Noah Clowney is walking into the kind of season that can change how a team looks at him - and maybe how much it’s willing to pay to keep him around.
The Brooklyn Nets passed on giving Clowney a rookie-scale contract extension before last Monday’s deadline, which means the 22-year-old forward is now headed toward restricted free agency next summer. He has to earn his next deal on the floor, and the path to doing that may look a lot different now than it did a year ago.
Clowney is coming off a season where he put up 12.3 points and 4.1 rebounds across 66 games, including 60 starts. There were clear signs of promise in that stretch, but his efficiency still left something to be desired. This year, the challenge is less about proving he belongs and more about proving he can deliver in a new role.
That’s because Brooklyn brought in Julius Randle over the offseason, giving the roster another proven forward next to Michael Porter Jr. With Randle set to start at power forward, Clowney is expected to spend a lot more time coming off the bench. That means fewer minutes, fewer touches, and fewer chances to create with the ball in his hands.
Clowney doesn’t seem rattled by the change.
"We're professionals. You should be able to adjust to a new role," Clowney said when discussing the possibility of playing fewer minutes. He acknowledged that it might take a few games to get comfortable, but he isn't treating the change as a major concern.
That attitude will matter. Brooklyn doesn’t need him to replicate last season’s starter-level production.
What the Nets want is much simpler: defend, rebound, hit open shots, and bring energy when he checks in. If he can do those things on a steady basis, he should still fit into Jordi Fernández’s rotation.
Fernández has been direct about what he wants from the young forward.
"Yeah, I've seen consistency from him, and that's the key. If he can provide that to the group, Noah is going to help us win a lot of games," Fernández said.
The Nets still see plenty to like. Clowney’s length, his shooting touch and his ability to get to the free-throw line make him an intriguing piece for a 22-year-old forward. The next step is turning that toolkit into something more dependable, especially on the boards and on the defensive end.
And while not getting an extension can sting, it doesn’t mean Brooklyn is done with him. The roster is still fluid, and neither Randle nor Porter is locked into being part of the team’s long-term picture.
If either of those forwards moves on down the line, Clowney could get another crack at a starting role. That depends on both his own play and how the roster shakes out, but this season doesn’t have to define his future with the organization.
For now, the focus is on what comes next. Restricted free agency will give Clowney a chance to find out what else is out there, while Brooklyn will keep the right to match any offer sheet he signs elsewhere. A strong season would put him in a much better position when those talks come around next summer.
Improving his rebounding, becoming more efficient offensively, and showing he can defend consistently would all help his case. He doesn’t need to force things or chase stats to make his point. If he plays within the offense and makes an impact with the minutes he gets, he’ll strengthen the argument for a future in Brooklyn.
The Nets haven’t closed the door on him. Fernández has spoken positively about his upside, and the organization still has reason to believe Clowney can be part of what comes next.
So the starting job may be gone for now, but the opportunity isn’t. Clowney has plenty to prove this season, and the way he handles the adjustment could go a long way toward deciding what happens after it.
In Other News...
Nets Must Reshape Their Backcourt Again After Egor Dmin Setback
The Nets are already making another adjustment to their backcourt rotation after Egor Dmin was diagnosed with a right leg bone bruise and sent for a re-evaluation in one week. Head coach Jordi Fernndez said Dmin is in good spirits and there is no concern about a long-term issue, but the timing still matters for a team that has been trying to sort out its guard minutes early in the season. Brooklyn also quietly reinforced its long view on the young core by picking up third-year team options for the 2027-28 season on Dmin, Nolan Traor, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf.
For now, though, the immediate focus is on who absorbs Dmins minutes while he sits out at least four games. The setback came during a stretch when Brooklyn was already navigating lineup changes, and it leaves the Nets waiting on both the injury update and the next chance to see how their backcourt pieces fit together once he is cleared to return. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Forced Into Another Backcourt Adjustment After Egor Demin Scare
The Nets are bracing for another backcourt shuffle after Egor Demin was sidelined with a right leg injury, adding another complication to a rotation that has already had to absorb a series of moving parts. Brooklyn is still sorting through its guard options as it tries to keep the pieces in place, and the timing is hardly ideal with the schedule offering little room to settle things down.
Demin has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his right leg and will be reevaluated in one week, which means the Nets will have to cover his minutes without much certainty about when he can return. He is expected to miss at least four games, starting Friday against the Pistons, leaving Brooklyn to make yet another adjustment while it waits for a clearer update. [Read more 🡒]
Chaney Johnson Is Forcing A Real Nets Rotation Conversation
Chaney Johnson has spent his second year with the Nets making it harder to ignore what he brings every time he gets on the floor. He has been a steady presence for Jordi Fernndez across summer league, preseason and regular season play after signing a two-way qualifying offer, and his latest showing against Boston fit the pattern of a player who keeps strengthening his case for a longer look.
Against the Celtics, Johnson gave Brooklyn exactly the kind of dependable two-way minutes that can quietly reshape a bench. He has created a real rotation discussion by challenging other players for time, and the ripple effects have already been felt in how Fernndez has been sorting out the back end of the roster. [Read more 🡒]