For the first time in years, the Brooklyn Nets will be doing double-duty in the summer, adding three games at the Sacramento-based California Classic in early July to their already scheduled minimum of five games at the Las Vegas Summer League.
The announcement came via Tweet from the Nets official account…
The Classic is co-sponsored by the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors. In addition to the three games the Nets will play at Golden 1
Center in Sacramento, three other games involving three other teams will be played at Chase Center in San Francisco. Classic games are normally carried on NBA TV.
The news re the California Classic means the Nets will play a minimum of eight games between July 4, the beginning of the California Classic and July 19, the end of the Vegas Summer League. Following the close of the Classic, they will travel to Vegas and play a minimum of five games in Vegas. That schedule could be extended by a couple of more games depending on how far the Nets advance in the championship round.
The Nets decision was based in large part on just how many of their roster players are young. The roster this past season was the league’s youngest in the last 20 years, per Sean Marks. By season’s end included five first round picks — an NBA record — who can be expected to play in one or both leagues, depending on health. Egor Demin missed the last month of the season due to increased plantar fasciitis in his left foot. At the time, the Nets said Dëmin is expected to be a “full participant in the summer development program.”
In addition, Brooklyn played three undrafted players at one point or another in the season: Chaney Johnson, Grant Nelson and Malachi Smith. Also, as of the moment, the team has three first draft picks in June: a lottery pick somewhere between No. 1 and No. 7 as well as second rounders at Nos. 33 and 43. The double schedule will permit the team to get extended looks at all of them.
The Vegas games, which normally take place the first week of July, will also be getting a later start, giving the Nets the opportunity to play in both leagues. In the past, the Nets played in two leagues, either in Orlando or Salt Lake City.
The Summer League games will come during a particularly hectic time for NBA teams in late June and early July. The NBA Draft takes place over two nights on June 23 and 24 at Barclays Center. Teams can begin contacting free agents on July 1 and will be permitted to sign them five days later. It is also the most active time for trades.
