Brooklyn acquired a pair of level guards within the Dennis Schröder deal, the primary being De’Anthony Melton, who in all chance, won’t ever swimsuit up for the staff given the season-ending ACL tear he suffered with the Golden State Warriors, and naturally his expiring contract.
It seems the opposite, two-way rookie Reece Beekman, may have an opportunity to carve out a task with the rebuilding Nets in some unspecified time in the future this season. The 23-year-old is a defensive-minded ground normal, which makes him the kind of participant who may thrive below head coach Jordi Fernandez.
“Excited to have him,” Fernandez stated. “Defensive minded player; I think he led his conference in steals. A point guard that will help our ball pressure, our activity on defense, playmaking, running the team. So, excited to have him. I think he’ll get here soon, so we’ll get to work with him soon.”
Beekman, previously a four-year letterman at Virginia, averaged 18.7 factors, 5.2 rebounds and seven.3 assists and a couple of.8 steals whereas taking pictures 51.5% from the sector in 9 appearances for Warriors G League affiliate Santa Cruz. He completed his faculty profession because the Cavaliers’ all-time chief in steals with 228 and was named ACC Defensive Participant of the 12 months twice.
“I think defense is all a mindset thing,” Beekman stated. “You have to want to play defense. Obviously, going to Virginia instilled that mindset in me. I worked so hard for four years, it kind of just translated over time. But, you know, just my mindset of that can win games for us and that did. So, I just want that to translate to the Nets, maybe. Just to bring that defensive mindset.”
Common supervisor Sean Marks stated the staff had been learning Beekman’s recreation for some time. And it looks like they didn’t deliver him to Brooklyn to experience the bench.
“The group here has been focused on him and bringing him in and taking a good close up look at him,” Marks stated. “So, I think from a defensive standpoint, we’re going to miss some of the things with Dennis leaving and hopefully when Reece comes in here, he can pick up the slack and he’ll have every opportunity like the rest of these guys to go out there and compete, earn minutes and be a part of this rotation hopefully.”
Talking to reporters at halftime on Monday, Beekman stated he has embraced the thought of contributing on a rebuilding staff. Proper now, he has solely G League expertise, having appeared in simply two regular-season video games for the Warriors. Having the ability to get on the ground and play significant minutes for Brooklyn would clearly help his all-around growth — one thing he didn’t get the possibility to do typically with Golden State.
“It’s been a crazy turn of events, just for this to be my rookie year, not even halfway through the season to get traded,” Beekman stated. “It’s a little crazy, but that’s life in the league. So, I just have to be able to adjust fast. Just blessed to have this opportunity, new situation, but just have to get settled in and be ready to hoop.”
Beekman performed towards Cam Thomas in highschool and took an official go to to Virginia with Keon Johnson, who in the end wound up at Tennessee. Lengthy Island Nets ahead Jordan Minor was Beekman’s teammate at Virginia.
