Egor Demin’s NBA debut is the most anticipated for a Brooklyn Nets rookie in recent memory. However, fans have yet to see the No. 8 pick this preseason, as he’s been sidelined due to a plantar fascia tear. Demin took a significant step towards a return this week ahead of Brooklyn’s Oct. 22 regular-season opener. […]

Drake Powell is the only Nets rookie yet to appear during Summer League or the preseason. That could change during Friday’s meeting with the Phoenix Suns in Macao. After Powell missed most of the offseason with left knee tendinopathy, the Nets removed the rookie from their injury report ahead of their first of two matchups […]

Six years after Daryl Morey’s controversial post supporting Hong Kong protests, the NBA is pushing to rebuild its relationship with China. Joe Tsai and the Brooklyn Nets are playing a significant role in that process. Brooklyn arrived in Macao on Tuesday ahead of a pair of preseason matchups with the Phoenix Suns. The games will […]

This weekend will mark the NBA’s first games in China since 2019. The Brooklyn Nets will take on the Phoenix Suns in a pair of preseason matchups at the Venetian Arena in Macao. The return comes after a lengthy effort to mend relationships with the nation following then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey’s tweet in support of […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ pair of preseason matchups in Macao this weekend mark the NBA’s first games in China since 2019. In conjunction with the league’s return to the country, the Nets, owned by Taiwanese business magnate Joe Tsai, announced a series of community initiatives. The team will host 13 Brooklyn Basketball youth clinics across Macao […]

Following a busy offseason, the Brooklyn Nets boast a revamped roster entering year two of their rebuild. Like last year, the Nets’ main focuses will remain player development and landing a top draft pick. Bleacher Report recently released win-loss projections for each NBA team. The outlet predicted the Nets to go 16-66, which would be […]

The Brooklyn Nets have been the NBA’s most active team this offseason. General Manager Sean Marks made an NBA-record five first-round picks in June’s draft and executed four salary dump trades. Yet, the rebuilding squad has more roster maneuvering in store ahead of the regular season. With their season-opener two weeks away, the Nets remain […]

Jordi Fernandez is no stranger to working with atypical big men throughout his NBA coaching career. The Brooklyn Nets head coach played a significant role in crafting offenses around Nikola Jokić and Domantas Sabonis during his time with the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings. He’ll now have another shiny frontcourt tool to work with in […]

For over 30 years, viewers of New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets games have had the pleasure of hearing Ian Eagle’s voice on the broadcast. However, those tuning in this season on a given night are likely to hear a different voice on the call. Eagle is scaling back his role with the YES Network as he transitions into […]

Egor Demin was penciled in as the Brooklyn Nets’ starting point guard entering the 2025-26 campaign. However, General Manager Sean Marks revealed at media day that Demin is dealing with a plantar fascia tear. While Marks said the team expects the No. 8 pick to be ready for the regular season, the rookie was unable […]

Brooklyn Nets rookie Ben Saraf has drawn a considerable amount of hype at training camp. With Egor Demin sidelined by a foot injury, the Israeli floor general is battling with fellow rookie Nolan Traore for Brooklyn’s starting point guard spot. Saraf appears to be the favorite in the race, earning the starting point guard nod […]

The Brooklyn Nets enter the 2025-26 season with a revamped roster. After making four offseason trades and an NBA-record five first-round picks in June’s draft, several new faces have an opportunity to make their mark. However, an under-the-radar player from last season’s squad has been the standout of training camp. “Tyrese [Martin] has really been […]

Drake Powell’s Brooklyn Nets debut will have to wait a little longer. After missing Summer League due to left knee tendinopathy, the No. 22 pick has been ruled out for Saturday’s preseason opener vs. Hapoel Jerusalem, according to head coach Jordi Fernandez. However, Powell is expected to play during one of Brooklyn’s matchups with the […]

Drake Powell was the only Brooklyn Nets rookie not to appear at Summer League. The No. 22 pick was limited for much of the preseason due to tendinopathy in his left knee. However, Powell has progressed to participating in scrimmages at training camp. Michael Porter Jr. has been impressed by the rookie wing’s athleticism. “I’ve […]

Michael Porter Jr. is turning the page to a new chapter in his NBA journey. After six seasons in a complementary role with the Denver Nuggets, the 27-year-old has an opportunity to be the Brooklyn Nets’ leading man. Porter Jr.’s offseason trade reunited him with Jordi Fernandez, who served as a Nuggets assistant from 2016 […]

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. has made several eyebrow-raising comments during his offseason media tour. Most recently, he said he isn’t sure how long he wants to continue playing basketball during a conversation about his injury history. Porter Jr. battled debilitating back injuries early in his career before a miraculous recovery. The Nets trade […]

The NBA offseason was eventful for the Brooklyn Nets. After making an NBA-record five first-round picks in June’s draft and executing four trades, the team has a revamped roster entering year two of its rebuild. However, the Nets’ moves have not been universally praised within NBA circles. Bleacher Report recently released an article ranking every […]

Brooklyn Nets rookie Drake Powell is the team’s only draft pick who did not take the floor at Summer League. The No. 22 pick has been limited for most of the offseason due to knee tendinopathy. However, Powell took a significant step towards returning to game action during Brooklyn’s first week of training camp. The […]

Cam Thomas’ new physique is among the most eye-popping developments at Brooklyn Nets training camp. The fifth-year guard said he lost “a good amount” of weight this offseason. However, he denied that his transformation was in response to the hamstring injuries that limited him to 25 games last season. “Just something I want to do. […]

Michael Porter Jr. has been busy this offseason. Following his trade from the Denver Nuggets to the Brooklyn Nets, the star forward has drawn attention for several eyebrow-raising comments during podcast appearances. When asked about Porter Jr. at Nuggets media day, David Adelman made a joke about his former player’s social media tour. “Mike was […]

The NBA offseason offers players an opportunity to identify and address their weaknesses. For Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney, step one was building a body prepared to match the physicality of the league’s big men. Clowney appears to have taken a significant step in that regard. The third-year forward packed on muscle this offseason, weighing […]

The Brooklyn Nets will spend the next several seasons focused on developing their historic 2025 draft class. They’re also focusing on the development of youth players in the local community. BSE Global, the parent company of the Nets and Liberty, opened a state-of-the-art youth training facility across from Barclays Center on Friday. The 18,600 sq. […]