For the Nets, coaching camp this 12 months is much less about trimming the roster and extra about charting a path ahead. In his second season on the sidelines, head coach Jordi Fernández already has a basis of competitiveness and tradition to lean on.
The query now could be whether or not that identification can translate into tangible progress.
The roster provides loads of uncertainty. 5 first-round picks arrive hungry for minutes, whereas veterans look to defend their place within the rotation. That dynamic units up battles throughout almost each place and results in the larger challenge hanging over camp: the way to stability participant growth with the push to win video games.
Brooklyn is aware of the usual. Fernández calls for protection, ball motion and buy-in. Coaching camp is the place these values might be examined. Amongst storylines to look at, Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. face strain to develop past their scoring fame, level guard minutes are up for grabs and at the least one rookie will attempt to make himself too priceless to disregard.
Oddsmakers anticipate little, projecting simply 20.5 wins, however the Nets view the stakes otherwise. This month is about persevering with to form habits, clarifying roles and reinforcing perception in a system they hope can carry the franchise ahead.
PRESEASON SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Location
Saturday, Oct. 4
Hapoel “Bank Yahav” Jerusalem
Barclays Middle (Brooklyn, NY)
Friday, Oct. 10
Phoenix Suns
The Venetian Area (Macao)
Sunday, Oct. 12
Phoenix Suns
The Venetian Area (Macao)
Friday, Oct. 17
Toronto Raptors
Scotiabank Area (Toronto, CAN)
TRAINING CAMP ROSTER
Guards
Wings
Bigs
Two-way
Unofficial
Cam Thomas Egor Demin Nolan Traoré Ben Saraf Kobe Bufkin Dariq Whitehead
Michael Porter Jr. Ziaire Williams Terance Mann Drake Powell Tyrese Martin Jalen Wilson Haywood Highsmith
Nic Claxton Noah Clowney Day’Ron Sharpe Drew Timme Danny Wolf
Tyson Etienne E.J. Liddell
Ricky Council IV Fanbo Zeng
Word: NBA guidelines require groups to trim all the way down to a most of 15 customary contracts and three two-way gamers earlier than the common season begins.
KEY STATS (2024-25)
Class
Nets 2024–25
NBA Rank (of 30)
Factors per recreation
105.1
29
Opponent factors per recreation
112.2
11
Offensive Score
108.6
27
Defensive Score
115.8
23
Web Score
-7.0
26
Rebounds per recreation
41.3
29
Offensive Rebounds per recreation
9.5
28
Defensive Rebounds per recreation
31.8
29
Assists per recreation
24.6
24
Turnovers per recreation
13.7
21
Opponent Turnovers compelled
15.0
8
Steals per recreation
7.2
20
Blocks per recreation
5.1
15
Area Purpose %
45.2%
25
Three-Level %
35.4%
23
FIVE BURNING QUESTIONS
Can Cam Thomas safe his place in Brooklyn’s future?
Thomas has chosen to wager on himself. Reasonably than accepting two extension gives from Brooklyn, the 23-year-old guard signed a one-year, $6 million qualifying supply. That call positions him to check unrestricted free company in 2026.
Thomas sat out 57 video games final season with a nagging hamstring harm, however when he was accessible, he put up the very best numbers of his profession. His scoring punch is simple, but the questions stay simply as sharp. Extra accidents, or one other season of streaky effectivity, may undercut his worth — particularly with the Nets funneling minutes to a younger backcourt they hope to develop.
Ought to the whole lot break proper, Thomas has the prospect to show he’s greater than a scorer. A robust 12 months may make him indispensable in Brooklyn or a coveted goal elsewhere.
Can Brooklyn Make the Thomas–Porter Pairing Work?
When the Nets traded for Porter in July, the pure query was how he would match subsequent to Thomas, a guard who thrives with the ball in his palms. Each gamers know the way to rating and create issues for defenses, Thomas together with his means to assault in any respect three ranges and Porter together with his dependable outdoors shot (a profession 40.6 % from deep). Collectively, they’ve the potential to persistently stretch defenses and open the ground.
Final season, Brooklyn’s offense ranked close to the underside of the league in effectivity, so including two confirmed scorers offers it a wanted spark in each shot creation and spacing. And at ages 23 and 27, Thomas and Porter are nonetheless younger sufficient to develop facet by facet, if the group views them as long-term constructing blocks.
Fernández has constructed his fame on protection, which makes the Thomas–Porter pairing a little bit of a problem. Neither is thought for his or her work on that finish, and each depend on having the ball to remain in rhythm offensively. That mixture may make lineups that includes the 2 of them difficult. In the event that they handle to click on, Brooklyn would possibly uncover one of many league’s extra intriguing scoring duos.
Who among the many rookies can step in and contribute instantly?
Brooklyn is heading into camp with an uncommon problem: growing 5 first-round picks directly. Demin, Traoré, Powell, Saraf and Wolf deliver extra youth than Fernández can realistically play, particularly with 4 guards competing for comparable minutes.
Younger gamers want regular alternatives. Carving out roles for 5 rookies on a crew that also desires to compete gained’t be easy. Across the league, the expectation is modest. Nonetheless, if two of them emerge as long-term contributors, the category might be seen as a win.
Fernández’s observe report as a developer offers Brooklyn an opportunity. His emphasis on ball motion and flexibility may assist one or two rookies discover a area of interest with out disrupting the system. Early on, Demin and Powell seem to have the clearest path to minutes. Demin’s measurement, imaginative and prescient and capturing enable him to slip into a number of lineups, whereas Powell — regardless of lacking Summer season League with a knee challenge — already has the defensive instincts to earn minutes on the wing even earlier than his offense catches up.
The others might require extra endurance. Traoré and Saraf are artistic guards however face a crowded backcourt. Wolf gives floor-spacing potential at 6-11, however initiatives extra as a developmental piece. Early indicators counsel that each one 5 will want seasoning to deal with the energy and tempo of the NBA recreation.
Who begins at level guard?
Very like final season, the Nets haven’t any clear reply at level guard. That competitors may outline success in 2025-26. Demin, Traoré and Saraf will all get their shot, whereas Fernández weighs growth towards stability.
Beginning a rookie would sign that Brooklyn is prioritizing the rebuild. Relying as a substitute on a veteran like Mann, who has proven he can steer the offense in stretches, may give the kids time to ease in. Bufkin may even have an opportunity to show he can keep wholesome and contribute.
Both path comes with penalties. Coaching camp ought to present the primary actual clues about how daring the Nets plan to be.
How a lot endurance will possession and followers actually present?
Brooklyn retains preaching endurance, however that message might be more durable to promote if the losses stack up. Followers have already endured the famous person collapse and two straight years with out the playoffs, and one other season with little progress may push their tolerance to the restrict.
The entrance workplace has staked its plan on growth, however strain to chase wins will solely rise if power at Barclays Middle or inside the fan base begins to dip. Quickly sufficient, we’ll discover out if the Nets are actually able to climate the bumps of a full rebuild.
