The Nets introduced three roster transactions on Thursday: Ahead Tyrese Martin noticed his two-way deal transformed right into a multi-year contract, guard Killian Hayes was signed to a 10-day contract, and veteran ahead Bojan Bogdanović was waived.
Martin, who inked a two-year, $2.83 million deal in line with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, is now a bona fide NBA participant. Hayes, the seventh general choose within the 2020 NBA Draft, has been given one other likelihood to maintain his NBA goals alive.
Bogdanović, 35, didn’t seem in any video games for Brooklyn this season whereas recovering from offseason foot surgical procedure.
“With Tyrese, it’s very simple: He’s done a great job throughout the summer, earned his two-way, and then he’s done an amazing job to earn this contract,” head coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned. “You know, he has been part of what we’re trying to do, worked every single day, got better, great teammate, and helped us win a lot of games. And this is very, very well deserved, proud of him and happy, happy for him.”
Fernandez additionally shared his ideas on Hayes’ signing forward of Thursday’s matchup in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Heart: “He’s been part of our club since the summer… He committed to play with our club on Long Island, and he’s done a great job. Impacted games, assisting, rebounding, scoring, and he’s been playing the right way.”
Martin’s Exhibit 10 contract was transformed right into a two-way deal in October. Since, he’s averaged 7.8 factors, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists throughout 36 video games this season whereas capturing 39.1% from the sphere and 33.8% from 3-point vary.
“It took a lot of hard work, you know?” Martin mentioned when requested concerning the path to his new deal. “That’s not going to change, but it definitely feels like a weight on my shoulders lifted when that happened,”
The 25-year-old has scored at the least 10 factors on 12 events, together with a 30-point eruption in a street win over the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 27. He was not eligible to seem in video games for Brooklyn underneath his two-way standing. Chatting with reporters at Wednesday’s apply, Fernandez mentioned no participant was extra deserving of an ordinary deal than him — and Martin acknowledged Fernandez’s variety phrases.
“It feels good,” Martin mentioned. “It gives you some type of clarity to know that you’re doing the right things and doing what he stands for…. I feel like I’m going out there and doing the things he wants me to do. I feel like I’m just being myself and being the pro that I am.”
Hayes was invited to coaching camp to compete for a roster spot, however didn’t play in any preseason video games due to hip soreness, was subsequently waived, and has spent most of this season with G League affiliate Lengthy Island.
“I mean, that’s just God’s plan,” Hayes mentioned. “Injuries got in the way. Going to Long Island, just having that whole process and learning curve and just adapting, sticking with it, working hard, and just keep believing that my opportunity will come.”
The 23-year-old has been a beast within the G League, averaging 21 factors, 5.5 rebounds and eight.3 assists throughout 13 begins whereas capturing 49.5% from the sphere and 40.3% from the free throw line. He additionally led the league in steals with 2.8 per recreation.
Now, Hayes has at the least 10 days to showcase his newfound confidence on the NBA degree. His addition provides the Nets one other conventional ground basic who can compete for backup level guard minutes with two-way guard Reece Beekman.
“My goal is to stay in the NBA, make a mark for myself,” Hayes mentioned. “But I think my short-term goals are [to] just be a team player, show what I can do in these 10 days I have, and just keep going from there. Just helping my teammates, being a great teammate, being a great locker room guy, and just doing what I have to do.”
Initially Printed: February 20, 2025 at 7:54 PM EST
