As the Brooklyn Nets return from the NBA All-Star break, all eyes are on the potential debut of their recent trade acquisitions, Josh Minott and Ochai Agbaji. While these names might not be lighting up marquees across the league, head coach Fernandez is confident in their potential impact.
Brooklyn's moves at the NBA Trade Deadline brought in Minott from the Boston Celtics and Agbaji from the Toronto Raptors. Despite being seen as salary dumps by their former teams, Fernandez sees something more in these players. He’s excited about what they can bring to the table, especially in terms of defensive intensity.
"We know they’re very good players. That’s why they’re here,” Fernandez stated, emphasizing the value they add to the team’s defensive strategy.
He’s particularly focused on their ability to apply pressure on the ball, a crucial element of the Nets' game plan. “Every time you can apply ball pressure - full-court or half-court - you can create turnovers and deflections and make the other team uncomfortable late in the clock," Fernandez explained.
"We believe those guys can do that, and I’m excited to watch them play.”
However, fans will have to wait a bit longer to see Minott in action. He's been assigned to the Long Island Nets, the team's NBA G League affiliate, along with Ben Saraf. This assignment means Minott will miss Thursday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Nets are also dealing with the absence of top big man Nic Claxton, who suffered a sprained ankle during practice. His injury paves the way for more minutes for Day'Ron Sharpe and Danny Wolf, as they step up to fill the void.
With Agbaji being more of a guard and the team already deep in that position, it remains to be seen how he’ll be utilized. But the potential is there, and Fernandez is keen on integrating these new talents into the lineup.
As Brooklyn navigates these changes, fans can look forward to seeing how these new additions might shape the team's defensive identity moving forward.