Erik Slater Articles - Page 33

The Brooklyn Nets turned heads when news of their four-year, $108 million agreement with Cam Johnson broke late last week. The $27 million annual agreement was viewed as a hefty commitment to a player who has never approached an All-Star team. However, the terms of Johnson’s deal were released Thursday, and the contract looks far […]

The Brooklyn Nets are undecided on the 2023-24 status of one of their main guard depth pieces from last season. The Nets and Edmond Sumner agreed to push back his $2.24 million guaranteed salary date for the 2023-24 season, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. Sumner was a sparkplug off the bench while bouncing in and […]

Speculation surrounding the Brooklyn Nets ahead of the offseason centered on a potential blockbuster deal for Damian Lillard. The Blazers star finally requested a trade Saturday, but his desire to play only for the Miami Heat brought Nets rumors to a screeching halt. However, with the Heat lacking the assets to facilitate a Lillard trade […]

The Brooklyn Nets have signed second-round pick Jalen Wilson to a two-way contract for the 2023-24 season, the team announced Wednesday. Brooklyn selected Wilson with the 51st overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He was the unanimous Big-12 Player of the Year as a senior at Kansas, averaging 20.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 […]

The Brooklyn Nets wasted no time adding to their roster this offseason, signing three players within the first two days of free agency. With that, we offer grades for each signing, detailing what all three players can bring to the roster next season. Cam Johnson: 4 years, $108 million Brooklyn didn’t play around with the […]

It finally happened. After months of speculation, Damian Lillard requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers Saturday with the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets as his preferred destinations, according to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes. https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1675174339019444224 If it were truly a two-team race for Lillard, the Nets would sit firmly in the driver’s seat. Brooklyn […]

The Brooklyn Nets and restricted free agent Cam Johnson agreed to a four-year, $108 million contract Friday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Johnson was one of the key pieces acquired from the Phoenix Suns in Brooklyn’s midseason blockbuster trade of Kevin Durant. The 27-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 15.5 […]

The Brooklyn Nets are trading Joe Harris and a pair of second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Detroit will receive a 2027 second-round pick via the Dallas Mavericks and a 2029 second-round pick via the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pistons were viewed as Brooklyn’s most significant threat to sign Cam Johnson […]

Much of the conversation surrounding the Brooklyn Nets’ offseason has centered around their rumored pursuit of Damian Lillard. However, with the news that the Trail Blazers “remain committed to building a winner around Dame,” (per Chris Haynes) Brooklyn could soon be forced to go another direction. In that case, here are three guards the Nets […]

Ben Simmons will not play for Team Australia in the 2023 FIBA World Cup this August, according to NetsDaily. Simmons has been progressing through a rehabilitation program after missing the second half of the Brooklyn Nets 2022-23 NBA campaign with a knee injury and nerve impingement in his surgically-repaired back. I’m told Ben Simmons will […]

The NBA draft is in the rearview mirror, with the Brooklyn Nets welcoming three rookies for the upcoming season. The Nets’ focus now shifts to free agency, where Cam Johnson’s impending negotiations will headline their priorities. Johnson is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 15.5 points per game on 47/40/84 shooting splits […]

The Brooklyn Nets stood their ground on draft night amid heavy trade rumors, selecting Alabama’s Noah Clowney (21), Duke’s Dariq Whitehead (22) and Kansas’ Jalen Wilson (51). With that, we assess Brooklyn’s draft night haul, offering grades for each selection. *Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)* No. 21: Noah Clowney, […]

Many were projecting Dariq Whitehead as a Top 10 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft at this time last year. After a foot fracture derailed his freshman season, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard/small forward fell to the Brooklyn Nets at 21st overall Thursday. The second-ranked player in the class of 2022 out of the prestigious Montverde […]

Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks said Brooklyn is preparing for everything as Cam Johnson enters restricted free agency. Johnson is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 15.5 points per game on 47/40/84 shooting splits for the Phoenix Suns and Nets. He was Brooklyn’s top playoff performer during a first-round sweep against […]

The buzz surrounding the Brooklyn Nets heading into the draft centered on a potential trade up. As the picks flew by Thursday night, the Nets stood their ground, selecting Alabama’s Noah Clowney and Duke’s Dariq Whitehead 21st and 22nd overall. Clowney, a 6-foot-10, 210-pound forward, averaged 9.8 points and 7.9 rebounds last season to help […]

The 2023 NBA draft could be one of the most active trade nights in recent memory. With two first-round picks (Nos. 21, 22) and several valued veterans, league sources expect the Brooklyn Nets to be at the center of the action. The Nets are said to be “extremely active” in trade conversations with their back-to-back […]

Duke center Dereck Lively worked out for the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft. At 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, the 19-year-old is among the top rim protectors in this year’s draft class, averaging 2.4 blocks in just 20.6 minutes per game during his freshman season. Lively has frequently been mocked […]

Much of the conversation surrounding the Brooklyn Nets’ offseason plans has centered on a blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard. Brooklyn’s need for offensive production was glaring during a first-round sweep against the Philadelphia 76ers, and the team has no shortage of connections to Lillard, who sat courtside for Game 3 of the series and shares […]

The Brooklyn Nets have never traded into the draft lottery during general manager Sean Marks’ six-plus years at the helm. That could change this year with Marks working the phone lines ahead of Thursday. ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony reported earlier this week that Brooklyn was “exploring the possibility” of packaging picks Nos. 21 and […]

The Brooklyn Nets have options in this year’s NBA draft. With two first-round picks (21st and 22nd overall) and several tradable veterans, general manager Sean Marks is in a prime position to trade up for the first time in his six-plus years at the helm. The Nets are exploring a move into the late lottery or […]

It’s no secret that the Brooklyn Nets are a candidate to go star-hunting this summer. Following the departures of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, general manager Sean Marks left the door wide open for a blockbuster acquisition: “It goes back to how we build,” Marks said ahead of the offseason. “Do we build quick and […]

The Brooklyn Nets have cornered the market on 3-and-D wings following the trades of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. With a rotation that includes Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Royce O’Neale and Joe Harris, opposing teams are inquiring about the availability of two Brooklyn veterans, according to the Ringer: “Multiple reports have already said […]

Deandre Ayton assigned Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson a nickname ahead of the 2019 season: “The Twins.” His reasoning was simple: they did everything together, on and off the court. That trend will continue this offseason with Johnson committing to play for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup alongside Bridges. The Nets duo joins […]

The Brooklyn Nets hold two first-round picks in this year’s draft at 21st and 22nd overall. While general manager Sean Marks has been active using late first-rounders in trades during his six-plus years at the helm, he has never moved up in the first round. The Nets could break that trend this year with Marks […]

Brooklyn Nets big man Ben Simmons continues progressing through a rehabilitation program for his injured back ahead of the FIBA World Cup in late August. According to Michael Randall of the Melbourne Herald-Sun, Simmons is “feeling good” but still has “boxes to tick” before he can confidently commit to the Boomers: “Simmons, who has been […]

The Brooklyn Nets will face several franchise-altering decisions this offseason, the biggest of which will be whether to aggressively pursue win-now talent or sell veteran pieces and build around youth. With the Portland Trail Blazers shopping the third pick in the 2023 NBA Draft in search of an elite small forward, Mikal Bridges’ name has […]

The Damian Lillard to Brooklyn Nets speculation isn’t slowing down anytime soon. During an appearance on Showtime Sports, the seven-time All-Star identified the Miami Heat and Nets as “obvious” trade destinations: “Miami is the obvious one. Bam (Adebayo) is my dog.” Lillard said. “Brooklyn is another obvious one because Mikal Bridges is my dog too. […]

Cam Johnson was heralded as a centerpiece of the Brooklyn Nets’ blockbuster return for Kevin Durant at the trade deadline. Less than four months later, the Nets are facing heavy competition for the 27-year-old in restricted free agency. With several teams expected to enter the bidding for Johnson’s services, Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported on […]

The Nets may face difficult decisions as they navigate Cam Johnson’s restricted free agency in the coming month. With Brooklyn pushed up against the luxury tax, the 6-foot-8 sharpshooter is expected to garner interest from multiple teams on a four-year offer sheet worth as much as $22.5 million annually. While Johnson said he has plenty […]

After a breakout 2022-23 campaign, Mikal Bridges’ return to the hardwood will come sooner than expected. The Brooklyn Nets forward has committed to play for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup in late August, according to Shams Charania. Bridges joins a list of commitments that already includes Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Austin […]

Ben Simmons is back in the gym working toward his return to the hardwood. After missing the second half of the season due to knee and back injuries, the Nets big man posted several pictures of himself training in recent weeks. Simmons recently posted pictures of himself training at the Nets’ HSS Training Center and […]

The Brooklyn Nets were not known for their wing depth throughout the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving era. However, following the trades of both stars at this year’s deadline, the team was suddenly left with a logjam at the position. Dorian Finney-Smith was among the wings to join the Nets in the blockbuster deals. The 29-year-old’s stock […]

Many questioned the timing of Royce O’Neale’s trade to the Brooklyn Nets last summer. News of the deal broke just minutes after Kevin Durant’s bombshell trade request. Through a season that saw Kyrie Irving suspended and later traded alongside Durant, Ben Simmons sidelined, and a slew of new faces enter the fold, O’Neale was one […]

Rumors of Damian Lillard and Mikal Bridges joining forces have gained momentum following the Portland Trail Blazers star’s courtside appearance for Game 3 of Nets-Sixers at Barclays Center. That speculation grew even louder Sunday after Bridges joined Lillard’s Instagram Live session: Mikal Bridges just slid on Dame IG Live just to troll him😭😭🤣 pic.twitter.com/3aNOc81vvd — […]

Three months removed from the trades of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the conversation surrounding the Brooklyn Nets’ failed Big Three continues. In a recent appearance on The Dan LeBatard Show, Bruce Brown opened up on his departure from Brooklyn last summer. Brown was among the Nets’ top performers during their first-round sweep against the […]

Among the most crucial decisions of the Brooklyn Nets’ offseason centers on Cam Johnson’s restricted free agency. After joining Brooklyn with Mikal Bridges at the trade deadline in a package for Kevin Durant, Johnson averaged 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals on 47.5 percent shooting in 29 games with the Nets. The […]

After trading away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, much of the conversation surrounding the Brooklyn Nets’ revamped roster centered on Mikal Bridges. However, lost in Bridges’ breakout stretch was the production and growth of his “Twin,” Cam Johnson. In 29 games with Brooklyn, Johnson averaged 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals on […]

Among the main storylines of the Brooklyn Nets’ offseason is the restricted free agency of Cam Johnson. The 27-year-old was among the team’s top performers after Brooklyn acquired him at the deadline as part of a package for Kevin Durant. In 25 games following the trade, Johnson averaged 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and […]

Spencer Dinwiddie returned to the Brooklyn Nets as the team’s starting point guard following a midseason trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks. Like his first stint in Brooklyn, Dinwiddie had his moments. He led the Nets to a thriller victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 10, scoring or assisting on all […]