D’Angelo Russell’s name still carries real weight in Brooklyn, and if the Nets decide to bring him back, there’s a clear basketball case for it.
Russell remains one of the most popular players to ever wear a Nets uniform, and that affection traces back to the first time he was in town. He helped drag Brooklyn out of the basement and into the playoffs over the course of two years, giving the franchise a pulse again.
His run included the kind of moment Nets fans never forget: a 27-point 4th-quarter performance that sparked a comeback from a 25-point 4th-quarter deficit in a win over the Sacramento Kings in March 2019. Add in the viral sideline dance moves and the “D’Lo” ice-in-his-veins celebration, and he became more than a good player - he became the face of the franchise before Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving arrived.
That path eventually made Russell the piece Brooklyn moved to bring in Durant and Irving, and while the star era didn’t go the way anyone expected, Russell found his way back for a second stint. He took back his No. 1 and starting point guard role, though he wasn’t the same All-Star-level player Nets fans had first fallen for. Even so, he leaned into being a mentor and kept speaking positively about the organization, hoping Brooklyn would be his long-term landing spot.
Now, with the Memphis Grizzlies having waived him, another return is at least on the table if the Nets want it.
From a roster-building standpoint, the fit is obvious. Brooklyn’s priority is to give Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Demin as many on-ball reps as possible, with Nolan Traore expected to get meaningful bench minutes. Russell wouldn’t change that plan, but he could add something valuable around it: veteran point guard stability and a steady hand for young guards learning how to run an offense in a market as demanding as New York.
That’s where his experience matters. Russell has already been the guy who helped turn this franchise around once, and that makes him a natural resource for Demin, Brown and the rest of Brooklyn’s young group as they navigate the ups and downs of a season.
He could also help keep the offense organized with Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. on the roster, setting both up for cleaner looks as games unfold.
And beyond all of that, there’s the simple nostalgia factor. Seeing D’Lo in a Brooklyn Camo uniform again would feel right.
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Brooklyns decision to waive Nick Pringle fits the same pattern of teams trimming down the edges of their camp lists as the regular season gets closer. The Clippers also moved on from Jason Preston and Hunter Sallis, and Detroit signed Brice Williams to an Exhibit 10 deal, underscoring how little margin there is for players trying to stick at this stage, especially for those hoping to turn a brief camp look into a longer runway somewhere in the organization. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Camp Battle Could Decide Which Young Forwards Actually Matter
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Minott arrives with a fresh two-year contract, while Clowney is now in the final year of his rookie deal, giving this camp battle an added layer of significance for both the present and the near future. Jordi Fernndez will have the final say on which forwards fit his approach, and for a young group trying to carve out a role, that decision could shape how much of the rotation is truly up for grabs when the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Camp Puts Big Pressure On Two First Round Rookies
Brooklyns two first-round picks arrived with different kinds of promise, but both Mikel Brown Jr. and Joshua Jefferson are stepping into camp with something to prove. Brown, taken as a raw scorer with real upside, is already being mentioned as a possible challenger for the starting point guard job, while Jefferson projects more as a developmental frontcourt piece who could grow into a backup role if his game comes along quickly.
Under Jordi Fernandez, there does not appear to be much room for slow starts or guaranteed minutes, which makes training camp a particularly useful first test for both rookies. Brown will have to show he can handle the pace and responsibility of a lead guard role, and Jefferson will need to carve out his place in a crowded rotation picture, with both young players trying to turn draft-night optimism into an actual opening-night role. [Read more 🡒]