Terance Mann found himself in the early stages of a rebuilding project when he was traded to the Nets last summer, but he believes the team is headed in the right direction after a few offseason additions, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe writes in a subscriber-only story. Speaking at his annual youth basketball camp in the Boston area, Mann discussed the possibility of a quick turnaround.
“It’s amazing to be a part of it,” he said. “To be a pioneer and help turn the corner for this organization. That’s really what my goal is, to try to be (a) cornerstone at that. It was very different. The organization had things they needed to accomplish. They had their own goals. It was a different situation than I was in in L.A. with the Clippers or even Atlanta with the Hawks. I grew really close with the guys on the team and we’re ready to tackle this year.”
Mann was reportedly involved in trade discussions this summer, but the Nets opted to hold onto him, in part because of his effectiveness as a leader for the team’s collection of young players last season. At only 29, it’s not a role that Mann was used to, but he was able to make it work.
“It was definitely an adjustment at the beginning, but as the year went on, it got easier,” he said. “I took guys under my wings, showed them the dos and don’ts about the league, and these guys are growing and it’s good to see. We’ve done some things this summer already, where we can get to know each other, play with each other. We’re well on the way to getting comfortable.”
There’s more on the Nets:
Brooklyn will have to improve one of the league’s worst defenses to have a chance to be successful, observes Brian Lewis of The New York Post (subscription required). The Nets ranked sixth from the bottom in defensive rating last year at 118.2, and they’re counting on more ball pressure to disrupt opponents. The February trade for Josh Minott, who signed an extension this summer, and the signing of Keon Ellis are steps in that direction, Lewis states.
Day’Ron Sharpe, who had the best individual defensive rating on the team last season, is ready to take over as the starting center following the trade of Nic Claxton to Chicago, Lewis adds in the same piece. Sharpe doesn’t protect the rim as well as Claxton, but he ranks second in deflections among all returning Nets. “From (Sharpe’s) standpoint, it’s an opportunity, right? And Day’Ron deserves that opportunity,” general manager Sean Marks said. “He’s put a lot of work in over the last couple of years. You can see the physical changes, you can see the confidence with which he’s played with. He’s been in our gym really religiously all summer long already. So he knows what’s ahead of him. And he knows the expectations that he’s put on himself. So again, excited to see — not only for Day’Ron, but for a lot of guys: Do they seize this opportunity?”
Coach Jordi Fernandez talks about the importance of adding a proven scorer and low-post presence like Julius Randle in the latest edition of the team’s “The Bridge” video series (YouTube link). “Julius is an established, all-star playoff player, a player that is going to come here and show everybody else how it’s done. I’m very excited to get to coach him, and for him to raise the floor,” Fernandez said.