After expressing multiple times in March that he’d like to remain in Brooklyn beyond this season, Nets guard D’Angelo Russell reiterated that desire in an exclusive interview with Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com.
“A lot of teams are rebuilding, but to be here and see this team rebuilding with the pieces that they have, I think the league will be on notice. They were on notice this year,” Russell said. “This group had a lot of good wins before I got here, and then when I got here, we beat a lot of good teams as well. I think just what the future holds with this group [is why I want to be back]. Obviously, what (head coach) Jordi (Fernandez) and (general manager) Sean (Marks) are creating, I’m familiar with it. Being somewhere familiar is something I’m definitely prioritizing.”
In 29 games with the Nets this season, Russell is averaging 12.9 points and 5.6 assists per contest. Even though his numbers have dipped since last season, he’s excited by the idea of serving as a mentor for the young Nets.
We have more from New York:
- With several new faces expected to join the team in this year’s draft (Brooklyn holds four first-round picks), the Nets‘ young players know they’re auditioning for roles moving forward, the New York Post’s Brian Lewis writes. “We’re not just out there playing,” big man Drew Timme said. “A lot of us are interviewing for our jobs.” Timme, Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin and Maxwell Lewis all have team options for next season, while other young players like Cam Thomas, Ziaire Williams, Trendon Watford, Day’Ron Sharpe and Reece Beekman all are slated to reach free agency.
- The Knicks went 1-11 combined in games against the Cavaliers, Celtics and Pistons this season and heading into a first-round matchup with Detroit, New York will need its wings to step up defensively and bear the responsibility of guarding Cade Cunningham, SNY’s Ian Begley writes. Specifically, the Knicks will be relying in the series on two players on whom they spent significant trade capital: Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.
- New York’s 1-11 record against those three teams this season was clinched when the Knicks blew a 23-point lead against the Cavs on Friday. Ahead of the playoffs, the Knicks are seeking urgency, Chris Herring of ESPN writes. “We’ve got to get it fixed, and we’ve got to get it fixed fast,” coach Tom Thibodeau said after Friday’s loss. “[We need to fix] everything. We’ve got to play for 48 minutes on both sides of the ball.“
I wrote this a month ago as well but if I’m NY, I’m not happy about playing the Pistons in Round one. That’s gonna be a tough series for them.
D’Lo doesn’t understand he will be lucky to get a try out this summer. He is now a bench player for offense. He will be competing with a dozen others for the same 10 minutes a game off the bench.
Russel isn’t going to have a problem getting a job next year.
Here is what you are missing. He will not be getting offers other than minimum contracts. He will wait out until its too late and take anything available. Only reason Nets took him was to free up money this off season knowing its a expiring contract.
That’s likely the reason he keeps talking about wanting to stay with the Nets and mentor the young guys. He sees the writing on the wall. Might as well play up that desire to be there and hope it is reciprocated. And it might just work for another year if the Nets decide on one more tanking season (hardly a guarantee, of course).
Net’s are not going to tank but bring in a real good free agent. Watch them offer a big contractto any of the pending big name free agents.
Yeah, probably. Just saying it can’t hurt for D’lo to try and cozy up to them in the meantime.
good riddance. i couldn’t believe Marks brought him back, but I guess it was part of his strategy to sabotage the team this season. The idea that D’Lo is better than Luke Kennard is silly now.
That was to free up the $16 million owed to Smith for next year. Nets can do a lot on the offseason since they will be the most under the cap of any team for free agents.
D-Lo is straight garbage, why does he get reported on like he’s a star?
Because people like you give bums nicknames like they are someone important.
I gave him the nickname D-Lo? You heard it here first! I totally dont use less letters to refer to players when possible on here.
DDC is a straight clown for this reply!
Can’t guard. Refuse to box out. Get exposed on every screen. Too much dribble Jalen. Hart can’t shoot. With Mitch on court, they’re playing 3 on 5 offensively. Live in city. Waiting years. Unfortunately will wait some more. Thibs isn’t the problem. The roster is. Too many small guards getting violated by more athletic bigger guards. Going nowhere if they refuse to guard, box the f out and hit open 3’s. And stow up to start the game and hit some frickin 3’s like most teams. I was nauseous watching them last night while freezing during yanks game. Had a blast inside though. Enjoy the playoffs boys!
Can’t blame them for pushing their chips in, but they were better last year. But now they’re all in on this starting 5..
The thing is if you’re gonna cash in all of those chips you need to be certain the guy you’re getting is THE guy in terms of talent and fit. Maybe the Knicks thought Bridges was that guy, but he’s turned out to be neither. Certainly not terrible in either regard, but well short of the price paid to acquire him.
The other part to this is isn’t not like the Knicks had a very small window where they absolutely had to act right away. They had some time. So it makes the swing and miss even more damning.
Russell wants a new contract. He is coming off 18.6 mill. Something he will never see again. Only way I see him coming back. Is if Nets draft a PG. This way they can ease him in. I still would find another option. You don’t need him showing young players how to steal money in NBA.
Sure would like to see Knicks buying one of those picks. Can pick up 4 there.
Didn’t realize Knicks were 1-3 vs Pistons. Doesn’t tell the whole story. Knicks were down players Dec 7 missing Towns. April 10 no OG or Hart. Still its eye opening. I still see them as favorites over Pistons. I’m taking it one game at a time. They better be ready. Can’t see Thibs not drilling this into their heads. Can’t even think about next round. Just glad we are healthy and ready.
I do Agree Bridges is the key in this series. He should get the most mins on Cade. Cade has been on a tear. I like him a lot. Bridges better show up. Time to show your worth “2WayBridges” …… NYK
I’m not looking past the first round. Never really do. But I don’t think a 50 win team. Has ever been 1-11 against the three teams they could face in playoffs.
Interesting huh ……
Knicks rolled the dice on Bridges and Towns. Both have shown their flaws. Flaws that get magnified. Cause Knicks never fixed their bench. Mitch is playing now. Landry has shown more offense. And everyone is healthy. Knicks can go 10 deep. That’s if Thibs chooses to. All about going forward now.
TJ were are you ??
Al, your passion, knowledge and often objective takes are appreciated. I agree with a good amount of what you post, but I don’t understand this TJ obsession. Would have been nice to give him a look on the roster, but the Knicks moves were dictated by injuries and the needs that came up when multiple bigs got hurt, along with their cap/apron situation.
TJ has played around 50+ NBA games the last 4 seasons. I doubt Thibs was gonna trust him for the bench rotation. Look how long it took Shamet to solidify his role, Payne to earn steady minutes, and how in and out Precious has been. And for the playoffs, rotations only get tighter.
I agree the bench has been an issue all season, but there was seemingly no way to properly fix that this season. And we also have to question how much of that is just Thibs being Thibs. I agree and hope this is just the start of the Knicks’ window with this core, and they make the proper tweaks in the off-season to address the obvious weaknesses
> Has ever been 1-11 against the three teams they could
> face in playoffs.
Al, an honest question(s) to a hard-core Knicks fan from somebody who’s not: why have the Knicks lost all these games to good teams?
(Coincidence is an acceptable answer, IMO. But I really don’t know.)
I don’t buy into the argument that outside of Brunson none of the players have been winners at the NBA level. But do you think that, given these losses and the narrative, this team now has something to prove to themselves?
Look honest answer is. Their bench has been weak all year. But especially the first 8 wks. Missing Mitch, Achiuwa, Landry. Missing players against Pistons too. Ok but even at full strength. Maybe its 4-8 or 5-7. Have always known we are relying on Mitch. And not a trade for our bench. Knicks had both Celtics and Cavs last two gms and lost. I know they take Knicks seriously. Cause they know they are capable of beating them. Its up to Knicks now. I’m not even thinking about anything else but Pistons. I feel good a
bout this series.
I said all year. Towns defense and Bridges leveling up. Would take us up a notch. Hasn’t been consistent yet. Still can happen
Al, As to a team’s weakness, it seems like some of those must be expected, no?
For example, the Warriors’ 3 best players are >= 35 years old, the oldest core in the league, so we all expect fatigue to be an issue. The Warriors went with proven winners, but there’s not a lot of wear left on those tires.
The Knicks chose to pay their starters more than other team in the NBA, so they can spend only $21M on players 7-15, lowest in the league. So, everybody reasonably expected the Knicks starters to grade “A/A-” and their bench to grade “C-/D+”.
It seems like the Knicks bench has been as expected, but the starters have been closer to a “B+” than “A/A-” We expected a Top 4-5 team, but we got a Top 8-10. That’s really what I was asking you about.
Their main scorers are bad defensively. Not average but bad. That doesn’t fly against good teams.
OG looked average w JB hogging ball – move the ball
D up
Box out
Or wait till 2035 for a ring
Nobody is expecting a ring. This is the first yr for this team practically. The fifth yr of rebuild. The bench is still a work in progress. Try and enjoy the ride. Not a finished product yet.