Adam Armbrecht here, the host of the daily Locked On Nets podcast, with your daily Locked On Nets newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Nets and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Apr 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Trendon Watford (9) dribbles the ball agains Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris (12) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports|Bill Streicher/Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
As the Brooklyn Nets gear up for their next Emirates Cup match against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday evening, the focus is on rotations and the return of key players.
Trendon Watford made his season debut in Sunday’s 114-104 loss to the Knicks, playing 13 minutes while chipping in three rebounds, three assists, and four points. Watford represents one of the “flier guys” Sean Marks brought in a year ago.
While it took until the latter part of the 2023-24 season, Watford showcased his ball-handling, athleticism and perimeter shooting. Across the final 11 games of the year, Watford averaged 25 minutes and 13 points per game.
The Nets have been grappling with a shortage of ball handlers, making Trendon Watford’s versatility exactly what the current roster needs. With only one pure point guard in Dennis Schroeder and a mix of shooting guards like Cam Thomas and Keon Johnson, the team has been stretched thin in a critical role for any NBA roster.
Shake Milton, while seeing more minutes as the season has progressed, hasn’t made a significant impact, often finding himself lower on the depth chart. Though he brings added size to the back-court, to this point Jordi Fernandez has utilized wing depth over pure positional value.
The Nets’ current roster fluidity is largely due to Head Coach Jordi Fernandez’s willingness to adjust the pecking order. Ben Simmons, despite a $40m contract and name recognition, had been moved to a bench role until he could meet the team’s expectations.
Following Nic Claxton’s injury, however, Simmons was re-inserted into the starting five out of necessity. With Claxton out, the team has had to rely on a mix of veterans and young players to fill the gaps. Year over year the the roster has lacked traditional size, often going with small-ball lineups and length.
Ben Simmons does not replace Claxton 1:1. Likewise, Watford would not be the same player in place of Simmons. It is the different combinations that Fernandez could look at to maximize player value that puts Watford in prime position to shine.
Trendon Watford’s transition ability to set the table offensively is intriguing with players like Zaire Williams and Jalen Wilson coming in off the bench. Watford has the opportunity to integrate seamlessly into the lineup, becoming a key player in the second unit.
There is also the potential return of Day’Ron Sharpe from a hamstring injury that could further bolster the Nets’ lineup. Sharpe’s presence would add much-needed depth to the center position, a role that has been challenging to fill in Claxton’s absence.
His ability to contribute defensively and on the boards would be invaluable for a team that has struggled with rebounding.
The Nets’ current situation presents a unique opportunity for players like Watford and Sharpe to redefine their roles and prove their worth. With Fernandez at the helm, the team is poised to make strategic adjustments that could pay dividends as the season progresses.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Brooklyn Nets’ strategies and player developments, tune into the Locked On Nets podcast for this and much more.
The Sixers are no longer just bad, they’re cornered
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center|Photo by Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Look, I held off as long as I could, told myself it was only an awkward start. I looked to silver linings, to the tendency that things going wrong for this long tend to right themselves. I looked to the surrounding conditions for clues and when none revealed themselves, I decided to stay positive but now, it’s time: time to talk about the Philadelphia 76ers.
Beyond what Sixers fans know intimately and don’t need reiterated (things are bad), the mood around the franchise is starting to feel closer to cornered than merely frustrated. Last night, after a third quarter collapse against the Heat in Miami, the Sixers held a postgame meeting that lasted over an hour. The game already had a bizarre feel to it, Philly led by 19 before being down 20, and Joel Embiid went from being listed as doubtful to starting. No one on the Sixers roster looked especially comfortable, a trend that’s emerged throughout the team’s first full month of regular season play.
Slipping now to the bottom of the Eastern Conference, with a record of 2-11 I still feel the need to double check as I write this, one thing has become abundantly clear — the Sixers don’t have room to hedge.
There’s no scapegoat to pin the team’s shoddy performance on, not this early in the season. Even when healthy, and Embiid, George and Maxey are on the floor together, it’s been for naught. Both the teams wins came in arduous overtime, one without George and both without Embiid. The Sixers win against the Hornets was missing Maxey completely.
Here’s a problem I’ve wondered about since Daryl Morey landed George in what was declared an undisputed win for the franchise and the best move of the offseason — what about Philadelphia’s role players? To clear the books for cap space enough to sign George, Daryl Morey liquidated the team’s working roster — 13 of the team’s 15 man squad became free agents. Tobias Harrias and Nicolas Batum may not be spring chickens in NBA terms, but they provided the mechanical support the Sixers are now woefully lacking. This isn’t the Sixers only problem, that much has been made clear, but it’s a big one.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Biz Former NBA stars Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady are looking to buy a minority stake in the NFL’s Buffalo Bills (CityTV)
Must Read Knicks forward OG Anunoby says he’s tired of being known for his defensive prowess. (The Athletic, subscription required)
Analysis Check out the three key takeaways from the Nets’ weekend sweep by the Knicks. Learn what went wrong and what the team needs to improve moving forward. (NetsDaily)
3peat (ICYMI)
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Nets podcasts.
Brooklyn Nets swept in MSG by Knicks, waste Cam Thomas 43-point game The Brooklyn Nets played two games Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks over the weekend, losing a very close game at the buzzer on Friday night.
Nets get blown out by Celtics, Cam Thomas continues efficient play
Can the Brooklyn Nets bounce back after their crushing 139-114 defeat to the Boston Celtics? With key players like Ben Simmons and Dorian Finney-Smith absent, the Nets faced their first major setback of the season.
Cam Thomas, Ben Simmons, and Noah Clowney lead Brooklyn Nets over Pelicans
It took a fourth-quarter comeback against a banged-up New Orleans Pelicans team, but the Brooklyn Nets were able to get a win on the road. Cam Thomas hit some big shots late but only needed to take 10 field goals overall with the team having a balanced approach on offense.
