According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the Brooklyn Nets will play without two key role players due to injury for the foreseeable future. In a post on X, Begley noted that forward Trendon Watford and big man Day’Ron Sharpe each suffered a left hamstring strain. Furthermore, Begley said that Watford is expected to miss two weeks, whereas Sharpe is expected to miss six weeks. With this development, both players will likely miss at least the entirety of preseason.
Nets say Trendon Watford and Day’Ron Sharpe have each been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain. Next update for Watford will be given in 2 weeks, team says; next update for Sharpe will be given in six weeks. Both players suffered the injuries during practices last week.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 7, 2024
2 Brooklyn Nets Are Reportedly Sidelined Due to Injury
What Losing Trendon Watford and Day’Ron Sharpe Means for Brooklyn
Losing both of these players will hurt the Nets’ frontcourt depth. While neither player will likely start for the team (except for spot starts) this season, they are both solid role players. In their absences, the Nets will likely rely more heavily on players like Noah Clowney, as well as starters like Dorian Finney-Smith and Nic Claxton. Additionally, the return of Ben Simmons should be interesting. Though he is technically listed as a point guard, Simmons has experience playing both forward positions. Simmons can also play small ball center if needed.
A Recap of the Nets’ Offseason
The Nets made some interesting moves this summer. Most notably, the team moved on from wing Mikal Bridges and traded him to the New York Knicks. Furthermore, they traded Keita Bates-Diop and lost Lonnie Walker IV to the Boston Celtics. On the other hand, the Nets added a lot of intriguing pieces as well. The team acquired Bojan Bogdanovic and Shake Milton. Furthermore, they signed Killian Hayes, who aims to rejuvenate his career in Brooklyn.
Potentially Brooklyn’s most interesting move, however, is not the addition or loss of a player. This offseason, the Nets hired Jordi Fernandez as their new head coach. Fernandez coached Team Canada during this year’s Olympics and has been in the NBA system since 2009.
Where the Nets Stand in the East
Last season, the Nets finished with a 32-50 record. Additionally, they missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Following their Bridges trade, expectations are that the Nets are officially in a rebuilding phase. Ultimately, it seems unlikely they will turn into legitimate playoff contenders this season. However, there is a possibility they make an appearance in the Play-In tournament.
There is a lot to be excited about in Brooklyn. However, their roster, as currently constructed, seems to prioritize the future.
