As they do, the Brooklyn Nets declined to offer Noah Clowney an extension Monday, the deadline for such deals. Indeed, only eight players from the 2023 Draft were rewarded. Big names like Scoot Henderson, Anthony Black, Derick Lively II, Bilal Coulibaly and Jaime Jacquez didn’t make the cut either.
At this point, Clowney is on a prove-it deal. He’ll be paid $5.4 million and come June, he will be a restricted free agent meaning the Nets will be able to match any bid from any time. In the new world
of the CBA, that’s what free agency looks like.
The 6’10” forward who’s just turned 22 is coming of a season where he he averaged 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and got to the line 3.4 times in 66 games, 60 of them, all encouraging numbers. His shooting splits were less so: 40/33/80. More important so was his consistency. Now, of course, he won’t be starting 60 games, not with Julius Randle starting at the power forward. He told the media Monday that he understands the dynamic.
“I mean, realistically, we’re professionals. You should be able to adjust to a new role,” Clowney said. “It might take a couple games to click — maybe more than a couple of games — but you should be able to figure it out.
“It’s not changing so drastically to where it’s like concerning me. I play less minutes more than likely. Other than that, my role is not too much different. Coming in with two ball handlers, the ball will be in my hands a lot less, 100 percent, but pick your spots, create chaos. That’s the goal.”
Despite that, Jordi Fernandez sounded optimistic about Clowney’s role in the upcoming season.
“I’ve seen consistency from him, and that’s the key,” Fernández said. “If he can provide that to the group, Noah is going to help us win a lot of games, [with] not just his size and physicality, but also his shooting, getting to the free-throw line, just doing the simple things.
“He’s put in all this work all summer and he’s shown … consistency. And now we’re going into real games. … We’re all excited and I think Noah’s going to be a big part of it.”
More importantly, the head coach is more interested in how Clowney helps the team
“Yeah, he can be better,” Fernández admitted. “And he will be better, and that’s important. He focuses. He’s focusing on it. We brought those points to him, and we know he can impact not just the defensive glass but also the offensive glass.
“And there’s no excuses. Sometimes we put him [on] very good offensive players, and that’s still not an excuse. He’s going to go and finish possessions.”
Clowney has looked good in preseason … very good, as Brian Lewis noted. He averaged 9.8 points this preseason on solid 52.2/60.0/85.7 shooting splits, and was a team-best plus-7.5. On the other hand, he grabbed only three rebounds. The inconsistency thing again. Clowney told the media he gets it.
“Rebounding, I don’t know the numbers,” Clowney said. “That’s the goal, to get more. But I try to do what I’m asked.
“Play defense, go get some rebounds to end possessions, make shots when the ball comes to you. Pretty much that. Just bring an energy on the court, especially playing bench minutes. It’s a lot easier to come in and play harder for one stint per half. But yeah, just pretty much guard, keep the ball flowing, just play basketball.”
If Clowney sounds less than excited, not to worry. He is excited. Clowney is notoriously low-key.
“Everybody’s excited about it,” Clowney said of the season. “There’s no benefit from losing. There’s none. So, win games. We’re going to go into every game with the idea of winning it, put our best foot forward. And that excites a lot of people. So yeah, it’s a lot more excitement in the building.”
Bottom line: the decision not to extend Clowney was not unexpected. The Nets have a history of prove-it contracts and seven of the eight players given extensions were taken ahead of him in the 2023 Draft.
- Nets don’t offer Noah Clowney rookie extension as he embraces prove-it season in new role ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
- Nets Notebook: Noah Clowney adjusts to reduced role, rookies get injury updates ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
