Why Fernandez selected to step down right now stays a thriller. He declined to touch upon the state of affairs when requested forward of Wednesday’s matchup between the Nets and Washington Wizards at Barclays Middle.
“In fairness to Canada basketball, I want them to make the announcement,” Fernandez stated. “Once they do, I’ll be able to answer all your questions.”
The Canadian males’s workforce is at the moment ranked fifth on the planet. After changing Nic Nurse as head coach in the summertime of 2023, Fernandez led this system to a bronze medal on the 2023 FIBA World Cup and a fifth-place end on the 2024 Olympics in Paris, its highest end for the reason that 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Basic supervisor Sean Marks totally supported Fernandez’s Olympic pursuits when he was formally employed in April. He believed the extra probabilities Fernandez needed to maintain a clipboard, the higher. Whereas Fernandez was absent final offseason, the Nets shaped a “robust” offseason program for gamers, led by assistants Steve Hetzel and Juwan Howard.
TRADE DEADLINE LOOMING
The NBA commerce deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m. ET. Whether or not Cam Johnson stays with the Nets past then stays to be seen, however the sharpshooting wing did return from a six-game absence to face the Wizards.
“It’s always great to have him,” Fernandez stated. “Leadership in the right way. He creates attention. He makes everyone’s life easier; not just his teammates but also me. So, it’s great to have him, great connector, great leader.”
Washington’s roster was gutted after the franchise traded away Kyle Kuzma and Jonas Valanciunas on Wednesday, which left it severely shorthanded in opposition to Brooklyn. The Nets know what that’s like. Don’t remind them what occurred after Dennis Schröder was traded in December.
“It’s pretty similar to when guys are out at the last minute and so forth,” Fernandez stated. “You’re still preparing to play against a team that has a system and runs certain plays. Only now instead of being out for whatever reason, they’re getting traded. But the most important thing here is us.”
Nets veterans have been the topic of commerce rumors for the reason that offseason, so it’s been simpler for them to dam out the noise.
“That’s the reason why they just kept working & kept competing,” Fernandez stated. “These last few days are no different than weeks ago.”
SCHEDULE UPDATE
The Nets March 16 sport in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks will not be broadcasted on NBA TV. It has been changed by a matchup between the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
