Playing against a former team isn’t a new experience for Nets guard Landry Shamet, who has already been traded twice in his brief NBA career, writes Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times. What’s odd for Shamet in his return to Los Angeles this week has been confinement to his hotel room because of COVID-19 restrictions.
“It is weird not going from the airport and taking the regular route that I would take to get back home,” he said. “But nonetheless, I’m here and I’m glad to be back here and kind of relive some of the memories, I guess.”
Shamet averaged 9.3 PPG as a part-time starter for the Clippers last season before being shipped to Brooklyn in a three-team deal in November. His experiences in Philadelphia and Los Angeles helped prepare him for a role on teams dominated by star players.
“Any team that’s ever been put together with that much talent isn’t going to just happen overnight and be perfect,” Shamet said. “I think that’s the biggest thing — time and patience and accountability. And if you have those things, over time you’re going to grow and you’re going to develop and turn it, hopefully, into what you wanted it to turn into. I think that’s what I’ve learned.”
There’s more from Brooklyn:
- Andre Roberson tells Chris Milholen of NetsDaily that the number of familiar faces in Brooklyn has made his transition to the team much smoother. Roberson, who signed with the Nets on Tuesday, joins a squad with former Thunder teammates Kevin Durant and Royal Ivey, who is now an assistant coach. Spencer Dinwiddie was a college teammate at Colorado. “It just shows you what kind of people and character you are walking into,” Roberson said. “I think it’s dope and kind of gives me a head start because I know what to expect. So far, so great, so I can’t complain.”
- Center Nicolas Claxton is getting closer to returning from the knee tedinopathy that has sidelined him all season, tweets Malika Andrews of ESPN. Claxton is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, marking the first time all season he has appeared on the injury report.
- Harden’s presence on the Nets might work against DeMarcus Cousins‘ chances of winding up in Brooklyn, notes Erik Bacharach of Heavy. Cousins was among the most outspoken players when Harden was trying to force a trade out of Houston, calling some of Harden’s comments “disrespectful.”
Cousins issues are on the D side. I don’t see how he helps Nets. Would love for them to ask for Noel. Dinwiddie to Knicks I’m all in. Payton n Noel for Dinwiddie….. I’ll even throw in a future 2nd rd pick.
Why would the Knicks trade for Dinwiddie if he is out for the season and will become a free agent?
Cause he’s a big PG who knows NYC. A young vet who will start and lead for 5-8 yrs. That’s why, if Nets would do it. He has a player option. He’ll take it coming off injury. If not you sign him. It wasn’t a serious injury.
They wouldn’t. His contract has zero value to the Knicks. The odds of him “opting in” are less than 10%. (even with the Nets), and get close to zero if it’s anywhere else.
A team without cap space might view the Bird rights appurtenant to his contract as valuable. Still, I can’t think of a single trade where a team paid assets to get Bird rights of a rising UFA only. That’s not the Knicks in any event.
Getting Dinwiddie off their books would save the Nets about 55 mm, so if the Knicks did agree to take him it would likely be something they (not the Nets) would be compensated for. But I think the Nets value his Bird rights.
No one wants Dinwiddie
The seeming pressure on Claxton to anchor the defense in the middle is more than an unfair expectation out of such an inexperienced player.
Hope he remains confident & does what does, works hard. Gotta be tough on such a large stage & so many bad opinions.
I like Claxton. He’s young and got good upside. I think that’s why they didn’t mind giving up Allen. But he’s young and I wonder if the big three will be patient with him. If he can give them 15-20 mins. They might be ok.
The Nets seem to have a very high opinion of Claxton and I assume his impending return was why they dumped Pelle who did not look horrible for them.
Roberson never played with Harden. He got drafted a year after Harden was traded…
Claxton will be fine. It’s not just the Nets’ FO that thinks highly of Claxton, it’s his teammates as well. KI and KD were there last year, and are among his fans. The only issue is he’s not a true C, at least yet. Has the length, but not the strength (weight). I think the Nets will still be looking for a true C, a bigger guy, if they can find one that can play 20+ mpg. Otherwise, I think they’re set.