Brooklyn Nets fans will get a first look at their team when the Nets face the Los Angeles Clippers in their first 2024-25 preseason game on Oct. 8. The Nets will be fresh off the last leg of their training camp in San Diego. Jordi Fernandez has the intriguing task of putting together a competitive lineup, but one primary contributor, sixth-year center Nicolas Claxton, got an important availability update.
Claxton has participated some in training camp, but he will not play against the Clippers on Wednesday due to hamstring tightness, per Erik Slater of ClutchPoints. Hopefully, he will undergo a speedy and safe recovery.
In addition to Claxton, Trendon Watford and Day'Ron Sharpe are also being assessed with hamstring issues, Slater noted.
Claxton and Sharpe are central to the Nets' interior attack. Claxton should be a locked starter at the center position, while Sharpe will likely support him off the bench. During the 2023-24 season, Claxton averaged 11.8 points, a career-high 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks. He anchors the Nets' defense and first-year head coach Jordi Fernandez expects him to continue to do so in 2024-25.
Meanwhile, Day'Ron Sharpe is looking to take another step forward after averaging an earnest 6.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 15.1 minutes in 2023-24. Sharpe could solidify himself as Brooklyn's backup of the future with an expected role increase.
Surely, Brooklyn's medical staff will get Sharpe, Claxton, and Trendon Watford to full strength as they continue their preparations to enter the regular season.
Jordi Fernandez will get to experiment against the Clippers
If there is one thing Fernandez is not afraid to do, it is admit when he does not have the answers.
Nic Claxton will likely share the floor with Ben Simmons at some point during the season. However, there remain concerns about the pairing's fit together given their lack of floor spacing. When asked about this, Fernandez admitted he did not know but that he was not afraid to try the two out together and see how they do.
Claxton will not play against the Clippers, but Fernandez can still experiment with others at the center positon with Simmons. If Day'Ron Sharpe is healthy, he will be the perfect player to slot alongside Simmons to see how a potential dynamic would work, since Sharpe does not shoot threes.
Brooklyn will continue to practice in San Diego as the team navigates new lineup challenges.