Feb
19

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Nets trade Kevin Garnett for Thaddeus Young

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The Brooklyn Nets have traded Kevin Garnett to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Thaddeus Young, reports TNT’s David Aldridge.

The deal comes at the heels of Garnett waiving his no-trade clause, allowing him to return to his first NBA team and netting the Nets an athletic tweener who has a player option for the 2015-16 season.

Young was traded to Minnesota prior to the season to play the stretch four spot, but struggled on the defensive end and couldn’t consistently knock down the three. He recently moved to the three and surprisingly picked up his play in a relatively small sample size.

This trade is very low-risk, high reward for Brooklyn. They get a player that isn’t 30 years old, is on a short-term deal and only gave up an expiring contract to get him. Granted, Garnett’s had a quiet good season for the Nets this season, but he could have been lost in free agency for nothing, doesn’t spread the floor much and still can’t play in second games of back-to-backs.

If Young can pick up his long-distance shooting, he’d be a fine grab short-term to play the stretch four alongside Plumlee or Lopez. Or, and this may be very appealing to coach Lionel Hollins, Young could play the three, Johnson could move to the two and Brooklyn can play a monstrous starting five.

Keep it to Brooklyn’s Finest for more trade deadline coverage.

Feb
18

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Report: Detroit Pistons Inquire About Joe Johnson

ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk is reporting that the Detroit Pistons have reached out to the Brooklyn Nets to inquire about Nets guard Joe Johnson. The Pistons are reportedly offering the Nets a package of Brandon Jennings and expiring contracts.

 

It’s questionable if the Nets have interest in Brandon Jennings considering he is out for the season with a ruptured achilles and adding Jennings would crowd the point guard spot. The expiring contracts the Nets would take in could include Joel Anthony and Jonas Jerebko.

The Nets have been active in trade discussions since December, even coming close to trading Brook Lopez, but it remains uncertain if they will make a trade at the deadline. If a deal goes down be sure to check out Brooklyn’s Finest for an analysis.

Feb
17

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Three Man Weave: Week 17 Edition

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Despite the lack of any actual All-Stars selected to the 2015 team, the Brooklyn Nets certainly welcomed the arrival of the All-Star break and the nine days of rest between games that came with it. The team suffered through injury issues in their first 52 games of the season - losing Deron Williams and Brook Lopez for weeks-long stretches - but had recently returned Deron from his rib cartilage tear and featured a complete rotation for the first time in months. The upside to not sending any veteran players to the All-Star Game is that it allows more time for rest and recuperation; especially important for a team that relies so heavily on its veterans as the Nets and head coach Lionel Hollins. Read More

Feb
14

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Mason Plumlee: “I think I saw one of the best dunk contest performances ever”

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Well, Mason Plumlee sure had fun.

“I had a great time,” Plumlee said following his loss in the 2015 Slam Dunk Contest. “I think I saw one of the best dunk contest performances ever.”

Representing the Nets at his home court, Plumlee was the first to dunk. On his third and final try, Plumlee threw down a reverse slam off a side-of-the-backboard pass from the opposite side of the basket.

Plumlee earned a score of just a 40, much to his surprise. “I didn’t see anybody do it in the dunk contest before,” Plumlee said. “I thought the score would be a little higher.” After Plumlee’s first two attempts on his second dunk missed, he pulled his brother Miles of the Phoenix Suns onto the court to leap over him, successfully.

This dunk only received a 36 (!) from the judges. I think it’s fair to say Plumlee got a bit low-balled on his two slams. The first one was original and extremely difficult. The latter, well, jumping over centers is hard, and Plumlee made it happen with flair. Still, Plumlee was quick to admit he didn’t stand a chance with Zach LaVine in the picture.

“It wouldn’t have mattered if I went first, second, third, fourth,” Plumlee said. “Zach LaVine was going to win the dunk contest.”

Ah, yes, LaVine. He did some okay dunks.

Oh well. How about next year, Mason?

“No, no, I’m not entering again.”

Feb
13

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Plumlee, Bogdanovic shine in Rising Stars game

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The first night of All-Star Weekend is in the books, with team World topping team U.S.A. in this year’s Rising Stars game, 121-112.

In case you weren’t aware, didn’t care, fell asleep, etc. a couple of Brooklyn Nets took part in Mason Plumlee and Bojan Bogdanovic. Bogdanovic scored 16 points on 6-10 shooting from the field and 3-7 shooting from deep and Plumlee put on a MaSlam and MaSwat show with 13 points, nine rebounds and two on 5-7 shooting from the field.

Plumlee moves on to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest on All-Star Saturday night, closing out Nets participation in All-Star Weekend. Here’s some of what Plumlee had to say following the game:

Plumlee on transition looks in Rising Stars game versus regulation NBA games…

“Wish you could get easy ones like that. People get back in the regular season so it’s a little harder. This group is a little younger than our team.”

Plumlee on getting creative in the Dunk Contest…

“It is hard because at the end of the day you’re just throwing the ball through the hole so it’s like, how many ways can you do that. There have been so many dunk contests, so many great dunkers. It’s hard to come up with something new and original but we’re gonna try.”

Plumlee’s favorite Dunk Contest…

“Probably Vince Carter’s. That was the first one I remember watching. That was to me really one of the best ever.”

Plumlee on what he wants his next accolade to be…

“Make the Playoffs. We have a chance to, coming out of this break we have to make a push.”

Plumlee on how the Nets can make the Playoffs…

“I think the break is going to help. Get rested, get refreshed and then form there we have to be able to put wins together. We have to be able to string four, five together and that’s what we did after the break last year so we’ve shown we can do it but this is the time to make it happen.”

Feb
13

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Trending in Brooklyn: Synergy Edition!

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To the joy of bloggers and NBA nuts everywhere, Synergy Sports has returned with stats now available on NBA.com.

[INSERT HALLELUJAH MUSIC HERE]

To celebrate, I’m doing a special Synergy edition of Trending in Brooklyn, so let’s go ahead and dive into some of the more interesting Nets Synergy stats from this season: Read More

Feb
12

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Q+A with Bojan Bogdanovic at ASW 2015

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A day prior to the Rising Stars game at Barclays Center, Nets wing Bojan Bogdanovic answered some questions about his rookie season. Here are some of his quotes, edited for brevity.

On the Rising Stars game as a learning experience…

“I’m one of the oldest guys, they have to learn from me! I’m joking, but there’s so many players we can learn something from eachother.”

Looking ahead to the second half of the season…

“We started to play a little bit better. I know this break is going to be good for everybody to get better mentally and physically and hopefully after the All-Star break we’re going to start playing like we have to.”

On Mason Plumlee in the Dunk Contest…

“I talked a little bit with him about that. He didn’t know what to do so I don’t know, it’s going to be a surprise for everybody.”

On adjusting to the NBA game…

“It’s not easy for a European player first year especially first couple of months, but I feel much better now. trying to be better every day.”

On how content he is on the first half of the season…

“I’m happy with my minutes but I know we can play much better as a team and I hope we’re going to start playing like that.”

On friendship with Mirza Teletovic…

“He’s at home trying to be better and healthy for next season. I talked a lot with him before I came here, so he helped me a lot, he helped me adjust to many things in the NBA.”

On the toughest player to guard…

“Every night it’s tough in the NBA. Too many good players.”

Feb
12

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Former Net Anthony Mason is Fighting for his Life

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Former New Jersey Net, Anthony Mason is “literally fighting for his life” due to a serious congestive heart ailment, according to multiple reports. It is reported that the issues have been going on for the last year. Adding to the problem is that Mason’s weight has gotten as high as 350 pounds which is approaching 100 pounds above his playing weight.

Anthony Mason, now 48 years old, suffered a heart attack and has reportedly undergone four heart surgeries at a New York hospital.

Anthony Mason played for six teams in his 13-year career which included the Nets when the franchise was in New Jersey during the 1989-90 season. He averaged only 1.8 points per game in 21 games that year.

Anthony Mason is cult figure in New York. His style of play always endeared himself to Knicks fans. Prayers go out to him and his family from the folks here at Brooklyn’s Finest.

Feb
11

By

Recap: Brooklyn Nets 86, Memphis Grizzlies 95

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Fresh off of back-to-back losses and playing in their fourth game in five nights, the Brooklyn Nets trailed throughout tonight’s game in Memphis against the (39-13) Grizzlies. Turnovers and poor shooting were an early theme for the Nets in their 95-86 loss, and they’ll enter the All-Star break at 21-31 and still a game back of the eighth spot in the East.

BOX SCORE

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Feb
10

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Three Man Weave: Week 16 Edition

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It’s been a few weeks now since the Brooklyn Nets simply left us frustrated - instead of downright despondent - after a week of basketball. Since compiling a 3-1 record from December 29th to January 4th the Nets then went 0-4, 1-3, 1-2, and 0-2 in the ensuing weeks, before showing signs of life again in Week 15 of the season. The Nets’ 3-1 week coincided with the return of point guard Deron Williams to the rotation, after the three-time-All-Star missed 11 games with a fractured rib cartilage injury. The team’s record in those 11 games? 2-9.

In his four games since returning, Deron’s played at least 26 minutes in each as the backup to Jarrett Jack. Monday’s home contest against the Los Angeles Clippers served as his return and most successful game of the four, as he played for stretches alongside Jack in the backcourt and to close out the fourth quarter of a two-point victory, finishing with 15 points (5-8 field goals, 3-5 three-pointers, and 2-2 on free throws), 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 turnovers in 29 minutes.

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