LAS VEGAS — Royce O’Neale stated he’s completely happy to be on the Nets, whatever the ongoing Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving drama. And Nic Claxton stated the Nets have “unfinished enterprise,” whether or not the 2 stars are again or not.
Claxton — who re-signed as a restricted free agent — got here to the Nets’ summer time league opener, a 94-90 loss to the Bucks on Friday night time, with O’Neale and stated he by no means had any intention of leaving Brooklyn.
“Nah, I’m completely happy to be right here. I really feel like we’ve obtained unfinished enterprise, no matter who’s going to be rocking with us subsequent yr,” Claxton stated. “I’m prepared to come back out and simply make a distinction, proceed to get higher and assist us win video games.”
In fact, Durant and Irving is probably not rocking with the Nets subsequent yr. Durant has demanded a commerce and Irving appears positive to be dealt as effectively. The Durant information shook up your entire NBA panorama — and reached Claxton down within the Caribbean.
“I used to be truly I used to be within the Dominican Republic. I used to be using horses. And I heard that … all of the information,” Claxton stated. “And I simply had to verify I used to be straight, truthfully. Make sure that all the pieces was [OK].”
On the time, Claxton — whom the Nets almost shipped to Toronto for a first-round decide through the season and who feared he’d be dealt on the commerce deadline — was nonetheless a restricted free agent and unsigned. However he ultimately inked a two-year, $20 million contract, one that can pay him $9.6 million this upcoming season.
Whereas Durant has reportedly “gone darkish,” ignoring calls from different NBA stars making an attempt to recruit him to their groups, Claxton stated he has heard from each Durant and Irving.
“Oh, I heard from a lot of the guys, simply checking in, congratulations right here and there,” stated Claxton, who has not been actively making an attempt to influence Durant and Irving to stay in Brooklyn. “Nah. That’s above my pay grade”
The information of Durant’s commerce request broke June 30, the day earlier than the four-year extension he had signed kicked in. Minutes later, studies surfaced that O’Neale was being traded from the Jazz to the Nets for a 2023 first-round decide.
The Nets will give the Jazz the least favorable of their two picks, both the 76ers’ choice acquired from the James Harden deal or their pick-swap with the Rockets.
“My information I believed was nice, and that occurred and I used to be ‘oh.’ I really feel like my information went beneath the rug a bit bit,” O’Neale stated. “However I’m excited. It’s going to be enjoyable. Brooklyn’s a change from Utah. Positively going to be a fantastic expertise.
“[I’ll help] any approach I can. Simply attempt to be the man I’ve been doing, not be anybody I’m not. However I do know what obtained me right here and what’s going to maintain me being right here, so simply studying any approach I can and doing what I obtained to do offensively and defensively.”
O’Neale averaged 7.4 factors and 4.8 rebounds final season for Utah and was one of many high defenders on a 49-33 squad that completed fifth within the Western Convention. He’s 29, and together with the re-signing of veteran Patty Mills, these should not the strikes of a staff bracing for a bottoming-out rebuilding. However O’Neale wouldn’t hazard a guess whether or not there was any likelihood to retain Durant and Irving.
“I imply, I ain’t obtained nothing to do with that. I don’t know nothing about that,” O’Neale stated with fun. “However positively with all these guys, it’s a particular group we obtained proper now. I feel we are able to do one thing particular. It’s going to be enjoyable.”
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