The Brooklyn Nets are not resting in their search for talent. After making their renowned Mikal Bridges move during the 2024 offseason, the Nets acquired several promising young players. In addition to trading for Ziaire Williams from the Memphis Grizzlies, the Nets resigned Keon Johnson to a multi-year deal. Sean Marks and the front office are not stopping there.
In early September, it was reported the Nets were close to signing coveted Chinese guard Yongxi "Jacky" Cui to a two-way deal. In late September, the Nets made Cui's deal official, per a team press release. In addition, Brooklyn has signed former Detroit Pistons lottery pick Killian Hayes and former second-round picks and G League guards Tyrese Martin and Amari Bailey, the team announced.
A background of each new Nets signee
Yongxi Cui hails from the Guangzhou Lions of the CBA. He is a former NBA Global Academy attendee who was regarded as one of the top prospects in China. Cui had two strong seasons with the Lions before joining the Nets. During the 2022-23 season, he averaged 11.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and shot 37.1 percent on his three-pointers. Then, he improved to averages of 15.9 points and 5.9 rebounds on 35.6 percent three-point shooting in 2023-24. During one of Guangzhou's Zhejiang Bulls matchups in January 2024, Cui erupted for 31 points and 10 rebounds.
Like Cui, Killian Hayes joins the Nets as a player who is touted as a high-level prospect. The Pistons selected Hayes with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He spent all of his first four seasons with the franchise and holds career averages of 8.1 points, 5.1 assists, and 1.2 steals in 26.1 minutes per game.
Meanwhile, Tyrese Martin was a late second-round Golden State Warriors draft pick from 2022. He has bided his time in the G League and played for the Iowa Wolves, an affiliate of the Minnesota Timberwolves, during the 2023-24 season. Martin averaged 17.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 steals in 33 regular season games.
Finally, Amari Bailey is a former 2023 second-round pick of the Charlotte Hornets. In 2023-24, Bailey spent most of his time with the team's G League affiliate Greensborough Swarm, where he averaged 19.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals in 23 games.
Each of the aforementioned signees possesses potential that could serve the Nets well as they continue their mission to acquire and develop young talent.