It’s a new beginning for the Brooklyn Nets. The team initiated their rebuild by trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, where he joins three former Villanova teammates. In return, the Nets secured five first-round picks, a strategic move for their future.
The youth movement is on in Brooklyn.
The blueprint for a successful rebuild involves allowing young talent to develop and accumulate draft assets by trading established players. The Bridges trade marked the start of this new phase for Brooklyn. Nets forward Noah Clowney sees this as an “amazing opportunity” for his growth.
“Mikal should almost feel proud,” Clowney said on Monday. “Getting traded for five first-round picks is a superstar-level move. But it’s an opportunity for me. No disrespect to him—he’s my guy. I love him. But this rebuild is a great chance for me, and I need to make the most of it.”
Clowney, a 6-foot-10, 210-pound forward, was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Turning 20 soon, he has a long career ahead of him, and the Nets’ rebuild offers him the platform to define his role in the league.
“Just trying to build with what we have is my main focus. The picks are for the decision-makers. I just aim to do my part, play hard, and stay enthusiastic,” Clowney added. “Opportunities like this are exciting.”
Rebuilding takes time and patience as the roster evolves, but Clowney has the time to become a key part of the team’s future. For the Nets, it’s essential to provide young players the freedom to grow while managing assets and drafting wisely to ensure a successful new era of basketball in Brooklyn.