How the latest Nets arrivals fit into the well-known rebuilding plan
The Brooklyn Nets, who traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, are going back to their tried and true rebuilding plan. Many of these are young reclamation projects that they are taking a gamble on. ClutchPoints was informed by sources that Killian Hayes, a former seventh overall pick, has accepted to a one-year contract with the Nets that is not guaranteed.
Hayes, who turns 23 on Friday, had a difficult time contributing to the Detroit Pistons during his four seasons there. In three over 210 games, he averaged 8.1 points and 5.2 assists on 27.7 percent shooting. In February, the French prospect was cut by the Pistons, and general manager Troy Weaver blamed his lack of outside shooting for his failure in Detroit.
Nevertheless, Hayes still provides size, defence, and playmaking at point guard at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan. The player development department of Brooklyn will have the entire season to work on his three-point shooting and offensive game if he makes the squad. General manager Sean Marks is not the first former top overall pick to take a risk this offseason with Hayes.
Ziaire Williams, a forward, was acquired by Brooklyn from the Memphis Grizzlies. With a height of 6-foot-9, the 22-year-old Memphis draft pick (10th overall) in 2021 boasts exceptional size on the wing. After playing on a two-way basis the previous season, the 22-year-old Keon Johnson was also signed by the Nets to a normal two-year contract as a 2021 first-round pick.
Nets turning their focus back to player development
Similar to Hayes, both players have outstanding physical attributes but have had difficulty honing their offensive skill sets in their early seasons. Jordi Fernandez, Brooklyn’s first head coach, was selected in part because of his remarkable player development background. A number of coaches who have also demonstrated excellence in that area rounded out Fernandez’s nine-man group.
Throughout his time with the Nets, Marks has worked on reclamation projects before. He signed Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie from the G-League after taking over the team. Both players subsequently signed contracts worth more than $18 million a year and established themselves as elite rotation components.
When Dinwiddie and Harris first joined the league, they lacked the draft pedigree of Hayes, Williams, or Johnson. When they signed with the Nets, they were likewise older than the other three. Dinwiddie signed at almost twenty-four, while Harris was two months shy of twenty-five.
Marks is hoping that the nearly free additions made this offseason will pay out in a similar way.
With the addition of Hayes, Williams, and Johnson to Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe, the Nets now have five first-round selections from the 2020 and 2021 rounds on their roster. Additionally, Noah Clowney, Jalen Wilson, and Dariq Whitehead—all 2023 draft selections—will continue to train with Brooklyn’s coaching staff.
10 players who are 25 years of age or younger are expected to report to training camp after the team re-signed Nic Claxton and Trendon Watford.
