Misplaced within the Dennis Schroder commerce from the Nets — and the high-level influence on tanking and the draft — are the younger guards who exit and return.
The Nets introduced again two-way guard Reece Beekman from Golden State and waived Yongxi Cui — now out for the yr with a torn ACL — to make room.
“Once we handle to accumulate a younger man that we’ve got been learning for some time, going again to when he was in faculty, the group right here targeted on [Beekman] and produce him in and take take a look at him,” common supervisor Sean Marks stated.
“So from a defensive standpoint, we will miss some issues with Dennis leaving, and hopefully when Reece will get right here he can take over. And he’ll have each alternative, like the remainder of these guys, to go on the market and compete and get minutes and be part of that rotation, hopefully.
You nearly should.
Schroder might be changed by Ben Simmons, however the Nets do not have one other confirmed level guard.
Shake Milton and Keon Johnson are backups, and Killian Hayes has not impressed whereas taking part in for G-League Lengthy Island.
The 6-foot-3 Beekman is an undrafted rookie however has outperformed Hayes within the G League.
He averages 18.7 factors on 51.5 p.c capturing for Santa Cruz, 7.3 assists (ninth within the G League), 5.2 rebounds and a pair of.8 steals (third within the league).
“Sure, I’m delighted to have him,” stated coach Jordi Fernandez. “Defensive-minded participant; I feel he led his convention in interceptions. A pacesetter who will assist our stress on the ball, our exercise in protection, the sport, the administration of the workforce. So, glad to have it. He’ll arrive quickly, so we can work with him quickly.
Beekman was solely the third participant to win back-to-back ACC Defensive Participant of the Yr awards, and he carried it into the G League.
With the Nets rebuilding, he may have a authentic likelihood within the NBA.
Hayes is the largest participant and largest title, however he is solely capturing 30 p.c from deep for Lengthy Island and 60 p.c for charity.
Cui was moved apart to make room for Beekman.
Milton is primarily an off-guard participant, however he has logged 40 p.c of his minutes this season as a degree guard.
This might improve within the rapid future.
“Simply proceed to do what we do: exit, play quick, play with tempo, rhythm and area. Get within the lane. Create for myself, create for others,” Milton stated. “[Schroder’s] factors, for positive, one thing we’ll miss. However he additionally [had] round seven assists per sport. After which he was additionally the chief when it got here to taking on the complete discipline. So these are vital issues that you just additionally want to think about.
Monday marks the return of Cleveland’s Kenny Atkinson for the primary time as head coach because the Nets fired him.
