Did Cam Thomas Change Your Opinion On Him? | Brooklyn Nets Young Studs Season Review | NBA

Did Cam Thomas Change Your Opinion On Him? | Brooklyn Nets Young Studs Season Review | NBA

Let’s talk about the Brooklyn Nets, the young guys. Cam Thomas, Zia Williams, Noah Clowney. Is there anything of interest there to us? Find out. Michael Bolton. Thanks, Josh. It’s Michael Bolton here and it’s time for another episode of the Locked On Fantasy Basketball Podcast. Let’s get to it. Let’s get to it. In date, you are Locked on Fantasy, your daily NBA fantasy podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Hello and welcome to the Locked On Fantasy Basketball Podcast, brought to you by Basketball Monster. My name is Josh Lloyd. A bit of a delay for today’s show. My computer was turned off, but because I’m a computer genius, I was able to turn it back on within 5 minutes. I’m also the lead fantasy analyst at basketballmonster.com and thank you for making Locked on Fantasy Basketball your first listen every day. We are free and we’re available on all platforms. Uh thumbs and subscribes and you’ll never miss episodes whether that is team review shows, mock drafts. Hey, here’s a question. If you’re watching this, maybe I’ll put a poll out on this as well at some point. Do you want me to do any reddrafts like 23 NBA draft, 24 NBA draft, 22 NBA, 21 and reddraft it? Would that be a part interesting part of the draft discussion? Maybe. I don’t know. Sometimes I like doing them, sometimes I don’t. But, you know, we’ll see if you guys want that or not. It is still National Chihuahua appreciation day. So, again, shout out to the big falobi. Shout out to all Chihuahua out there who just again the bad rap, man. Just we got we got to be a little bit nicer to these guys. We are here to talk about uh the Brooklyn Nets. In yesterday’s show, we talked about their draft picks. We talked about their record, their free agents, and the guys over 25. There wasn’t very many of them. So, now we’re going to talk about the guys under 25. And we’re going to start with a guy that some people love. And then there are people like me, and that’s Cam Thomas. Thomas, I guess the idea was here, and I was actually sort of high on him from a fantasy perspective this season, is that he can go out there and he is a bucket. And it’s true, he can score. It’s some of the worst basketball you will watch. I think it doesn’t lead to team wins at all and you he is absolutely not any level of future star or a guy that is honestly good. That’s I have been very clear on this with Cam Thomas. His ability to dribble dribble dribble pull up long two great good for you. So in the dribble dribble dribble pull up long two league he’s probably really good player. Unfortunately that’s not how basketball is played or won. So unless he starts to do other things at at a better level, I don’t really know what you do with him. Now, all of that is preamble. That is, I believe, factual. Some of it’s opinion cuz I hate watching him play. Do I hate him? No. Do I think he’s terrible? No. I hate watching him play, but also don’t think that he’s a good enough player to lead you to anything more than 26 wins. And honestly, if he played all season, they might have won fewer games because he takes away from everybody else. But but I thought Thomas showed improvement this season. I thought that like he had a usage of 32%. It’s incredibly high. I I honestly thought we might push 37 this season. I thought he would take every shot in the world and he reigned some of it in. He ended up playing um 31 minutes a game, only 25 games through to three hamstring problems. And you know me and hamstrings and how I hate the way NBA teams handle them. I actually don’t think obviously he reinjured it but there was nothing about the way they handled the hamstrings with Thomas that suggests to me that they pushed him way too early. It wasn’t like he came back in a week. I think he had 3 weeks the first time and then two months the next time or something. It was it was pretty standard hamstring recovery time for sports that don’t mishandle them like the NBA. But he still got injured again. So we thought that there was a chance there’d be big numbers from him and overall from a per game perspective he was sort of about there. 92nd in Durant, 74th in points leagues. He was 74th before the trade deadline. After he came back he was pretty limited. I’d say he was pretty much there. 243 and four. No defensive stats, bad field goals, good free throws, 35 on threes. He’s 24 years of age and he is a restricted free agent. Darko thought there was some aggression there and I actually think he did improve. I like the drip delta number makes more sense to me. Um offensive load 95th percentile is high. Time on ball 80th percentile I thought would be way higher. So that again he didn’t dominate as much as I thought he would. But once more when we talk about him and he’s going to be on this team I’m guessing and it’s all going to be how other guys fit around. He could easily and probably will play more than 31 minutes next season. He could have 32 or more usage. But what’s the improving skill? Is he ever going to be a five assist guy? I really doubt it. Steals, never. Rebounds, never. Good field goals, never. He got to the line more. Impressive stuff. That was good. He improved in areas. He passed better. Will he ever be like the easy comparison was with Jordan P. Jordan Pool went to the Wizards two years ago on a team with not many people there. We thought he’d get big usage and he’d be great and he didn’t. He was very good this season. P is so much better than Cam Thomas as a player. It’s not funny. P can defend better, but he also can run like a point guard and he can shoot at a high level from three. And Thomas can’t do that. He’s a guy that takes up all of your possessions and doesn’t generally lead to efficiency. So, we might get another a big season of usage, but if you’re talking long-term and dynasty with Thomas, at some point, that’s just not going to stick. Teams are not going to persist with him as a 32 usage in 32 minutes. That’s not going to be the case unless he’s parentally on one of the worst five teams in the NBA. So again, you might have a different opinion on what Thomas can do. Maybe he can be an elite scorer and on a great team. I really don’t believe it. And I think the jury to some degree is still out here. Don Sharp an interesting player. The year before there was a scenario earlier in the season where Claxton was injured, there was no other centers and I thought, “All right, let’s grab Daron Sharp. Let’s use him in fantasy. He’s going to have to play.” He proceeded to go from 16 minutes to zero minutes without any other senators. I go, “Well, that makes no sense whatsoever. Are they just out on him? He’s an elite rebounding player. He played 18 minutes a game, averaged seven rebounds with eight points.” But this season, he actually started to look like a real player. Jordi Fernandez used him a lot more than the previous coaching staffs had. But now he’s also in the scenario where he’s a restricted free agent. Post trade deadline 108 ranked player. Darko and Drip one of the best improving players in the entire NBA. Rim contest percentage 86th. He’s not a high volume guy, but actually 60th percentile offensive load. You don’t really think about that with Sharp. He was 20% usage, 164th overall for the year, 22 fantasy points a game. And I actually think this could have been way better. 52% from the field. Very low. He should be higher. 8 blocks very low. Should be higher. Now he is 23. So, I wouldn’t say that he’s in that stage of his career where blocks drop, but he needs to do he needs to do more. The problem is is there’s $100 million or $75 million now. I think that’s maybe I’m misremembering Claxton’s contract, but in front of him. Would they ever have the balls to bench Claxton to start sharp? But even if they did, he’d be a 25minut starter. The other thing that was, not necessarily impressive, but interesting was he started taking threes. Now, it dragged his field goals down cuz he was only 24% from three, but there is a little bit of something there. But if you go back and listen to the earlier show today when I talked about Claxton and about centers and how there’s maybe good fantasy value, but it lasts three or four years because they’re not good 10-year players. And Sharp’s not a 10ear player to me. He impressed and there are plenty of times this season where he was he was better than Claxton. But I think it’s been really clear from the Net’s perspective that he is behind Claxton, that he is not in a competition. He is not going ahead of Claxton. He is behind him. That can always change, but that’s where we’re at. So, I like him. It’s not a long-term prospect of this guy is going to be a star for years. But I do think there will be a period of time whether it’s on this team or another team where Sharp is a starter two three years couple of top 70 finishes falls off. I think that’s probably the way that I would view him as we uh move forward. Got a lot of other young players to talk about in this next team. We’ll get to them in a sec. Today’s episode though is brought to you by Wayfair. Summer is coming up for you guys. I cannot wait to get over there into the summer into the warmer weather as things get colder here. But hopefully you guys have got your outdoor settings sorted out. a large backyard, small balcony, whatever it is to get your outdoor seating and outdoor entertaining areas ready. Wayfair is going to have it for whatever budget you have, whatever style you want, whatever feels like you. There’s a massive selection of outdoor essentials that make it easy to transform any space into your ideal summer setup. You can set up little couches or sofas. You can set up dining tables and outdoor decor. They’ve got it all. And the prices to fit your particular budget. The delivery from Wayfair is also free and it’s hasslefree. more importantly, even the big stuff. So, you might just be entertaining guests or relaxing by yourself. Wayfair can help you unwind. Shop a huge selection of outdoor furniture online this summer. Get outside with Wayfair. Head to wayfair.com right now. That is wy fir.com. Wayfair, every style and every home. I really want to do one of these ad reads in like a uh a full like voice over voice, which I’ve never done before, but for some reason my my Tik Tok account, my Tik Tok feed, there’s a couple of people on there who are like voiceover professionals and you watch them sort of transition from regular voice into um uh voice over voice and it’s intriguing. Anyway, should I do it for my next ad? Maybe I will. We’ll see how it goes. We’re here talking Brooklyn Nets players that are 25 or under or actually under 25. Not that there’s anyone that’s 25 on the dot, but under 25s in this show. And the next guy was a player who honestly we have to admit it was a terrible pick and a bad process from the Grizzlies to pick him at number 10. They salary dumped him to the Nets and Zia Williams had opportunities in Brooklyn. And it is without question that Zia Williams had the best season of his career. It is without question that Zia Williams improved a lot. Now the next part is maybe not without question but there there’s a question what what does it matter like he came in to a team with nothing sort of a backup behind Cam Johnson who started next to him at times he played 24 minutes a night with 18 usage he shot better 34% from three 41 overall he averaged 10 and5 with a steal he was the 194th ranked player in fantasy 100 215 points leagues and you see Darko and DPM DPM and drip the Delta one of the best improve in the league. Yeah, cuz he was absolutely horrific in Memphis and he turned into a rotation type player. But for what? Like what for? Is he a guy you go? Yep. We’re we’re locked in here. Zia Williams core piece developing into a long-term starter. Absolutely no way. And I think this is a phrase we’re going to use a lot for this team, but there’s a lot of teams we do this for. We talk about these sort of players like what do you do? What? Not what do you do from a fantasy manager perspective, but if I was directing this to Za and I wasn’t I was, you know, going to be harsh to him, but what do you do? What do you bring? What is the thing that you do? I don’t know what it is. Do you defend well? Yeah, you’re not bad. Can you pass? Not really. You strong rebounder also? No. Can you shoot? A little bit. Can you score? No, sort of. Like, what do you do? Are you big? A little bit. Are you long? Giggity? Yes. that that’s what he does. And most people have at least a they’ve either got a standout skill or they’re above average in everything. And I don’t think Zo is either of those things. So, we watched him a whole season play 63 games, 24 minutes, best season of his career. And I still look at it and go, man, he improved, but what for? Where where is it now? Zia Williams you would expect as the Nets that either they traded away Cam Johnson that would make him a full-time starter because I don’t see any scenario where he’s good enough to be actually just our the starting small forward/power forward on a team that wants to be good. There were moments when we could use him in fantasy but where did he get to best case like maybe 120th for a period of time. I ask again, what does he do? 24 minutes. Cool. Let’s say you played 30. What are you getting? 12 points, two threes, five and a half boards, 1.2 steals. All right. Free throws fine. They’re good. Not high volume. Improved a lot. actually is a solid rotation player, but it’s giving like that sort of a guy where we get these forwards wings where remember Trivon Graham player like that where you just like ah yeah that’s that’s a wing Tory Craig oh yeah he’s a wingiz player let’s throw him out there for 20 minutes but what does it bring us and you’re targeting teams like the Nets for free agency in fantasy when we’re talking about like who’s a guy we can grab and add and use because the opportunity has risen. Like that’s great, but it doesn’t really mean much for most for most squads or for future outlooks on guys. So, good to see the improvements, but nothing that really should excite us here. Now, I I’ll tell you exactly my thoughts on Noah Clowny. You you know them. And well, actually, you might think you know my thoughts on Noah Clowney because this misrepresentation of things that I’ve said. Noah Clowney has the profile of a type of guy that I do really like if it hits. I liked Noah Clowny a lot in that draft. I thought he should have been a lottery pick around 14, 15, that area. I thought that this team was going nowhere. They were correct. They were going nowhere and he was their only player who was young and had starter quality upside. So I thought who at the end of last season Noah Clown showed an ability to play some center and I didn’t like the fact that Claxton came back but I thought okay he can play power forward and he might get a chance. He might get a chance to start. He probably won’t but he might get a chance to start and it just didn’t work. But that is what we do when we take flyers on players in the last round of a draft. You go who’s a guy that’s got a chance here who’s got a skill set to do it that we hope works out. Clowny was one of those guys. So was he a must draft player? Of course not. Absolutely not. Was he a guy you did anything on your team outside of the last couple of rounds? No. And was he a guy you cut immediately? Yes. And that happens in fantasy all the time. You take chances on these players to see where we go. Now, Clowny, all right, look, had multiple ankle injuries. He played 23 minutes a game. He played 46 games only. And it was not a good year. He had nine points and four rebounds in 23 minutes. Not good usage of 19%. He’s never going to be a high usage guy. His defensive numbers dropped. He still contested shots at a pretty high rate. 89th percentile. Steel numbers were down, but absolutely nothing offensively. And Darko hated it. 11th percentile in Delta. That’s bad. He he regressed. And I agree, he did regress, but he still contested shots. He played more power forward than center. He hit two threes a game in 23 minutes. So they I believe that part of what happened with Clowney this season is they said we want you to work on your shot. We want you to turn into a threat as a corner shooter, but also maybe a little bit more as a shooter from the four. We know you can defend and we’ll see what happens because his defensive numbers weren’t great, but he hit two threes a game and he did it at 33% meaning he took a lot. But of course that killed everything else because he had 36% overall field goals. He couldn’t really hit um like he didn’t hit any twos, but also like 60% of his shots were from three around that mark. Am I writing Noah Clowny off as a starter caliber player? I I’m not. He’s just he’s 21. I don’t even know if he’s actually 21. He’s still really young. And a player who can get to 20 usage, who can rebound, shoot threes, block shots. I think can get steals at some point. They’re valuable, but it’s also hard to get there. Jabari Smith, it’s hard to get there. And this was a great opportunity and it didn’t work out. So, I’m not off on him as a long-term, hey, maybe this comes together sort of a player, but it was a it was a disappointing season outside of the fact that again, maybe the Nets were like, you are just working on threes. And did it work? Enough volume that he has to be respected out there. And that’s that’s maybe the silver lining. But overall, not a good year. No one’s denying that. Keon Johnson is an absolute hyper athlete. We haven’t really seen much of him. He’s your Clippers, Blazers. Didn’t have many opportunities. Came across to Brooklyn. Didn’t do much early on the season, but second half of the year, Shroa traded, Russell injured, Thomas injured. We had a lot of starts out of him. 21 usage. He’s still only 23 years of age. He played 79 games. He was the 229th ranked player, Keon Johnson. He averaged 10 and a half, four rebounds, two assists with a steal. He shot 39%. Those numbers don’t seem right. That’s double check that. They are right. The reason I was confused is they looked almost exactly like Noah Clown is. No, they’re right. 10 and a half points, 1.6 threes. He shot 39 from the field and 31 from three. So, the shooting still remains a real problem. The steel numbers are good. His deflection numbers are solid. He improved his passing numbers. He played a little bit more on ball. But you look at what needed to happen. Shredder traded, Russell injured, Thomas injured, Melton there but not playing. His best case scenario was 70% of Dan Dan Anthony Melton I think as a player. Elite athlete can generate steals, cannot shoot, cannot run an offense, has some usage ability, but like we saw at least an opportunity for him to be an everyday rotation player, which we’d never seen before. Did it go well enough that you think that that is a future role for him? I I I don’t think so. Drip must have really hated him because it put him puts him 98th percentile in terms of improvement. And I guess that’s fair because he didn’t really do anything in previous years. So to go from a guy who didn’t do anything to being a rotation player and on a team that won more than expected, sure, no problem. But we always like to ask the question, we’re not NBA GMs. We play fantasy. We watch the NBA. But we got to put ourselves into the heads of GMs often because we need to go and look at this, especially when we’re talking long-term or team building or whatever, and go, Keon Johnson’s on my team. Do I look at that and go, I’m pretty happy with that. We don’t need to do much with that that position because you don’t think that he can still improve. He’s only 23. I think the shot I I don’t think that’s improving. I don’t think he’s ever going to be a shooter. And 24 minutes a night that he played this season probably ends up close to career best. But there were enough improvements there to we used him quite a bit in fantasy this season even though he’s a horrific shooter. But we knew that there was so much inconsistency and the overall numbers like post deadline when they were shutting guys down which again is that best case for him probably he was 149th. It’s not that good. It doesn’t profile particularly well for the future. Tren Watford a couple of years ago in Portland was a real hero in the silly season and we thought there might be opportunities for him in Brooklyn but he like about four of their guys started the season with hamstring injuries which was a little concerning. He ended up with 43 games 21 minutes but 23 usage as a big man. Now he doesn’t really do anything defensively. He shot 33% from three. He averaged 10 and a half points though in those 21 minutes with four rebounds. But again he’s one of those guys where you go okay that’s fine. Good for you. Why is your offensive role so large when you’re not that good of a player defensively? He struggles. Is he a four? I don’t I’m not sure. Is he a five? Cuz there’s no space on this team as a five. Is there a space as a four where Clowny and Johnson are? Not really. He’s also a free agent. I think bring him in to be your 14th best player is totally reasonable cuz if you need to, he can step up and be okay. But that little run that he had in Portland where he was really putting up huge numbers. I Yeah, I think that again illustrates the idea that March basketball is fake and doesn’t really mean that much as we move forward, but also just I’m not sure we’re getting that stuff back from him. He was fine, but upside wise, not really there. Oops, push the wrong button. Maybe we’ll go back and and do that properly so that the people who need to see those brakes see it. Here we go. Today’s episode is brought to you by car gurus. Shopping for a car. It should be fine. Like it should be great. You should be gay. I’m looking at this. I’m buying a car. But not exhausting, not confusing, which it is. Often there are so many different makes and models and hidden fees and confusing prices. But Caruro Car Gurus removes that. It helps cut through the noise and shows you the best deals with full confidence. It’s got over 4 million listings, more new and used cars on Car Gurus than any other major online marketplace in the US. They verify the dealers. They provide the real price analysis and give you the tools and data that you need to make the right choice without second guessing yourself. Maybe I should move into full voiceover mode now. The best feature, price drop alert, so you know exactly when the perfect car is available for your budget. Plus, the in-depth vehicle details give you peace of mind before stepping onto any lot. It’s no wonder that similar web estimated traffic data shows CarGurus is the number one most visited car shopping site. Buy or sell your next car today with CarGurus at cargurus.com. That is cargurus.com. Make sure your big deal is the best deal. That is cgurus.com. cargurus.com. I think I could have done better on that. All right, let’s go. What is the next player we’re going to talk about? uh as we here look at the Brooklyn Nets, we’re going to move into a guy who had I thought ample opportunities. I did not like this player coming out of college at all. And then when he entered the NBA, he did more than I thought he would, but it’s sort of settled into being the guy that he was in college and that’s Jaylen Wilson. And he’s 24, older player, second year player again given so many opportunities this season. He played 26 minutes a night. He played more than Zia Williams. He played more than Noah Clowney and he was the 343rd ranked player. He played 79 games. He averaged nine points. He hit 34% from three, under 40% from the field. He got worse after the deadline. Deflection percentage third percentile. Like bro, do something defensively. Can he pass? No. Can he be a usage guy? No. Can he shoot? Also no. But can he do anything good? Also no as well. So, he had a couple of flashes early in his career as a rookie where I thought, “Okay, that’s sort of interesting.” And he has a couple of pop games, but what is he? He’s an undersized power forward that can’t shoot, but not a great rebounder or defender. Just sort of sits around and and honestly, again, this is not an insult, even though it’s very insulting. He just takes up space. He takes up space on a roster. He takes up space on a court. He takes up space doing something without doing anything. So, while he’s only in year two and it’s year three next season, a lot of players improve in year three, what he’s got to be able to shoot, do something defensively. And like with all of as much as I was negative towards Ze Williams, I’d much rather play Z Williams than what this guy does. He couldn’t ramp up usage. He couldn’t get the shot to fall. I just he was given so many opportunities this season. And what what do you have? Two good games maybe. I was incred for as as low as I was on him as a player. I thought, “Oh, well, the Nets actually do believe here and they’re giving him these chances. Let’s see where we go.” He let me down and my expectations were so low. I thought it was a incredibly disappointing season. Now, again, the Darko Delta and the Drip Delta don’t view it the same way as me. 45th percentile Darko 68th on Drip. They thought there was some improvements. I didn’t see it. I there’s just nothing about what he does as a player that makes me feel that there’s any like future upside in him. And I know it feels harsh, but what what’s what’s he do? I don’t know. It wasn’t as disappointing as Derek Whitehead. Now, Whitehead was a top five college recruit. came in, played at juke, had multiple foot issues, shot unbelievably well, good steel rate, decent pass rate, and you go, “Okay.” Or assist rate, a guy is this like I know it’s easy to make the comparison cuz it’s Brooklyn, but like Carris Levert, foot injuries, some passing as a wing, Whitehead, much better shooter. But man, he I’ve never seen anyone look worse in summer league than he did this season. And he he he took that on board. He saw people criticizing I think he shot 4% or something and said, “Bro, like I’m just coming back off foot surgery. I’m nowhere near ready to play. Maybe I shouldn’t have played. I’m just getting out there. Like, I’m not ready.” I go, “Fair enough. Okay, I get that.” But he played 12 minutes a game in 20 games. He was the 459th ranked player. Defensively, he did nothing. He wasn’t even an on ball guy. He didn’t pass. His load was low. The advanced stats saw him decreasing. He shot 46 from three. That’s elite. 1.73 threes in 12 minutes is an unbelievably high number, but he averaged five points. 5.7 with nothing else. So, the shooting was there. The shooting was real. And, you know, we we like we like to see that cuz he’s got size. He’s got the ability to shoot and we’ve we’ve seen that. I actually do think that he can be a shooter, but he can’t stay healthy. He doesn’t defend. He doesn’t do anything else. And it’s been two highly disappointing seasons from Whitehead who I thought could actually we talk about upside players on this team when there’s not many guys around and he’s one of the youngest guys him and Clowny. He’s still only 21. Um I would have hoped for a lot more. He played 17 games in the G- League to go with his 20 games in the NBA. 27 minutes only in the G- League. He shot two threes a game at 38% but one and a half assists, 1.3 steals. All right. Next year is it for me. Like he’s young, injury riddled first two years. The shooting is there and I believe it’s real. But 20 usage needs to be 23. Assists need to go up. You need to do something defensively. He’s got the size, but I worry that all of the foot issues have have sapped athleticism, movement, anticipation, and he’s just going to be a spot-up guy, and that’s not really going to get it done for us. Tossan Ewan was a two-way guy. He played some good games for Detroit the previous season, signed in Brooklyn mid-season, and he’s one of those guys that when he is out there, he he does put up numbers. He played 28 games. He played 24 minutes with 19 usage. He’s 24 already. He averaged 10 and four. He was the 248th ranked player in those 24 minutes. He shot only 31 from three and that’s a real lacking area from him, but he’s a solid rebounder. He’s an undersized power forward who can pass a little bit. Didn’t really show in Brooklyn. showed more in Detroit when he was there. Drip dropped him down a lot, which interesting, I guess, cuz he played so well in Detroit the year before. Nothing super stands out with some of those advanced numbers. Ev one maybe could find himself onto a long-term deal somewhere, but it’s best case he’s the 10th or 11th guy. He can’t really shoot. He’s undersized for the position he needs to play. The passing is not spectacular enough to be a hub sort of a guy. He’s a guy that on a team that is bad, you plug in at the end of the year, you he puts up numbers. He helps organize a team, but doesn’t allow you to win. And that’s perfect for tanking teams. Drew Timmy signed incredibly late. Incredibly late. I do not believe Drew Timmy is anything close to an NBA player, but he played and we had we used him in fantasy because he put up some numbers. He was the 149th ranked player in points leagues. He played 28 minutes a night in his nine games. He averaged 12 and seven. He shot 63 from the line. He shot 26% from three. He averaged.1 blocks as a center in 28 minutes. But he had 12 and seven. He is 25 or he’s going to be 25 really soon. He had 21 usage. This is the fakest amount of numbers I’ve ever seen because he came in with nine games left where players were shut down, nobody was trying and he was getting all of the minutes at center and he would never play a minute in a game that is competitive in the NBA in his career. I don’t believe they’ve got a team option for him for next season. Maybe they bring him back. In fact, maybe they do and they cut him in training camp. That is all I need to say about Drew Timmy. And I know that sounds harsh. Maxwell Lewis, a guy that had a little bit of pedigree as a second round pick. Didn’t do anything for the Lakers. Came across the nets, played a game. I think it was might have even been his first start, broke his leg, but I I mean, did we see anything here? He shot 38% from three, but he played 12 minutes a game. He had 17 usage. All right. 437th ranked player. Now, would I prefer him than a Jaylen Wilson? I I might like to see what he can do. was younger, but overall not really. Like the defensive stuff was good from him. He’s got solid enough size. He uh college played at Pepperdine. He had to do a lot on that team. Not not a great team. And he had to do a lot of different things that he would never have to do in the NBA. And we’ve seen that like the shooting’s not there. He’s not a reliable shooter. He doesn’t have to do the usage stuff. He doesn’t have to be a rebounder or a passer. Defensively, again, not bad, but not able to take on an offensive role. and then second year ruined by injuries. If I was the Nets, I would guarantee that contract. I actually think there might be something there that best case he can become a 10th man. But you know, how exciting is that? The answer is it’s not. Last guy I want to talk about is a two-way guy who was actually is he one of the first two-way guys to ever be traded? The Vulture Reese Beakman came across in the D’Angelo Russell, not D’Angelo Russell, in the Danthony Melton Dennis Schroer trade. Beman is 24. He was a rookie on a two-way contract. He ended up playing 36 games, 13 minutes. The rankings numbers are bad. He average under nine fantasy points a game. But what he does is he now why do I call him the vulture? Two reasons. His surname is Beakman. So yeah, you got to have a bird related thing in there. But he generates steals.9 steals in 13 minutes. 95th percentile in deflections. His passing volume 74th percentile. Interesting. But offensive load 40th. So he would get the ball. He would pass it and that is all he would do. 12 usage as a point guard, 2.6 points, but he averaged two assists and.9 steals. And we saw there were moments later in the season when Russell was out, Beakman would start, you get two points, but you get eight rebounds or so eight assists and two steals when he was not battling Killian Hayes for time. Overall, there’s a lot that has to change. That usage is too low. Broshot 18% from three. Defensively, easy. He’s there. He did it. He defended well. He’s a bullhawk. He’s a bull vulture. Maybe. Could he work his way off a 2-way onto a standard contract to become a defensive pest? Maybe. Maybe. But offensively, outside of passing, which was good, we we need to see a lot more. There were flashes. It wasn’t a complete disaster. It wasn’t It wasn’t a complete disaster. There were flashes, but it’s it’s hard given that absolute absence of offense to see how it goes. He will improve. He’s a rookie. He’s going to improve those numbers. He’s going to improve his shooting. But does improving it get to 28 or does it get to 31 or does it get to 36? Does ever hit 18%. And that’s where you just can write him off as a player if those things don’t happen and I don’t think they will. So like that’s that’s the Nets. a bunch of guys under 25 and a bunch of them that don’t really matter and now they get to add their highest draft pick in the Brooklyn Nets era onto this team and it might be Kasparis Yakuis it might be Jeremiah Fears it might be Kan Malwak it might be Derek Queen I don’t know lots of different ways to go but one thing I do know when I look at this team’s roster is there is nobody on this team that is foundational nobody not Cam Thomas not Nick Claxton Not Cam Johnson, not D’Angelo Russell, not Noah Clowny, nobody. Nobody is a part of the next great Nets team unless they’re going to be the seventh or eighth man most likely. And the only guys who are actually young are Whitehead and Clowny. And they had really disappointing seasons. So yeah, that’s where we’re at with the Nets. Tomorrow we are doing Who is the next team actually? Cuz the Nets today, I think it is, that’s a really good question, Josh. You should probably look that up. I think it’s the Raptors. I think it’s the Raptors we’re doing tomorrow. So, shout out to Canada. God, no. No wonder I forgot the bloody Raptors. Anyway, we have to do it. We have to put ourselves sometimes we have to suffer. It’s a cross we carry. The burden to talk about Toronto. That is tomorrow’s show that we are doing. Guys, we are done here. Thank you so much for listening everyone. See you. [Music]

Josh Lloyd takes a look at the Brooklyn Nets 2024/25 NBA season, focusing on the younger players on the team. He gives analysis of Cam Thomas’s scoring prowess and Day’Ron Sharpe’s potential as a rebounder. Josh Lloyd, host of the Locked On Fantasy Basketball Podcast, dives into the performances and prospects of players like Ziaire Williams and Noah Clowney, questioning their long-term impact on the team.

Josh Lloyd offers a critical look at the Brooklyn Nets’ roster, highlighting Reese Beekman’s defensive skills and Jalen Wilson’s role on the court. With a focus on player development and future potential, this episode poses intriguing questions about the team’s foundational pieces.

Don’t miss out on this comprehensive analysis of the Brooklyn Nets’ young stars. Watch or listen now to gain insights into their future in the NBA and Fantasy Basketball!

Follow and subscribe on all major podcast platforms: Be a double banger, watch the video, then listen to the audio
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOFantasyBasketball?sid=YouTube

Check out Locked On NBA League-Wide for comprehensive NBA coverage, including team insights, fantasy tips, draft updates, WNBA news and more:
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Prizepicks
Now’s the perfect time to join. Download the app today and use code LOCKEDONNBA to get $50 instantly when you play your first $5 lineup! That’s right—no need to win to get the bonus, it’s guaranteed. PrizePicks—Run Your Game!
Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA

Hungryroot
With Hungryroot, it’s like having a personal shopper and a nutritionist all in one. For a limited time, get 40% off your first box and a free item in every box for life! Just go to https://Hungryroot.com/lockedonnba and use code LOCKEDONNBA.

CarGurus
Buy or sell your next car today with CarGurus at https://CarGurus.com to make sure your big deal is the best deal.

WayFair
After the holiday hustle, there’s nothing like giving your home a little TLC. Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair. Head to https://Wayfair.com right now. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4k
Did you know your Fire TV is also an Xbox? Turn any TV into your gaming and entertainment hub with Fire TV Stick 4K devices — no console required. Head to https://Amazon.com/firetvlockedon to get started. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and compatible controller required.

Door Dash
Sign up for DashPass and when any player scores 50+ in a playoff game, DashPass members can grab a free 3PC Crispy Tenders Combo from Wingstop the next day, with a $20+ order and code WINGSTOP50. That’s DashPass: your door to more savings, more flavor, and more ways to win. Terms apply.

Valid only at participating Wingstop locations. Fees (including service fee), taxes, and gratuity still apply. Orders must have a minimum subtotal of $20, excluding taxes and fees. Offer valid on 4/15/25-6/22 /25 or while supplies last. Valid for one (1) promotional redemption per customer. DoubleDash promotions apply only to your DoubleDash add-on order, not your primary order. DoubleDash orders are not valid for the purchase of alcohol. No cash value. Non-transferable. Discount applies to subtotal only; does not apply to fees, taxes, and gratuity. Not valid for pickup. Limit one per person. Not valid for the purchase of alcohol. Fees, taxes, and gratuity still apply. Must have an active DashPass account. Use promo code WINGSTOP50 to redeem. See full terms and conditions at https://drd.sh/qnAXuU

Monarch Money
Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year.

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

FanDuel
Right now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to https://FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at https://sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit https://ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or https://visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

0:00 Introduction and show overview
0:33 Brooklyn Nets young players
2:05 Cam Thomas analysis
5:40 Day’Ron Sharpe discussion
10:15 Ziaire Williams evaluation
13:48 Noah Clowney assessment
22:29 Jalen Wilson review
25:35 Dariq Whitehead performance
33:45 Conclusion and next episode preview