Nets coach Jordi Fernandez – retaining Nic Claxton a ‘priority’

NEW YORK — New Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez wasted no time making his emotions recognized concerning the roster — and, particularly, the standing of unrestricted free agent heart Nic Claxton, who Fernandez stated was a “priority” to retain in free company.

“Nic is a quote-unquote big that has defensive versatility,” Fernandez stated at his introductory information convention on the staff’s apply facility overlooking New York Harbor on Wednesday morning. “I believe he’ll be Defensive Player of the Year. For us, he’s a priority in this summer, and the way we can play through him — obviously he’s great in pick-and-roll, he’s quick to the rim, he puts pressure on the rim — but also his ability to play the dribble-handoff game which, as you guys know, lately in the NBA is a style that is very efficient.

“When everyone touches the ball and everyone’s concerned, everyone’s happier. You’re more durable to protect as a result of there’s extra … you are not that predictable to simply play decide-and-roll. So he suits completely what we need to do shifting ahead.”

Claxton, a long, athletic 6-foot-11 center, is coming off a season where he finished with averages of 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 62% from the field. The first pick of the second round in the 2019 NBA draft, Claxton — who signed a two-year deal two summers ago — is an early entry into unrestricted free agency, having just turned 25 a week ago.

But Fernandez, along with Nets general manager Sean Marks, made it clear that Claxton remains an important part of the team’s plans.

“I feel Nic is the No. 1 precedence for us,” Marks said. “There’s little doubt about that. We hope he is a Net for a very very long time. We hope we will proceed to construct round him and construct with him and so forth.

“I think he’s scratched the surface on who he could end up being one day. I love the challenge of him being Defensive Player of the Year. Nic and I have talked in the offseasons about similar accolades, Most Improved Player, Defensive Player, All-Defensive team and so forth. So, I think he has the skill set, he has the mind to be able to put himself in those positions if he continues to work and continue to develop.”

Brooklyn opened final season 15-15 earlier than infamously tanking a dwelling recreation towards the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 27, sitting 5 gamers fully and resting three others after the primary quarter. The backside fell out after that, with Brooklyn going a dismal 17-35 over the ultimate 52 video games to shut the season with the franchise’s worst file because the 2017-18 season, and snapping a streak of 5 consecutive playoff appearances.

Fernandez, nevertheless, stated that a turnaround might occur shortly, and stated flatly that he expects outcomes to occur straight away as he takes on his new function after spending the previous two years working as Mike Brown’s lead assistant with the Sacramento Kings, and spending a number of years earlier than that working beneath Michael Malone with the Denver Nuggets.

He additionally coached Team Canada to a bronze medal in final yr’s FIBA World Cup, and can coach the Canadians — one of many prime medal threats exterior of Team USA — within the Paris Olympics later this yr.

“We will see results right away,” Fernandez stated. “This industry is about getting results and getting better. So how much are you gonna get better? It’s how we believe the process is important.

“We know that there is correct steps to take and we’ll see enchancment straight away. But an important factor to me is to imagine in staff success over private success. Because as you guys know, you realize, myself, I feel it is a clear instance, I’d not be sitting right here if Sacramento isn’t profitable, if Canada isn’t profitable, and it isn’t about me. It was concerning the group, the gamers, myself. I had a job and all of us have a function.

“So I believe that I had to do my job very well. And then the outcome would help every single one of us that was part of that winning team.”