Jordi Fernandez is heading into his third year as the Nets’ head coach, but this season looks like his first real shot to coach a team that is trying to win in a more meaningful way. Brian Lewis of the New York Post points out that Fernandez has already taken on a difficult job across the past two seasons, when Brooklyn won 46 games combined during a major rebuild. The record hasn’t been pretty, but Lewis writes that Fernandez is hardly to blame for the mess around him.
Brooklyn still doesn’t project as a winning team this season, but there is at least a different kind of expectation now: the Nets will be trying to win more. That shift puts a spotlight on two veteran forwards who are expected to drive the offense, Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle.
Both have said they want to outperform outside expectations this year. Randle, in particular, remains the wild card - a skilled but uneven player whose best version could matter a lot for a roster still trying to define itself.
Lewis notes that if Fernandez can get the two-time All-NBA forward to play like he did for the Knicks beginning in 2019/20, it could go a long way toward giving the Nets some stability.
Fernandez’s reputation around the league appears to have grown even with Brooklyn’s struggles, and this season gives him a chance to show what he can do with a little more to work with.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic, the Knicks are mostly running it back after their championship season, with one significant change in the frontcourt. Mitchell Robinson is gone, and veteran Andre Drummond is in to take his place.
Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports writes that the Knicks’ front line could actually end up better than it was a year ago, even with Robinson’s departure.
Robinson was a valuable rebounder and defender, but Drummond brings elite work on the offensive glass too, and he can also shoot the ball, which should help open the floor for the Knicks’ attackers. Mike Brown may also keep experimenting with OG Anunoby at small-ball center, or use Mohamed Diawara at power forward alongside one of the team’s bigger centers.
Lewis also broke down Noah Clowney’s spot on the Nets roster, and the outlook suggests a return to the bench after he started 60 games last season. Entering his fourth season, Clowney needs to make real progress as a shooter if he wants to strengthen his standing long term. He shot 36.4% on 1.4 attempts as a 19-year-old rookie, but over the last two seasons that number has dropped to 33.1% on 5.8 attempts, which has pulled his overall field goal percentage down to 38.2% in that span.
In Philadelphia, Jabari Walker’s contract leaves him in a precarious position. Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice notes that Walker has only $250K guaranteed out of a $2.6MM deal until January 10, which raises the question of whether he can stay on the roster long enough to reach that date without being waived.
Walker impressed off the bench for the Sixers last season, but his chances are expected to be more limited now. His best path to sticking could come from proving he can handle backup center duties and bring toughness on defense, especially with Philadelphia thin behind Joel Embiid.
The current options there include Dominick Barlow, who is more of a natural power forward, along with Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti.
In Other News...
Nets Camp Puts Big Pressure On Two First Round Rookies
Training camp is bringing immediate attention to Brooklyns two first-round additions, with Mikel Brown Jr. and Joshua Jefferson arriving as the newest pieces in a roster that is still taking shape under Jordi Fernandez. Brown, taken by the Nets in the 2026 NBA Draft, comes in as a raw guard with clear scoring upside, while Jefferson profiles as a developmental frontcourt option whose path may depend on how quickly he settles into the NBA game.
For Brooklyn, the appeal is obvious, but so is the pressure. Brown could find himself in the mix for the starting point guard job, while Jefferson is looking at a potential role as a backup big man, and neither player is being handed anything as camp opens. With minutes up for grabs and competition already in place, the Nets will learn early how ready their two first-rounders are to turn promise into something more immediate. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Camp Battle Could Decide Which Young Forwards Actually Matter
The forward rotation is one of the more interesting pieces of Brooklyns preseason picture, with Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. set to open as the starters and the real fight coming behind them. That leaves a crowded group of Josh Minott, Danny Wolf, Noah Clowney and Joshua Jefferson competing for the backup minutes, a setup that gives the Nets both options and questions as camp unfolds.
Minott arrives with a new two-year contract, while Clowney is entering the final year of his rookie deal, adding a little extra weight to a battle that is about more than just filling out the bench. Coach Jordi Fernndez will sort through which of these forwards best fits his approach, and for a team trying to define its identity, the answer could help determine which young players actually become part of the plan. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Are Betting On One Risk Before Their Next Big Move
Sean Marks continues to frame the Nets' direction around patience, flexibility and internal growth, with the front office keeping its options open as the roster takes shape. The general manager pointed to the development of young players such as Julius Randle, Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr., while also stressing the value of cost-effective contracts as Brooklyn tries to keep its books clean for whatever comes next.
The appeal of that approach is obvious for a team still trying to build toward its next major move, but it also asks the Nets to trust the process in the present. For now, there are no confirmed trades or signings attached to Marks' comments, only a clear picture of an organization betting that young talent and financial flexibility can set up the real opportunity when it arrives. [Read more 🡒]