Because the commerce deadline approaches, groups typically get distracted.
If something, the Nets appear decided.
Earlier than the Nets’ Wednesday evening’s debacle towards the Wizards — their final earlier than the deadline — that they had gained a season-high three consecutive video games.
However they ended up stumbling towards the league’s sorriest staff and did not win a fourth straight, which might have been their longest streak since 2022-23, and got here up woefully quick.
And this in a season the place they’re tanking, the place they’ve already traded away Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith whereas Cam Johnson, Day’Ron Sharpe and Nic Claxton are all linked to commerce rumors.
However all three suited up Wednesday and had been accessible hours earlier than the deadline, a telltale signal.
Sources have instructed The Submit that Brooklyn wasn’t and nonetheless isn’t procuring Johnson.
Whereas all conditions are fluid across the deadline, one other staff was going to have to show the Nets’ head with a last-minute supply as a result of they weren’t making calls soliciting one.
However Johnson’s title had continuously come up in rumors because the season began, they usually solely acquired louder when Schroder and Finney-Smith had been shipped to the Warriors and Lakers, respectively.
At this level, blocking out the rumors has nearly develop into outdated hat for Johnson, Sharpe, Claxton and the remainder of the Nets. Schroder ended up with the Jazz as a part of Wednesday’s Jimmy Butler commerce.
Holmes throughout the Nets’ 119-102 loss to the Wizards on Feb. 5, 2025. Jason Szenes for New York Submit
“I believe our group has dealt with it nice as a result of if you concentrate on it, our group has been concerned in talks from the start, proper?” coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned. “I believe that’s the explanation why they only saved working and hold competing. And these previous couple of days [are] not completely different than no matter weeks in the past when some trades occurred.
“So I believe the very fact we’ve been concerned in issues, it made [it] extra like a standard factor for us. And also you noticed it [Tuesday]; guys performed onerous, and I’m anticipating our guys to play onerous. Clearly, if any individual wants to speak to anybody or has questions or regardless of the case could also be, we’re open to speak to them like we’ve all the time been. It’s a part of the enterprise and now we have just a few hours left right here.”
The commerce deadline is 3 p.m. Thursday.
Although Nets basic supervisor Sean Marks likes to function in stealth mode, taking specific pleasure in not letting the media or opposing entrance places of work guess his subsequent transfer, studying the room and the tea leaves may give hints about which path he’s leaning.
Listening to sources across the league, and — extra importantly — watching what the Nets really do suggests there’s nothing seismic imminent.
Johnson had missed six straight video games with an ankle harm whereas he was concurrently being linked in commerce rumors.
However after Johnson instructed The Submit that he’d been assured Marks would come to him if something was brewing, he performed for the primary time since Jan. 21.
That return was a certain signal of him not being moved.
“It’s nice to have [Johnson],” Fernandez mentioned. “It’s all the time nice to have him every time we’ve had the possibility to have him within the lineup, for apparent causes. Management in the appropriate method, he creates consideration, he makes everybody’s life simpler; not simply his teammates but additionally me. So it’s nice to have him, nice connector, nice chief.”
If the Nets supposed to maneuver Johnson or had been severely contemplating a suggestion, it’s unlikely they might have performed him towards the Wizards — particularly after he had missed 15 of the prior 18 video games and had a viable excuse to take a seat.
Claxton even began Tuesday’s win over the Rockets regardless of a damaged nostril suffered within the earlier recreation in Houston, and Sharpe was accessible regardless of being questionable with a hamstring harm.
Claxton mentioned these Nets haven’t been distracted in any respect by the commerce discuss.
“In case you take a look at it like lots of people play proper now, they don’t have anything to lose. So we’re simply going out and simply enjoying as onerous as we are able to as a result of we don’t have [anything] to lose,” Claxton mentioned. “It’s a golden alternative for lots of gamers they usually’re doing an excellent job profiting from it. In order that’s the place we’re with it.”