NEW YORK — New Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez wasted no time making his emotions identified in regards to the roster — and, particularly, the standing of unrestricted free agent heart Nic Claxton, who Fernandez stated was a “precedence” to retain in free company.
“Nic is a quote-unquote huge that has defensive versatility,” Fernandez stated at his introductory information convention on the crew’s apply facility overlooking New York Harbor on Wednesday morning. “I consider he’ll be Defensive Participant of the Yr. For us, he is a precedence on this summer season, and the best way we will play via him — clearly he is nice in pick-and-roll, he is fast to the rim, he places strain on the rim — but in addition his capability to play the dribble-handoff sport which, as you guys know, currently within the NBA is a mode that could be very environment friendly.
“When everyone touches the ball and everyone’s concerned, everyone’s happier. You are tougher to protect as a result of there’s extra … you are not that predictable to only play pick-and-roll. So he suits completely what we wish to do shifting ahead.”
Claxton, a protracted, athletic 6-foot-11 heart, is coming off a season the place he completed with averages of 11.8 factors, 9.9 rebounds and a couple of.1 blocks per sport whereas taking pictures 62% from the sector. The primary decide of the second spherical within the 2019 NBA draft, Claxton — who signed a two-year deal two summers in the past — is an early entry into unrestricted free company, having simply turned 25 per week in the past.
However Fernandez, together with Nets normal supervisor Sean Marks, made it clear that Claxton stays an essential a part of the crew’s plans.
“I believe Nic is the No. 1 precedence for us,” Marks stated. “There is not any doubt about that. We hope he is a Web for a really very long time. We hope we will proceed to construct round him and construct with him and so forth.
“I believe he is scratched the floor on who he may find yourself being in the future. I really like the problem of him being Defensive Participant of the Yr. Nic and I’ve talked within the offseasons about related accolades, Most Improved Participant, Defensive Participant, All-Defensive crew and so forth. So, I believe he has the ability set, he has the thoughts to have the ability to put himself in these positions if he continues to work and proceed to develop.”
Brooklyn opened final season 15-15 earlier than infamously tanking a house sport in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 27, sitting 5 gamers fully and resting three others after the primary quarter. The underside fell out after that, with Brooklyn going a dismal 17-35 over the ultimate 52 video games to shut the season with the franchise’s worst file because the 2017-18 season, and snapping a streak of 5 consecutive playoff appearances.
Fernandez, nonetheless, stated {that a} turnaround may occur shortly, and stated flatly that he expects outcomes to occur straight away as he takes on his new position after spending the previous two years working as Mike Brown’s lead assistant with the Sacramento Kings, and spending a number of years earlier than that working underneath Michael Malone with the Denver Nuggets.
He additionally coached Group Canada to a bronze medal in final 12 months’s FIBA World Cup, and can coach the Canadians — one of many prime medal threats outdoors of Group USA — within the Paris Olympics later this 12 months.
“We’ll see outcomes straight away,” Fernandez stated. “This trade is about getting outcomes and getting higher. So how a lot are you gonna get higher? It is how we consider the method is essential.
“We all know that there is correct steps to take and we’ll see enchancment straight away. However crucial factor to me is to consider in crew success over private success. As a result of as you guys know, you already know, myself, I believe it is a clear instance, I’d not be sitting right here if Sacramento isn’t profitable, if Canada isn’t profitable, and it isn’t about me. It was in regards to the group, the gamers, myself. I had a job and all of us have a job.
“So I consider that I needed to do my job very nicely. After which the end result would assist each single one among us that was a part of that profitable crew.”
