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New York Notes: Russell, Young Nets, Bridges, Anunoby, Knicks

April 12th, 2025 at 9:59am CST by Tristan Tucker

After expressing multiple times in March that he’d like to remain in Brooklyn beyond this season, Nets guard D’Angelo Russell reiterated that desire in an exclusive interview with Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com.

“A lot of teams are rebuilding, but to be here and see this team rebuilding with the pieces that they have, I think the league will be on notice. They were on notice this year,” Russell said. “This group had a lot of good wins before I got here, and then when I got here, we beat a lot of good teams as well. I think just what the future holds with this group [is why I want to be back]. Obviously, what (head coach) Jordi (Fernandez) and (general manager) Sean (Marks) are creating, I’m familiar with it. Being somewhere familiar is something I’m definitely prioritizing.”

In 29 games with the Nets this season, Russell is averaging 12.9 points and 5.6 assists per contest. Even though his numbers have dipped since last season, he’s excited by the idea of serving as a mentor for the young Nets.

We have more from New York:

With several new faces expected to join the team in this year’s draft (Brooklyn holds four first-round picks), the Nets‘ young players know they’re auditioning for roles moving forward, the New York Post’s Brian Lewis writes. “We’re not just out there playing,” big man Drew Timme said. “A lot of us are interviewing for our jobs.” Timme, Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin and Maxwell Lewis all have team options for next season, while other young players like Cam Thomas, Ziaire Williams, Trendon Watford, Day’Ron Sharpe and Reece Beekman all are slated to reach free agency.
The Knicks went 1-11 combined in games against the Cavaliers, Celtics and Pistons this season and heading into a first-round matchup with Detroit, New York will need its wings to step up defensively and bear the responsibility of guarding Cade Cunningham, SNY’s Ian Begley writes. Specifically, the Knicks will be relying in the series on two players on whom they spent significant trade capital: Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.
New York’s 1-11 record against those three teams this season was clinched when the Knicks blew a 23-point lead against the Cavs on Friday. Ahead of the playoffs, the Knicks are seeking urgency, Chris Herring of ESPN writes. “We’ve got to get it fixed, and we’ve got to get it fixed fast,” coach Tom Thibodeau said after Friday’s loss. “[We need to fix] everything. We’ve got to play for 48 minutes on both sides of the ball.“

Atlantic Notes: Whitehead, Brown, Boucher, Knicks

April 10th, 2025 at 5:41pm CST by Tristan Tucker

As the Nets near the end of the season, their priority in the last three games will be evaluating which players might be a part of their future. As Bridget Reilly of the New York Post writes, 2023 first-round forward Dariq Whitehead is hoping to prove he should stick around with the franchise for the long run.

Still just 20 years old, Whitehead has been limited to just 19 NBA games in his first two seasons after dealing with several injuries, including a stress reaction on his leg that ended his rookie year. The Duke product said he feels he’s almost back to 100% health.

“I feel it coming,” Whitehead said. “I will say it’s night and day from just trusting my body and stuff. Doing things I haven’t done in two years, which is amazing for me and I’m sure it’s amazing for the coaches and staff to see.”

In 17 games this year, Whitehead is averaging 6.2 points while shooting 44.8% on 3.9 three-point attempts per game. Over 75% of his shots have come from beyond the arc.

“This is going to be an important summer for me,” Whitehead said. “Since I’ve been hurt, I haven’t been able to just work on those things, which is getting my athleticism back and just doing certain movements. Just me attacking this summer is going to be really important for me.”

We have more from the Atlantic Division:

Celtics star Jaylen Brown is out for the team’s Friday game against the Hornets, according to The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn (Twitter link). As Washburn notes, that means Brown won’t reach the 65-game threshold necessary to be eligible for postseason awards.
Chris Boucher has been a long-term fixture of the Raptors, making the team out of training camp in 2018/19 and becoming part of that season’s championship roster. As Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca writes, there is mutual interest in another contract between Boucher and the Raptors as he hits unrestricted free agency this summer. The big man has had a strong season, averaging 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game, though his role has fluctuated. “Obviously it’s not ideal, but it’s the business. I know how things go by now,” Boucher said of his minutes. “I’m trying to stay positive with how my life is and see the positive stuff, and I think I had a great year, too. I think that helps, knowing that I’m growing and being the player and the person that I want to be, so I take those wins. The season went by pretty quick, so I’ll enjoy the last few games and see what happens.”
The Knicks are showing a willingness to rest players in the last part of the season, Howie Kussoy of the New York Post writes. If New York wins on Thursday or Indiana loses, the Knicks will clinch the third seed. OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson will sit out of Thursday’s contest. New York’s playoff roster last season was depleted by injuries, so the team appears to be doing what it can do avoid history repeating itself.

Nets Notes: Beekman, Timme, Williams, Lottery

April 8th, 2025 at 4:24pm CST by Rory Maher

Reece Beekman is the latest young player to get a shot a major minutes for the Nets, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post.

The 23-year-old rookie hadn’t appeared in seven of the previous eight games leading up to Thursday’s matchup with Minnesota, when he played 18 minutes off the bench, then received his first career start in Sunday’s loss to Toronto. The 6’1″ point guard finished with 14 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals in 36 minutes.

“First, it’s a blessing for this to be my first year and have a start in the NBA; that doesn’t happen a lot. So I’m just blessed to be in this opportunity,” said Beekman, who is on a two-way contract with Brooklyn. “But it just took time to settle in. It’s a fast-paced game. I’m still learning in my first year. So, just learning different spots on the court, learning where to be effective and just try to make a mark on both ends of floor.”

Here’s more on the Nets:

Rookie big man Drew Timme also got his first career start Sunday, Lewis writes in another story for The New York Post. Head coach Jordi Fernandez has been pleased thus far with Timme, who signed a two-year, minimum-salary contract at the end of March. “Yeah he’s been very good. Like again he connected with his teammates right away,” Fernandez said. “He fits in, his personality and his game. … So very happy with him. But not just the production. Sometimes the ball’s going to go in, sometimes it’s not going to go in. But his intentions, how good of a teammate he is. He comes in and works every day. So I’m very happy with Drew.”
In a subscriber-only story, Lewis details how Ziaire Williams has become a regular contributor for Brooklyn, averaging 10.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG and 1.0 SPG in 61 appearances, including 43 starts (24.7 MPG). Williams will be a restricted free agent this summer if he’s tendered a qualifying offer (he’ll be unrestricted if he doesn’t get a QO).
Sunday’s matchup with Toronto had lottery implications, and the loss means that the Nets are now 3.5 games “ahead” of the Raptors in the reverse standings with four games left on their schedule, as Lewis relays. Brooklyn will likely finish with the sixth-worst record entering the 2025 draft lottery, with a 37.2% chance of landing a top-four pick, per Tankathon.

New York Notes: Thibodeau, Brunson, Hart, Bridges, Wright, Clowney, Etienne

April 5th, 2025 at 1:32pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is once again relying on his starters. Entering Saturday’s game at Atlanta, Josh Hart was averaging 37.6 minutes in 73 starts and Mikal Bridges was averaging 37.6 minutes in 76 games.

Thibodeau says he’s just doing what he feels is proper, according to ESPN’s Chris Herring. “There’s no right or wrong,” Thibodeau said. “There’s what you feel is best for your team.”

We have more from the New York teams:

Jalen Brunson will return from his ankle ailment on Sunday, NBA insider Chris Haynes tweets. The Knicks are playing in Atlanta on Saturday, with a home game against Phoenix on tap for Sunday. Brunson has missed the last 15 games. His anticipated return was reported heading into the weekend.
With Brunson’s imminent return, Knicks guard Delon Wright‘s days as a starter are numbered. Wright, a free agent after the season, has gained trust from Thibodeau, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post writes. “[Wright has] shown everyone he’s more than capable,” the coach said. “We like the job that he’s done.”
Noah Clowney‘s second NBA season was an overall disappointment, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. The 2023 first-round pick saw his production decline as ankle injuries piled up. He has numerous areas to work on, Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said. “His physicality [is an area of improvement], especially on the defensive end,” he said. “And then lately, his drive decisions, alright? If he’s not going to shoot it and he’s going to put the ball on the floor, how can he get to the rim with one-two dribbles and be efficient? Whether it’s an easy drive-and-kick or finish at the rim.”
Two-way Nets player Tyson Etienne made his NBA debut on March 28 against the Clippers, then played 25 minutes against Minnesota on Thursday. “A lot of gratitude. This journey that I’ve been on has come with a lot of ups and downs. I’ve been putting a lot of work in for a long time,” Etienne told RG.org’s Grant Afseth. “Just to get that call — and for it to be where I’m from, New York — I’m just really grateful and excited to be a part of the team.”

Nets Notes: Williams, Giannis, Fernandez, Timme

April 3rd, 2025 at 7:17pm CST by Luke Adams

After spending three years in Memphis, Ziaire Williams was traded to Brooklyn last summer in part because he hadn’t improved as a shooter, having converted just 30.1% of his three-point attempts through his first 150 regular season games, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post (subscription required).

But the Nets wing has made some progress in that department this season — since returning from a month-long injury absence at the start of January, Williams has knocked down 35.7% of 227 total attempts from beyond the arc (5.8 per game).

“When you see the fruits of your labor paying off, it always does help and feels a little good. So, just trying to trust my work,” Williams said. “Really just rhythm. Rhythm and just staying on track, shooting straight line drive every time. But the main thing is shooting the same shot, not really focus on the result and not worrying about feet and legs and arms, just focusing … and shooting the same. That’s really about it.”

Defense has never been an issue for Williams, whose length and versatility make him an asset on that end of the court. So if teams view his increased three-point shooting percentage as sustainable, it would bode well for him when he reaches the free agent market this summer, Lewis observes.

“I mean, I’d be lying if I told you the thought wasn’t there,” Williams acknowledged. “But it’s not something I really trip over. I try not to just (focus on it). I try just to play winning basketball, man: shoot when I’m open, pass when it needs to be passed. I just play my hardest, man. I know my agent and my representatives — and more importantly God — they’ll take care of all of that. So, I’m just enjoying the (game), just being in the moment, being where my feet are. And then, when that time comes, then I’ll get a little bit more happy about it.”

We have more on the Nets:

Within a preview of Brooklyn’s potential offseason roster decision, Lewis reiterates in another subscriber-only New York Post article that acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to be “Plan A” for the Nets. This is hardly the first time Lewis has reported the Nets’ interest in the Bucks star, which has been confirmed by other outlets, but the idea of Brooklyn acquiring Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee doesn’t appear any more viable now than it did then — perhaps that will change if the Bucks are once again eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
After reacquiring control of their 2025 first-round pick last offseason and then trading away Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith early in the season, the Nets appeared primed to tank hard. However, the year hasn’t exactly played out that way. Lewis of the New York Post and Net Income of Nets Daily take a look at how Nets players and head coach Jordi Fernandez have resisted tanking all season long and appear likely to end up in the middle of the pack in the draft lottery standings.
Fernandez recently spoke to Brandon Robinson of ScoopB.com about how his PhD in sports psychology influences his approach to coaching and the role that mental health plays in a team’s success.
It took Drew Timme until near the end of his second professional season to get a look at the NBA level, but he’s making the most of his opportunity, averaging 13.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in his first three outings as a Net and impressing his veteran teammates in the process, according to Lewis (subscription required). “A young guy who knows how to play, I think you stick in this league, as simple as that,” Nets guard D’Angelo Russell said of Timme. “He knows how to play basketball.”
In case you missed it, the Nets issued a series of injury updates on Wednesday, including announcing that Noah Clowney‘s season is over due to a right ankle sprain.

Jazz’s Elijah Harkless Named NBAGL Most Improved Player

April 3rd, 2025 at 2:11pm CST by Rory Maher

Guard Elijah Harkless, who is on a two-way contract with the Jazz, has been named the NBA G League’s Most Improved Player for the 2024/25 season, the NBA announced today (via Twitter).

Harkless earned the award for his time with the San Diego Clippers and Salt Lake City Stars. He’s the first player from the Stars to win NBAGL MIP, according to the press release.

After averaging 11.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steal in 20 regular season games (22.7 MPG) for San Diego in 2023/24, the 25-year-old improved his counting stats across the board in ’24/25, averaging 26.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.4 APG and 1.3 SPG in 19 regular season appearances, 17 of which came for Salt Lake City (31.4 MPG). He has posted a .447/.419/.745 shooting line during the G League’s regular season.

Harkless, who went undrafted out of UNLV in 2023, was named to the NBAGL’s Up Next event — essentially the G League’s All-Star game — earlier this season. He also had a stint in the Canadian Elite Basketball League with the Saskatchewan Rattlers this past spring.

Known for his defense, Harkless has played 10 games for Utah in what is technically his rookie NBA season. The combo guard has averaged 3.2 PPG, 2.1 RPG and 1.0 SPG in 13.8 MPG during those appearances.

Drew Timme and Tyson Etienne of the Nets finished second and third in voting for the award, respectively. Both players have been standouts for Brooklyn’s affiliate in Long Island.

Nets Rule Out Noah Clowney For Rest Of Season

April 2nd, 2025 at 1:48pm CST by Luke Adams

Noah Clowney‘s second NBA season has come to an early end, according to Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez, who said on Wednesday that the big man is in a walking boot as he recovers from a right ankle sprain and won’t play again this spring (Twitter link via C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News).

It was an injury-plagued year for Clowney, who had two extended absences earlier in the season due to left ankle sprains. He made a total of 46 appearances (20 starts) and averaged 9.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 22.7 minutes per game.

Clowney showed some promise during the final few weeks of his rookie season, but struggled to carry it over on a consistent basis in his second year. The 20-year-old made just 41.4% of his two-point shots and 33.3% of his three-point tries in 2024/25 for an overall shooting percentage of 35.8%.

Clowney will be entering the third year of his rookie scale contract, which will pay him $3.4MM in 2025/26. Brooklyn will have to decide by the end of October whether or not to exercise his $5.4MM team option for the ’26/27 season.

As Holmes relays, the Nets also provided two more injury updates on Wednesday, indicating that Cameron Johnson (lower back contusion) will miss a second consecutive game on Thursday, while Day’Ron Sharpe (right knee sprain) will soon be reevaluated. Sharpe has been inactive for the club’s last four games.

Checking In On Starter Criteria, Traded Draft Picks, Mavs’ Two-Ways, More

March 31st, 2025 at 12:54pm CST by Luke Adams

The months on the calendar between the NBA's in-season trade deadline and the start of the offseason represent the only time of year in which teams aren't permitted to make trades.

Still, while the possibility of Shams Charania dropping shocking trade news in the middle of the night is off the table during this final stretch of the regular season, there's plenty going on around the league that will impact future roster decisions and trade talks.

We're checking in on a few of those subplots today. Let's dive right in...

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Nets Notes: Timme, Etienne, Johnson, Clowney, Draft

March 30th, 2025 at 9:43am CST by Rory Maher

Big man Drew Timme, who recently signed a two-year deal with the Nets, recorded a double-double — 11 points and 10 rebounds — in 25 minutes off the bench on Friday in his NBA regular season debut, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post.

“I was nervous as crap out there. But it was awesome. It was a dream come true,” Timme said. “And I like this feeling. I don’t want it to end. So I got to keep working hard so I can keep doing this.”

Guard Tyson Etienne, who is on a two-way contract with Brooklyn, also made his NBA debut in Friday’s lopsided loss to the Clippers, Lewis adds. The 25-year-old grew up in New Jersey and had several family members on hand. He finished with eight points and an assist in 10 minutes.

Here’s more on the Nets:

Timme followed up his solid debut by putting up 19 points and six rebounds in 27 minutes during Saturday’s victory over Washington, helping Brooklyn snap a six-game losing streak, per Net Income of NetsDaily.com. Timme, who was credited for the game-winning basket when his layup attempt was goaltended, tied Derrick Coleman for the Nets’ franchise record for most points by a player in his first two games (30).
While the players and coaches were happy to snap the six-game skid, the victory could prove harmful in the long run, notes Lewis of The New York Post. Starters Cameron Johnson (hard fall on his back) and Noah Clowney (right ankle) were both injured late in the fourth quarter, and perhaps more importantly, the win put Brooklyn a half-game behind Philadelphia in the NBA’s reverse standings, potentially reducing the team’s odds of landing the top pick in June’s draft.
The Nets officially secured a lottery pick when they were eliminated from postseason contention on Thursday. It’s been a long and difficult wait for Brooklyn to get to this point, as Lewis writes in a subscriber-only story. June will be the first time general manager Sean Marks will have a chance to make a top-20 selection in his nine-year tenure with the team.
The Nets control five total picks in the upcoming draft, the most of any team. In addition to their own first- and second-rounders, they also hold the rights to the first-round picks from Milwaukee, New York and Houston. It’s possible they could look to move one or two of those selections to add to their 2026 total, but don’t expect the lottery pick to change hands, according to Lewis, who takes a look at what would happen if Brooklyn and Philadelphia tie for the league’s fifth-worst record.

Bontemps/Windhorst’s Latest: Cap Room, Nets, Wolves FAs, Connelly

March 29th, 2025 at 12:19pm CST by Luke Adams

Given the lack of cap room available around the NBA this season, it’s not a great time to be entering the market as a restricted free agents, Brian Windhorst of ESPN writes in an Insider-only story.

“There’s only one team that has a lot of cap space and they may want to do a slower rebuild and aren’t looking to spend it all now,” a veteran agent told ESPN. “I’ve never seen a free agency where only one team has real cap space in my career. These free agents are f—ed.”

That “one team that has a lot of cap space” is Brooklyn — the Nets are expected to operate with between $45-60MM in room, according to Windhorst, and could open up additional space beyond that if they let certain players go. However, there’s an expectation around the league that the Nets won’t necessarily be looking to make win-now moves in free agency this summer.

“They’ve sent the message that if they do anything major with their space, it’s likely going to be through trade, not signings,” one rival executive told Windhorst. “Even if that trade doesn’t happen this summer, they’ll want to keep their options open.”

Nets general manager Sean Marks has shown in the past that he’s willing to pursue restricted free agents and give them aggressive offer sheets. During the team’s initial rebuild, Marks and his front office took that route with Allen Crabbe, Tyler Johnson, Donatas Motiejunas, and Otto Porter Jr. in a span of two years (2016-17). But there’s no indication at this point that Brooklyn plans to pursue an RFA such as Jonathan Kuminga, Josh Giddey, Quentin Grimes, or Santi Aldama in the same way, which means those players may have limited leverage.

“Actually it’s no leverage,” another agent told ESPN. “I’ve prepared my clients for a free agent recession this summer. Next year will be different, the cap will be going up and teams will clean up their books as they deal with the new spending rules. So you may have to wait and try again.”

Here’s more from Windhorst and his ESPN colleague Tim Bontemps:

Examining the Timberwolves‘ upcoming free agent decisions, Bontemps says multiple scouts and executives believe that guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker could command a deal in the range of the full mid-level exception, since he has been a reliable three-and-D role players and is entering his prime years. As our projections show, a full four-year mid-level contract in 2025/26 is expected to be worth in excess of $60MM.
Sources around the NBA believes that both Julius Randle and Naz Reid will return to the Timberwolves next season, according to Bontemps. Both power forwards hold player options for 2025/26, with Randle’s worth $29.5MM (plus incentives) and Reid’s worth $15MM. Even if both players remain in Minnesota, it’s unclear what form that would take — opting out to sign a new deal would be one path, as would opting in, with or without a new extension.
The Timberwolves have another important free agent in their front office, having pushed back Tim Connelly‘s opt-out clause from 2024 to 2025. Team sources tell Windhorst that prospective owner Marc Lore has “made it a priority” to sign the president of basketball operations to an extension if and when he and Alex Rodriguez gain full control of the franchise.
In case you missed it, we also passed along reporting from Windhorst and Bontemps on the Pacers and starting center Myles Turner. That story can be found here.