The Brooklyn Nets’ strategy of prioritizing draft picks over wins is being tested by an upcoming matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.,Despite their own struggles, the Nets have shown recent improvement, with young players like Noah Clowney and Danny Wolf emerging.The Brooklyn Nets, more than a quarter of the way through their season, are facing a complex challenge to their ‘tanking’ strategy. In the early weeks, they have competed against fellow struggling teams like the Wizards (3-18) and Pacers (4-18), and have split a series with the rebuilding Hornets (6-16). Most recently, the Nets lost at home to the Jazz (8-13) by 13 points on Thursday. Historically underdogs this season, the Nets (5-17) now face their most significant hurdle in an anticipated matchup against the lowly Pelicans (3-20) on Saturday at Barclays Center.
Nets coach Jordi Fernández acknowledged the team’s effort despite the recent loss. “I think our guys really care,” Fernández said. “And because they care, they’re going to come back in the next game, they’re going to focus and try to stay focused all the way through. You have to fight through physical fatigue and mental fatigue, which I get it, it’s not easy. But I give the guys credit [with] how much they work, how much they care, and they try their best.”
Unlike the Nets, the Pelicans’ struggles offer no draft lottery benefit, as they have already surrendered their 2026 first-round pick to acquire rookie Derik Queen. Their season has been further disrupted by injuries and front office issues. For the game in Brooklyn, New Orleans is expected to be without star Zion Williamson (adductor), and potentially Jordan Poole (quad) and Herb Jones (calf). The Nets, already missing second-leading scorer Cam Thomas (hamstring), might counter by sitting leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. (back soreness), who has missed three of the last five games. Porter is not on the official injury report, but Fernández noted after resting him for injury management on Thursday, “That last game, I didn’t see him moving well. It was muscle-related.”
Despite being in a ‘tanking’ mode for the second consecutive season, the Nets’ young roster is showing signs of improvement. After an initial 1-12 start, they have gone 4-6 in their last ten games, winning two of their past three. Third-year player Noah Clowney is averaging over 20 points in his last seven games. Rookie Danny Wolf has made an impact since receiving significant minutes, recording 17 points, nine rebounds, and three assists against the Jazz. Former lottery pick Ziaire Williams scored 23 points off the bench. Even veteran Nic Claxton, the team’s leading rebounder (7.5) and shot-blocker (1.3), is averaging a career-high 13.5 points and has shown significant development as a playmaker, averaging 6.3 assists in his last three games. Claxton is also leading the team in assists (4.2) this season, a notable increase from his previous seasons.
Fernández expressed confidence in Claxton’s evolving role. “I trust him,” Fernández said. “He’ll make the right play for his teammates. Sometimes, it will be to eat up the space, and if they go under, try to give a good angle on the handoffs. He’s done a good job with screening assists, too. And some other times he has to be aggressive and take it to the rim. That’s why I’ve used him to bring the ball up at times and give him more freedom, even use him as a ball-handler on pick-and-rolls. That’s why he’s free to make those reads and help his teammates.”
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