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[Brooklyn Nets]

Deadlines and Commitments – the BIG deadline arrives

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 04: A view of the center court logo is seen prior to the game between the Denver Nuggets and the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 04, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today is not going to be as big as May 10, the date of the NBA Draft Lottery. Nor the draft whose date has yet to be set but somewhere in the last week of July at Barclays Center. Those two days have the potential to be franchise-changing and the days leading up to today have been, at least for the Nets, predictable with only one trade reported as of 10:30 a.m. ET: the Nets fifth salary dump since last summer.

The Nets acquired 6’6” 25-year-old shooting guard Ochai Agbaji; a 2032 second rounder (their fifth pick in that faraway draft) and $3.5 million in cash, likely bound for basketball operations in return for … the draft rights to a 29-year-old Serbian shooting guard, Vanja Marinkovic, essentially draft ballast to help Toronto get its financial books in order. To make Marinkovic even more obscure, he tore his achilles 10 days ago.

Meanwhile, Brian Windhorst, aware of the flexibility Sean Marks & co. have built up, predicted a busyness in the business of Brooklyn basketball. “Brooklyn, I expect to be in multiple deals in the next 24 hours.”

So, here.we.go!

—February 5: NBA Trade Deadline (3:00 pm ET) Nets currently have around $15.5 million in cap space, most in the NBA. Trades must all be completed and made official by the afternoon deadline. The Nets must also attend to other issues, like getting down to 15 standard NBA contracts as well. Agbaji, at the moment, would be the 16th standard NBA contract on the roster so someone must go. Cam Thomas didn’t accompany Brooklyn to Orlando Thursday afternoon and rumors continue to swirl about this fate. There are of course other candidates and maybe more permutations as the day wears on.

Meanwhile, In Long Island players are waiting for the trickle-down effect to determine their fate. The deadline is often a team for teams to rethink whether a two-way should be elevated to a standard deal or a G League regular contract be converted to a two-way

—February 8: Les Nets, aka the Long Island Nets, are back in Quebec vs. Noblesville Boom, the Pacers affiliate. It’s the third of four games that the Nets G League affiliate are playing this season in Laval, a Montreal suburb as the team hopes to establish a fanbase in French-speaking Canada 375 miles up up the Thruway and Northway.

—February 10: Les Nets play Noblesville Boom in Quebec. The final game this season in the Great White North (as opposed to the Great White Whatever in New York.) Between the two games, the Nets will be activating a number of community activities.

—February 13-15: 2026 NBA All-Star Break in Los Angeles.

—February 13: Egor Demin will likely Brooklyn’s lone representative at the Intuit Center, the Clippers home. He’ll play in the Rising Stars game

—February 14: NBA All-Star Saturday at Intuit Dome – 5:00 p.m. ET (NBC & Peacock)

—February 15: 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome – 5:00 p.m. ET (NBC & Peacock)

—March 1: Playoff eligibility waiver deadline aka the buyout deadline. Players waived before March 1 can sign with a new team and participate in the NBA playoffs. Players waived after March 1 can still sign with teams, but they will be ineligible for postseason play.

—March 1: Jalen Wilson becomes eligible for a multi-year deal.

—March 4: Last day to sign two-way contracts. Nets currently have no openings with all three two-way deals filled, but two-ways are not guaranteed.

—March 28: G League Regular Season ends

—March 31: G League Playoffs begin

—April 12: NBA regular season ends (All 30 teams play)

—April 13: Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3:00 p.m. ET)

—April 13: WNBA Draft. Liberty have only one pick at No. 41 in the third round, having previously traded away their first and second round picks. Draft is also big for trades.

—April 14-17: SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament

—April 18: NBA Playoffs begin

—April 19: WNBA training camps open. Chris DeMarco, the Liberty’s new coach, gets started.

—April 25: New York Liberty first preseason game at Barclays Center vs. the Indiana Pacers and Caitlin Clark. Game time: 3:00 p.m. ET. It’ll be Clark’s first action since an injured groin ended her season on January 25.

—May 3: New York Liberty’s second preseason game, this one vs. the Connecticut Sun in Uncasville. Another afternoon start at 3:00 p.m. ET.

—May 8-10: NBA G League Combine in Chicago

—May 8: WNBA Regular Season Tip-Off. New York Liberty hosts the Connecticut Sun at Barclays Center. All WNBA dates of course assume that the league and players union have a deal on a new CBA by this date.

—May 10: NBA Draft Lottery. Biggest day in franchise history since … the Clean Sweep back in 2019, KD’s departure in 2023? Nets currently are tied for the fourth best chance at the overall No. 1 at 11.5% and a 45.2% shot at a top four pick.

—May 10-17: NBA Draft Combine in Chicago

—June 1-17: WNBA Commissioner’s Cup tournament

—June 30: WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship

—July 1: Teams can approach free agents at 12:00 p.m. ET. Rumors of deals start to get reported at 12:01 p.m. Nets are currently projected to have $48.8 million in cap space entering free agency.

—July 6: Free agent contracts can be signed, starting at 12o p.m. ET.

—July: Michael Porter Jr. eligible for a four-year $243 million extension starting in 2027-28.

—July 24-25: WNBA All-Star Weekend (Chicago)

—August 31 – September 16: FIBA World Cup break for WNBA players, coaches.

—September 24: Last day of WNBA regular season

—September 27: WNBA Playoffs begin

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-feat...ines-and-commitments-the-big-deadline-arrives

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

RUMOR ROUND-UP: Nets waive Highsmith to make room for Agbaji

TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 17: Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Toronto Raptors warms up ahead of their NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets at Scotiabank Arena on October 17, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We know that’s not very edifying on trade deadline day, but as of Thursday morning with four hours or so to go, it’s where we’re at. The front office has finalized the trade they worked out with the the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers and created the roster space needed for Ochai Agbaji by waiving Haywood Highsmith who the Nets acquired in the summer from Miami but never played for the Brooklyn.

Teams are allowed 15 standard deals (and three two-ways) and with the Agbaji deal, they were looking at 16 standard spots. So someone had to go. The most rumored candidate was Cam Thomas who the Nets left behind in New York, citing personal reasons, when they flew to Orlando for Friday’s game with the Magic. But the 24-year-old remains on the Nets roster.

Before the move, pundits were suggesting that there were various ways for the Nets to move forward on the particulars. Although the initial issue is now solved, what Kevin Pelton and Erik Slater wrote Thursday morning could still have relevance later in the day if the Nets need to make other moves.

As ESPN’s Kevin Pelton notes in his trade grades Thursday morning, the Nets could expand the multi-team deal and work out something a little more complicated using their room MLE. (Pelton gave the Nets a B.)

This is the start of Brooklyn using its position as the only NBA team with appreciable cap space to take on contracts for draft picks. Getting Agbaji leaves the Nets about $9 million below the cap, now less than teams can add using the taxpayer midlevel exception, though they could take on a bigger contract by sending back a smaller one (such as Agbaji’s) or exhaust their space and then use their room midlevel exception to add more salary.

Similarly, Erik Slater wrote this about the possibilities in his trade grade. (Slater gave the Nets an A-)

The Nets can take Agbaji into their $15.3 million in cap space. They could also use their cap space in other salary-dump moves, then absorb the Raptors guard into the $8.8 million room mid-level exception.

The Nets of course have been trying to move Thomas, with his cooperation, since the summer, and could still. But his trade value still seems low. Mike Scotto reported Wednesday that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks had some interest but Aryan Bhullar reported Thursday the Cavs have lost that interest…

League sources say Cleveland had registered interest in Brooklyn guard Cam Thomas prior to Lonzo Ball being routed to Utah, with Milwaukee continuing to be viewed as the strongest suitor for Thomas.

— Aryan (@Ary_Report) February 5, 2026

Though, Cavaliers have no interest at this time, sources said.

— Aryan (@Ary_Report) February 5, 2026

No less of a source than Brian Windhorst has predicted the Nets will be active today. How long will we have to wait? Not long, obviously, 3:00 p.m. ET, no further.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-rumors/105660/rumor-round-up-something-bound-to-happen

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn Nets thrown aside by the Orlando Magic, as Flatbush5 debuts

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 05: Nolan Traore #88 of the Brooklyn Nets throws a pass against Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Kia Center on February 05, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Brooklyn Nets had their first game on the other side tonight. The other side of the trade deadline. The other side of weeks spent wondering whether Michael Porter Jr. would still be here. The other side of the Cam Thomas “era,” if you can even call it that.

But while the moves made today brought a collective sense of renewal to Brooklyn and the league at large, the Nets gave us more of the same tonight.

In fairness, Brooklyn did make some incremental improvements early on here in game no. 50. The Nets only trailed their opponent, the Orlando Magic, 27-19 after the first period. They ran with the same five they opened with against the Lakers on Tuesday night, which got beat down through the hardwood and into the Atlantic Yards ruins in the first quarter.

While Egor Dëmin led all Nets after one with eight points, the eye test argues Nolan Traoré played the largest part in helping us get a different solution this time even with a similar formula.

Most conversations about the French ball-handler start with his quickness, but tonight, he channeled it more decisively. Much like Dennis Schröder used to do in Brooklyn, he did well leveraging his speed around the Orlando defense, slamming and softening on the gas pedal at all the right times.

Nolan Traoré with a nice slow-then-go take to burst past Anthony Black pic.twitter.com/aSZecBLxku

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) February 6, 2026

The Magic shooting 3-of-12 from deep in the first also helped. They sure as hell had the looks, though they’re not known for having laser-like accuracy as the league’s fourth-worst 3-point shooting team. Still, Desmond Bane, who’s shot 49.3% against the Nets in his career, began 0-of-4 from downtown.

It’s not like the Nets were any better way out there in logo land. Even with the aforementioned contributions from Traoré and Dëmin, Brooklyn’s offense began 7-of-22 from the field and 3-of-15 from outside. When the Lakers shut down the Brooklyn offense for the length of a commercial break two nights ago, multiple Nets attributed their lack of production to LA’s zone. However, Orlando played man and stayed in the drop for much of first half, and the Nets didn’t fare any better. They missed the basket — and each other — over and over again.

Ziaire Williams gets visibly frustrated with Danny Wolf after not getting a pass on a fastbreak. He slaps the stanchion and picks up a technical, with the ref seemingly thinking it was directed at him.

Williams and Wolf exhange words after. pic.twitter.com/ivigqDvGBq

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) February 6, 2026

Then, things got magical for Orlando as the first two periods crossed over, as they enjoyed a 22-6 run. With 6:52 to go in the frame, they found themselves up by a 44-25 score. At that point, Michael Porter Jr. had only three points to his name while shooting 1-8 from the field. He finished with just nine points tonight while shooting 2-13 from the field.

“I think that we were not connected at all throughout the whole game,” Fernández said. “I know our guys are willing to do the right things. And, you know, just find that connection at some point. When you’re always half a second late or not talking when you’re supposed to, all those things are, it’s really hard to win a game.”

The Nets did put together a 9-2 run in the second period’s final two minutes, but that only made the first half deficit slightly less embarrassing — more along the lines of how it feels to get blown by on defense rather than putting up an air ball at the charity stripe. Neither are good, and both things had already happened to Brooklyn by halftime. The Nets went into it down 56-40.

Orlando later scoffed at Brooklyn’s subtle attempt to claw back into it, pushing their lead up to a then game-high 21 points less than four minutes into the third. The Magic kept it there until the start of the fourth as well. They also bullied Brooklyn inside like Flash Thompson on a rainy day, outscoring the Nets there 18-6 during the third period.

Dëmin did his best to fight back, putting down three “Egor bombs” in the period to give himself 21 points going into the fourth. Although they weren’t enough to make this a competitive watch, they gave us a chance to see Dëmin chase down the career-high scoring mark he posted less than a week ago in Utah.

He eventually got there, and had company.

Finishing with 26 points to beat his old mark by one digit, Dëmin shot 8-of-12 from the field and 6-of-10 from deep. Traoré also tied his career-best in scoring with 18, going 7-13 from the field and 3-5 from deep. He did the same in the passing department, dishing seven assists. The 19-year-olds helped each other get to the top of their statistical mountains on a few occasions as well…

Deep one for Nolan. pic.twitter.com/PX5IbgcwTP

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) February 6, 2026

“We all know he’s a threat from the three point line,” Fernández said of Dëmin. “Every time he shoots, I think it’s going in. He was 6-for-10, but I felt like he could have been 10-for-10. So, very good, right there. We needed that from him.”

But even before those two reached their milestones, the fourth proved to be a period dedicated to the rookies in a way we’ve yet to see this season. Brooklyn played its final six minutes with all of its rookies — the Flatbush 5 — on the floor, doing so for the first time this year in Game 50. They played the bulk of those minutes against Orlando’s deep bench guys, but it’s still worth mentioning that they won them by a 19-13 margin.

“Every minute matters, and they won their minutes together,” Fernández said. “So, their last seven minutes, they won those minutes, and I’m proud of them for doing that, and that’s what I expect from them every time they play.”

The Nets, of course, still lost the game.

Brooklyn ended up going down without applying any real pressure for a third straight contest. The ended up losing by 24 in the paint. They also turned it over 19 times leading to 24 Orlando points. They lost by 15 or more for the third time this season.

Sure, night like this are never fun, but growth rarely comes without aches. The Nets might as well pay that price now while it’s worth it.

Final: Orlando Magic 118, Brooklyn Nets 98

Milestone Watch​

• Nolan Traore became the 12th rookie in Nets history with 20+ points and 7+ assists in a game and the first since MarShon Brooks on 3/10/12. He’s also recorded multiple assists in 10+ games.
• Egor Dëmin joined Kerry Kittles (30 points, 6-8 3PT) on 2/17/97 as the only rookies in Nets history with 26+ points and 6+ 3PM in a game.
• This was Dëmin’s third time making 6+ 3-pointers in a game this season, tied as the eighth-most by a rookie in NBA history.
• Dëmin’s 21 points through three quarters tonight are the most he’s had in a game in his career through that stage of the game.
• Nic Claxton’s first assist of the game tonight against Orlando was his 188th of the season, which passes Brook Lopez (187 in 2009-10) for the most assists by a center in a single season in Nets franchise history. Claxton has the fourth-most assists by a center in the NBA this season.

Final Words on Thomas & Martin​

Jordi Fernández spoke on Cam Thomas’ exit with the YES Network’s Meghan Triplett before tonight’s game. The coach acknowledged how both sides can benefit from a fresh start and had some nice words for CT given the circumstances as well

“I think right now, at this point, it’s a new opportunity for everybody, and I think that is extremely valuable,” Fernández said. “Obviously, appreciate his time with us. I’m a better coach than I was before. It’s been fun to coach somebody that can score the level that he can score, and now he has the opportunity to choose where he wants to go and make the impact that he wants to make. So, happy for him, and just we all want to wish him luck.”

“CT is, obviously, you know, everybody knows that he’s a very quiet guy, but if you really know him well, he’s a great guy,” Dëmin said. “He’s a great dude. And you know, I think you can ask anybody in our team, everybody loves him.”

Since Thomas’ previous contract was below the the non-tax payer mid-level exception, he can sign with any team, even if their in the first or second apron.

In clearing room for other moves, the Nets also requested waivers on Tyrese Martin late Thursday night.

“It was amazing,” Dëmin said. “I have a lot to say about Tyrese, for sure, because he was the very first one who kind of took me under his wing. And I didn’t reach out to him yet, because I was trying to focus on the game, but I’m definitely going to call, definitely going to call him or shoot him a text. But he’s been one of the first ones who went there for me, to support me, to help me. He was putting me in front of him anytime he can, trying to promote me to everybody, and just really trying to help me to succeed…I wish these guys nothing but the best in the future, and I hope to stay in contact with them.”

Newcomers on the way​

With Cam Thomas, Haywood Highsmith and Tyrese Martin all waived Thursday, the Nets had three openings, but none of their replacements, shooting guard Ochai Agbaji and small forwards Hunter Tyson and Josh Minott, were eligible to play vs. the Magic. The Nets did confirm that Agbaji will wear No. 30.

Next Up​

After a three-game run of good competition, the Nets will find themselves back in a tank-off this Saturday while hosting the Washington Wizards, who are tied with them for fourth in the Tankathon rankings at 13-37.

The Wiz Kids took their largest competitive swing in almost a half-decade this week by trading for Anthony Davis — just a week removed from trading for Trae Young. The problem? Both are injured and not expected to suit up anytime soon. Also, Washington loses its pick this summer if they let it stray beyond the top eight. They’re incentivized and set-up to lose on Saturday. Who’s excited? The game tips off at 3:00 p.m. ET.

• Boxscore: Orlando Magic 118, Brooklyn Nets 98 – NBA
• Game Highlights: Orlando Magic 118, Brooklyn Nets 98 (Video) – NBA
• Jordi Fernandez PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Egor Demin PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Jalen Suggs’ first career triple-double leads Magic to 118-98 win over Nets – AP
• Nets suffer ugly loss to Magic after as trade deadline passes without big move – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets waiving Cam Thomas in long-awaited divorce – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets know historically ugly stretch has been a team-wide problem: ‘It’s on everybody’ – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Rookies flash, but Nets stumble again in Orlando after busy deadline day ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets close Cam Thomas chapter with waiver: report ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets add Hunter Tyson, Josh Minott as deadline maneuvering continues: report ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Healthy and available, Haywood Highsmith draws interest from contenders after Nets waive him ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets waive Cam Thomas right after NBA trade deadline – Erik Slater – Clutch Points

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-scores-results/105671/nets-vs-magic-118-98-egor-demin-nolan-traore

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Long Island Nets wait as roster spot opens in Brooklyn

INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 25: E.J. Liddell #9 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a three point basket during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 25, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

While their Brooklyn colleagues were sweating the trade deadline in Orlando, the Long Island Nets were in suburban Chicago facing off against the Windy City Bulls and probably doing some brow wiping themselves. The NBA deadline often means change in the G League as well.

And after the trade deadline finally passed and Long Island came away with a big 143-123 win, the anxiety increased. Overnight Thursday, Brooklyn waived Hunter Tyson, the 6’8” sniper, they picked up in an exchange of second rounders, opening up a roster spot for the big club.

By Friday morning, there was no word on who might get it, or whether the player will come from Long Island, but there likely will be moves plural. If for example one of the three Long Island two-ways gets converted to a standard deal, that will open one of the two-ways. There is a bit of a deadline: Long Island plays Windy City again at 8:00 p.m. ET Friday.

One thing is certain, everyone who might be considered a candidate for a promotion played well in the matinee at Nova Arena in Hoffman Estates. Ultimately, Long Islanders finished off the young Bulls, 143-123. Three of the Long Island starters – EJ Liddell, Grant Nelson, & Nate Williams – combined for 72 points as Long Island came away with the decisive win.

One of the Brooklyn two-way players, Liddell, led Long Island in scoring. The 6’7” 25-year-old had yet another very strong game on the trade deadline day for the NBA. This is important because Liddell has been a candidate for a standard deal of late, having spent time at Barclays Center . Indeed, he Grant Nelson and Nate Williams all scored more than 20 points in the contest, showing exactly why he is a prime candidate in this one to be given some real opportunities on the NBA floor.

Liddell connected on eight of his 12 shot attempts, including going 3-of-6 from deep, along with 6-0f-6 from the foul stripe. Liddell’s 30 points marked a season-high for him, truly saving his best for the craziest day of the year for him. For the season, he averaging 18.5 points on 53/41/89 shooting splits to go along with 8.3 rebounds,

Liddell had six rebounds and three assists to his credit Thursday. However, where Liddell again shone was in blocking aspect of his game. After having a goose egg there last game, Liddell came out of Thursday’s game with two huge blocks, the eighth time he’s had at least two blocks in a game, roughly his season average.

Now, what makes Brooklyn’s life even harder is if they open a two-way spot by elevating Liddell, who gets his spot? Grant Nelson, the 7’0” 23-year-old center, and Nate Williams, the 6’6” shooting guard who turns 27 next week, and are both prime candidates, and they both had strong games on Thursday.

Grant Nelson had hands down one of the strongest games since he turned professional. He finished with 21 points. What makes this performance even crazier is when you realize that he shot the ball 100% on the game. He connected on all eight of his shots, including his lone 3-point attempt from deep.

The Devils Lake, N.D. native also had seven rebounds and three assists. He was also clearly on a minutes restriction during all of this, as he has been in the 10 games since he returned from a seven-week layoff to rehab a knee issue. He played for just 19 minutes, which was far less than any other starter played. Still, except for Liddell, he put up more points than the other starters.

In his nine starts since returning, Nelson, who went undrafted in June out of Alabama, is averaging 27.1 points and 12.7 rebounds per 36 minutes. He’s never played more than 21 minutes in any of the starts

Williams connected on nine of his 14 shots, including going 3-of-6 from deep to match Nelson’s 21 points and tie him for second on the team. Williams also had three rebounds and two assists. Williams big advantage is that he has the most NBA games of any member of the Long Island roster, 47 — five with Portland and 42 with the Rockets. Do you take a chance on Nelson who’s only 23, or do you choose a guy who has much more NBA experience in Williams?

Tyson Etienne, who’s been with Long Island and Brooklyn since last season, didn’t have a particularly strong game, but became the Long Island Nets leading scorer last week and is averaging 17.7 points a game on 41/39/85 shooting splits along with 4.2 assists. He is a 3-point specialist. Indeed, of his 294 shots this season, 225 have come from deep!

In this one, he had five points on a very quiet shooting day, taking only six shots, making two and was only onl. Etienne connected on two-of-six from the field, including only one-of-three from deep. Still, Etienne found yet another way to etch his name into the history books on Long Island. He passed Kaiser Gates for most 3-pointers made all-time in franchise history, with 228.

Another development success for Long Island and maybe a dark horse for a promotion, also had a big game. Malachi Smith, a 6’4 point guard who played with Liddell in high school, had the strongest game. Smith, 26 once again got the start in this one and once again showed exactly why. Smith came within a rebound of a triple double with 17 points, nine assists and 15 assists. He connected on six of his 15 shots, including going 3-of-6 from deep .

As if that wasn’t enough, Smith also had three steals and one block to cap off his downright insane day.

The final starter in this one, Brooklyn two-way player, Tyson Etienne,

Long Island’s Chaney Johnson, the team’s youngest player at 23 and the third two-way, once again showed some glimpses of excellence off the bench, connecting on four-of-six from the field for 11 points. Johnson was tied with Liddell in blocks with two.

Next Up​

The Long Island Nets (11-7) return to the court on Friday, February 6th, for a rematch with the Windy City Bulls. Long Island looks to continue its hot play as of late, winning three of its last five matchups. The game tips off at 8:00 p.m. EST and can be watched on the NBA G League and Long Island Nets respective websites.

• Boxscore: Long Island Nets 143, Windy City Bulls 123 – G League
• Game Highlights: Long Island Nets 143, Windy City Bulls 123 (Video) – G League

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/longislan...nd-nets-wait-as-roster-spot-opens-in-brooklyn

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Nets waive Cam Thomas, go development route in small trades

The consensus among pundits has been the same for more than a week. The Brooklyn Nets had a plan for the NBA trade deadline and it went something like this:

• Keep Michael Porter Jr., Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe. Instead of trading them for more picks, including one in the 2026 mega-draft, they wanted them to be part of the move from rebuild to contender.
• Don’t get distracted from your overall strategy by pursuing high profile but tarnished players like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Ja Morant. Stick with the plan for sustainable success.
• Use their cap space, most in the league, to acquire either draft assets and/or young players who could be part of the team’s future without adding big money. Think “diamonds in the rough” or “fallen angels.”
• Work with Cam Thomas in hopes of moving him and getting some assets in return but if that didn’t work out, end the relationship for the sake of both sides.

Check, check, check and check.

If you were surprised by the Nets moves between Wednesday and Thursday, you simply haven’t been paying attention or following the wrong pundits. The team’s focus remains on May 10, the draft lottery and beyond rather than April 14, the start of the play-in tournament. They continue to “play the probabilities” — a healthier phrasing than “tanking” – in hopes of landing a generational talent in the NBA Draft at Barclays Center in late June.

Sure, their choice of the three young players they acquired — one of whom they waived overnight — might have surprised as they prioritized development opportunities over the draft, perhaps thinking they have enough? As one fan tweeted Thursday afternoon, the Nets are trading for players he had to google — but after all, that was the point: they wanted to find good young players who for whatever reason didn’t succeed in their first jobs. Did they meet their goals?

Here in summary are the specifics of what they did Wednesday and Thursday:

• Traded the draft rights to a 29-year-old Serbian shooting guard, Vanya Marinkovic, to the Toronto Raptors for a 6’6” 25-year-old wing, Ochai Agbaji who had been a lottery pick in 2022; a Nuggets second rounder in 2032 and $3.5 million in cash considerations. Agbaji will earn $6.4 million this season, the last on his rookie deal. He’ll be a restricted free agent in July.
• Waived Haywood Highsmith, a 6’6” defensive-minded guard who they had obtained in the summer from the Miami Heat but who never played for them, spending the first half of the season rehabbing from left knee surgery. His agent told reporters that he was nearing a return, and playing 5-on-5 but Highsmith is 28, is an expiring deal, making $5.6 million. The Nets were unlikely to re-sign him.
• Exchanged seconds with the Nuggets so they could acquire 6’8” 25-year-old small forward Hunter Tyson in a salary dump that got Denver under the luxury tax threshold. The Nets gave up a 2026 second that will be the lesser favorable of Clippers and Hawks picks (around No. 44) in return for a Nuggets unfettered and unprotected second in 2032. Tyson is on the third year of his initial four-year deal making $2.2 million. The Nets waived Hunter shortly before midnight, leaving a roster opening likely to be filled by one of their two-way players.
• Send $110,000 in cash considerations (the minimum) to the Boston Celtics for 6’8” 23-year-old small forward Josh Minott. An athlete who Minnesota saw as a potential 3-and-D specialist when they drafted him out of the second round in 2022. Same with Boston who traded for him last year. He will earn $2.4 million this year, the first of a two-year deal with a $2.5 million team option next season. He reportedly wanted out of Boston where his minutes were starting to go to Hugo Gonzales.
• Waived Cam Thomas, 24, after he and they were unable to find a team willing to trade for him and his $6.0 expiring deal. He now becomes an unrestricted free agent and can be signed by team other than the Nets. There are already rumors of teams who might be interested in him. That seems exaggerated. Pooch and I wrote about his tenure in Brooklyn. Moving on after four and a half years.
• Waived Tyrese Martin, who turns 27 next month, after two years in Brooklyn. A fan favorite too is going to be looking for work, but without the baggage Thomas dragged around.
• Waived newly acquired Hunter Tyson.

As always happens, other deals didn’t get done for various reasons. Joe Vardon, the veteran Cavaliers beat writer, reported Friday that before Thomas as waived, the Cavs and Nets had discussions about a trade centered on Thomas for Lonzo Ball, the often injured point guard.

“The Nets looked but did not find a suitable offer for Cam Thomas. There had been talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a deal that would have sent Lonzo Ball to Brooklyn, league sources said, but that did not go far and Thomas might not have stayed with the Cavaliers even if it had happened. Ball was shuttled off to Utah for cap relief.”

The Nets are now slightly younger with a slightly higher payroll than they were at the beginning of the week. It looks like they’ll have less scoring but a better defense at least at the end of the bench. They’re a bit more athletic well. Both Minott and Agbaji registered 39” max verticals at their respective NBA combines.

They didn’t add a first rounder, but got a couple of new seconds, instead going for young players You can do that if you have 13 firsts — 10 tradeable — and 21 seconds.

Of course, the goal is not racking up wins but as we noted, “playing the probabilities,” leading up to the lottery.

Indeed, it’s the culmination of nearly a year long series of moves that prioritized the future, particularly the 2026 draft. As Yossi Gozlan of capsheets.com and the Third Apron podcast laid out in a tweet, the Nets have now exhausted almost all of the $60 million salary space they created last summer…

Final tally of what Brooklyn's $60 million in cap space yielded:

Michael Porter Jr.
DEN unprotected 2032 first
Terance Mann
Drake Powell
Ochai Agbaji
TOR 2032 second
Hunter Tyson
DEN 2032 second
Josh Minott
MIA 2032 second

Nets have $4.3 million in cap space leftover

— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) February 5, 2026

As for next summer, Gozlan projects the Nets will continue to be a leader in cap space …

2026 cap space projections (post-trade deadline)

Bulls: $45-60 million (depends on Ivey)
Lakers: $48.5 million
Nets: $40 million
Clippers: $40 million (No Mathurin)
Hawks: $25 million (No Kuminga)

Few cap space teams and fewer attainable talent on the market pic.twitter.com/M81wbuUaIE

— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) February 5, 2026

Is that enough? There have been mistakes along the way. As Salary Swish noted, the Nets are paying out $20 million in dead money this season, that is salaries paid to players who were waived…

Cam Thomas has been waived and added to the dead cap for the Brooklyn #Nets. Thomas has added $5,993,172 in dead cap bringing the Nets total to $20,115,616.
Thomas $5,993,172
Highsmith $5,616,000
Bufkin $4,503,720
Whitehead $3,262,560https://t.co/gQaYUkuyBB

— SalarySwish (@SalarySwish) February 5, 2026

You can add another $2,221,677 what Tyson is owed.

With Tyson waived, it seems that E.J. Liddell, the 6’7” 25-year-ol forward, or Tyson Etienne, the 6’0” 26-year-old shooting guard on the Long Island roster. In turn, that would open up a two-way spot. One possibility there is Long Island’s starting center, Grant Nelson, the 7’0” 23-year-old center who signed an Exhibit 10 with Brooklyn last summer. He recently came off a seven-week rehab for a knee issue and while still on a minutes restriction has put up big numbers, averaging 27.1 points and 12.7 rebounds per 36 minutes in nine starts. Thursday night, in 19 minutes, he put up 21 points on 8-of-8 shooting.

We’ll probably get additional information in the next few days about why the Nets did one thing rather than another, like the failed talks on a Thomas-for-Ball trade or like what do they know about the 2032 NBA Draft? After Thursday, Brooklyn now have six picks — two firsts and four seconds — in a draft whose players are currently 11 or 12 years old.

• Nets waiving Cam Thomas in long-awaited divorce – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets close Cam Thomas chapter with waiver: report ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets add Hunter Tyson, Josh Minott as deadline maneuvering continues: report ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Healthy and available, Haywood Highsmith draws interest from contenders after Nets waive him ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets waive Cam Thomas right after NBA trade deadline – Erik Slater – Clutch Points
• Nets waive key early-season contributor following deadline trades – Erik Slater – Clutch Points
• Nets release Tyrese Martin, Hunter Tyson to complete trade deadline – Sharif Phillips-Keaton

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-free...m-thomas-go-development-route-in-small-trades

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn Nets throttle tanking Washington Wizards, win 127-113

Jordan Bank/Getty Images

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone. Contenders buffed out their scratches, owners ducked their taxes, and now, Tank Season awaits the rest of us serfs. With two months left in the regular season, injury reports and funky substitution patterns provoke cries for Adam Silver and essays questioning whether Giannis Antetokounmpo publicly embracing Kalshi as a shareholder is a greater threat to the NBA’s integrity than Keshon Gilbert getting 29 minutes in a regular-season game for the Washington Wizards. It’s a dark, confusing world out there.

But at least it’s funny. Few sporting events capture this like a true NBA Tank-Off, so shameless and so absurd, with its participants forbidden from acknowledging it as such. World-class athletes don’t just have their own fans rooting against them, but their bosses too. Would NBA League Pass really be worth it without this perverse spectacle?

On Saturday afternoon, the 14-36 Wizards held up their end of the bargain. Forget some legitimately injured vets like Anthony Davis and Trae Young, they put ten guys on the injury report. Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, and Kyshawn George were questionable with injury, and none of them played. At the very least, the Wiz had the excuse of a back-to-back (facing the Miami Heat on Sunday) and four wins in their last six tries.

The 13-37 Brooklyn Nets did not, and they did not partake in the calculated fun. They handed in their cleanest injury report of the season; even trade acquisitions Josh Minott and Ochai Agbaji were available, though neither played. Perhaps Brooklyn didn’t learn their lesson from last season…

NIC CLAXTON FLIES IN FOR THE WIN

What a follow-up to WIN IT for Brooklyn!#TissotBuzzerBeater #YourTimeDefinesYourGreatness pic.twitter.com/7SBmHZYxRL

— NBA (@NBA) February 23, 2025

Maybe ownership believes you can’t turn the tank up to ten before the All-Star break. Maybe Michael Porter Jr.‘s knee is 100% fine and they didn’t want a call from the league office, maybe they thought there was no way to lose to the skeleton-crew Wizards. Maybe, they just wanted Jordi Fernández to see his team play well.

“While we’re not changing, you have to play hard and with purpose,” said Fernández pregame. “If we find that balance, we’ll see a competitive group. It’s not that hard, you just have to be committed. Lately we haven’t found those two things together.”

On Saturday, the Nets were finally on the other side of a lopsided first quarter. The hosts led 46-20, then 80-47 by halftime. Of course, it marked their highest point-total in any half this season, and Fernández got what he wanted: “I mean, playing extremely hard and with purpose. I thought we, like you said, found ways to score the ball. And I think that second group had a great thing going, from defense to offense, running the floor, doing the right things. And I think that group, if you look all the way through, that’s the one that gave us the win.”

Fernández isn’t lying. Michael Porter Jr. led the team in scoring with 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting, and Nolan Traore played well in another start, putting up 15/3/4 on 6-of-7 shooting with one lone turnover, but it was the bench that truly embarrassed Washington. To no surprise, the fringe NBA players off their bench couldn’t handle Day’Ron Sharpe, who mauled his way to 19/9/4.

Nor could they handle Sharpe’s partner in the front-court, Danny Wolf. The two were attached at the hip on Saturday, sharing all their minutes together. Wolf dropped 16/7/6, with three of those assists to Sharpe down low.

The rookie was highly complimentary of the vet, postgame: “He’s playing 20 minutes, and he’s giving you 19/9/4, I don’t know how many bigs in the NBA are doing that. I think his superpower is rebounding, right? And a lot of his points come off put-backs, and you might just look at that as an easy bucket, but it’s not easy to do … As you play with someone more, you’re gonna get that confidence in one another, and you’re gonna learn to play off each other, and it makes the game so much easier for everybody.”

Wolf stole the show, though. He made two threes and shot 7-of-11 without a turnover, all of his problem areas becoming strengths at least for one shining afternoon. Most importantly, Wolf seemed calmer, more self-assured than Nets fans have seen him for months. Not coincidentally, without Traore or Cam Thomas in the backcourt, he had the ball in his hands much more.

Said Wolf: “The last month, two months, it’s just a lot of learning. I was playing off the ball, and for me, it’s just like everything felt — I felt a little bit too sped up, and there’s gonna be games where that’s my role. And then when coach does give me the ball and trust me with it, it’s on me to make the right play.”

Danny Wolf splashes a 3 to give the Nets 46 points in the first quarter.

That’s the most points in any quarter for the Nets since 2023 (!!) pic.twitter.com/I4s9jD3Vh9

— SleeperNets (@SleeperNets) February 7, 2026

Egor Dëmin only had four points, going 0-of-5 from three. Still, the rest of the rookies all had shining moments, whether it was an athletic finish from Drake Powell at the rim, a fast-break dunk for Ben Saraf, or this sexy Traore bucket…

Nolan hits the spin move and turns on the jets pic.twitter.com/4C4N7Qjhkz

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 7, 2026

The Wizards hit some 3-pointers in the final third of the game, and as a result, Brooklyn’s starters somehow ended up losing their minutes … not that it really mattered. Washington almost almost made it a game, but thanks to Brooklyn’s big bench, the game was over long before halftime.

The Nets shot an incomprehensible 69.8% inside the arc on Saturday; if they had gotten hot from deep, they would’ve put up 150 points. If they were gonna disregard the Tank-Off and win, at least they did it in style.

We’ll see if the NBA Draft Lottery gods reward them for their nobility on May 10.

Final Score: Brooklyn Nets 127, Washington Wizards 113

Milestone Watch​

• Now here’s some querying: All five rookies have recorded multiple assists in the past two games. Brooklyn becomes the first team in NBA history 5+ rookies do so in the same game, multiple times, since the 1980-81 New Jersey Nets.
• Brooklyn’s 36 assists matched a season-high. Six players recorded 4+ assists, tying a franchise record.
• Wolf and Sharpe are the first duo in Nets history to both record at least 16/7/4 off the bench in the same game.
• Brooklyn outscored Washing by 26 in the first quarter, their best point differential in a quarter since going +29 against Warriors in the first on 12/21/22.

Injury Report​

The Nets were completely healthy on Saturday! Only the two-ways, down in Long Island, missed this one. Which means that, yes, Ziaire Williams was a DNPCD, as well as Jalen Wilson, Agbaji, and Minott.

Nets bid farewell to Cam Thomas​

Saturday’s game marked the beginning of Brooklyn’s post-Cam Thomas era. When asked about the decision to waive him, Jordi Fernández, didn’t offer much: “I’m not going to speak for Sean [Marks]. When Cam was here, he wore our jersey, he played hard, and competed. The only thing I can say is thanks for the time he spent with us. He always worked, always tried, and was a teammate. Now it’s exciting for him to start somewhere else. We just wish him luck and say thanks for wearing our jersey.”

Remember, English is Fernández’s third language … but that is some quote. He wore our jersey. He was a teammate. Indeed, the Nets did compensate Cam Thomas for his services. This is all true.

When asked about the deadline in general, Danny Wolf singled out Tyrese Martin as a great mentor and someone he’d miss, though didn’t Thomas. Day’Ron Sharpe, a Nets pick alongside CT in the 2021 NBA Draft, was asked directly about Thomas and wished him well, noting their long-term relationship.

Cam Thomas averaged 24 points for the Nets just last season! You wouldn’t know it by his exit.

Tankathon Update​

Yep, it’s that time of the year:

Next Up​

The Brooklyn Nets continue their homestand with a game against the Chicago Bulls and their revolving door of guards. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday evening.

• Boxscore: Brooklyn Nets 127, Washington Wizards 113 – NBA
• Game Highlights: Brooklyn Nets 127, Washington Wizards 113 (Video) – NBA
• Jor di Fernandez PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Danny Wolf PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Day’Ron Sharpe PostGame Interview (Video) – Chris Carrino – YES Network
• Nets score 80 points in the first half and beat the short-handed Wizards 127-113 – AP
• Nets cruise past depleted Wizards in Tank Bowl to snap out of slump – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Ochai Agbaji, Josh Minott welcomed as Nets snap skid against shorthanded Wizards ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Jordi Fernandez opens up on Nets’ decision to waive Cam Thomas – Erik Slater – Clutch Points
• Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. drops 23 in 127-113 win over the Wizards – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-scor...s-vs-wizards-127-113-danny-wolf-dayron-sharpe