• Grizzlies To Sign Charles Bassey
• Bennedict Mathurin Out With Toe Sprain
• Luka Doncic Out Multiple Games With Finger, Leg Injuries
• Heat Didn’t Know About Terry Rozier Investigation When Trade Took Place
• 2025 NBA G League Draft Results
• Latest On Lakers’ Sale
• Pelicans Sign DeAndre Jordan To One-Year Deal
• Latest On Arrests Of Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier

Eastern Notes: Nets, Giannis, Barlow, Sixers, Plumlee

Nets ownerJoe Tsai raised some eyebrows bystating during a recent panel appearance that his team is prioritizing a good draft pick in 2026 and that, as a result,“You can predict what kind of strategy we will use for this season.”Asked on Sunday about that remark, head coachJordi Fernandez deftly put a positive spin on it,tweets Brian Lewis of The New York Post.

“He says he wants a good draft pick because no matter where we pick, our front office is so good we’re going to pick a very good player,”Fernandez said.“… So whatever we pick, that’s why he’s excited, because we’re going to pick right.”

Despite Fernandez’s spin, the general consensus is that it will be a challenging season for the Nets, who are incorporating five rookies and traded away second-leading scorerCameron Johnson over the summer. Still, it’s worth noting that Fernandez’s team outperformed expectations last season by winning 26 games after beingwidely viewed as the NBA’s worst team entering the year.

We have more from around the Eastern Conference:

• Bucks forwardGiannis Antetokounmpo took part in five-on-five work at Saturday’s practice and the plan is for him to make his preseason debut on Sunday against Chicago, according to head coachDoc Rivers (Twitter link via Eric Nehm of The Athletic). Antetokounmpo got off to a late start this fall due to a case of COVID-19 that forced him to miss the first several days of training camp.
• Sixers forwardDominick Barlow is making a strong case for a promotion from his two-way contract to a standard deal with his play this preseason, contendsKeith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. I’d be surprised if Philadelphia is in any rush to fill its 15th roster spot due to the luxury tax implications, but Barlow is well positioned for rotation minutes to open the season. He even has a chance to be the team’s starting power forward untilPaul George is ready to suit up, suggests Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link).
• TheSixers are namingJP Clark the head coach of their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). Clark, who has previously worked for the Clippers and Celtics, is being promoted from his role as Blue Coats assistant.
• Mason Plumlee is the experienced veteran among a group ofHornets centers that features 23-year-oldsMoussa Diabate andRyan Kalkbrenner, but he said this week that he didn’t sign with Charlotte as a free agent just to be a mentor and leader, asRoderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer writes.“I think I have a lot to offer, especially the young guys in my position,”Plumlee said. “But my understanding is we’re playing to win this year. So, that was my interest in coming here and I want to contribute to that.”

• Categories:
• Brooklyn Nets
• Charlotte Hornets
• Milwaukee Bucks
• NBA G League
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Dominick Barlow
• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• JP Clark
• Joe Tsai
• Jordi Fernandez
• Mason Plumlee

2 thoughts on “Eastern Notes: Nets, Giannis, Barlow, Sixers, Plumlee”

1. The Big D aka Buy The Dip•2 weeks ago

   Hornets do have a lot of talent and an interesting roster, but most these guys are accustomed to losing. Lee gonna have to pull something out of a hat to make them competitive

   Reply
2. AncientOne•2 weeks ago

   Don’t like that Jordi has to do damage control for the dumb owner. They better not fire him, because that is the supposed plan to lose.

   Reply