LAS VEGAS — The Nets signed a cadre of veteran minimum players this offseason, cast off elsewhere but fighting for opportunities in Brooklyn.
Now, they can finally start bringing some of that fight to other teams, opening the preseason Monday against the Lakers at T-Mobile Arena.
“It’s great. There’s a lot of grit and grind with this team, a lot of guys who feel like they’re underdogs, got a chip on their shoulder,” Lonnie Walker IV said. “So the competitive nature of our practices are one-of-one.”
Walker will be facing his former team, having spent last season in Los Angeles after his first four years in San Antonio.
The shooting guard averaged 11.7 points in the regular season and 10.6 on 38.9 percent from 3-point range in the Lakers’ Western Conference semifinal win over Golden State.
“[They’re] still family at the end of the day; grew a bond with them, so it’s nice,” Walker said. “But I’m here. I’m a Nets fan now. I’m over here. We’re trying to play our best individually and as a team and, you know, continue to grow.”
Along with Walker, the Nets also inked Dennis Smith Jr., Darius Bazley and Trendon Watford on veteran minimum deals, and Harry Giles on an Exhibit 10 deal.
While there is open space on the camp roster, fighting for spots in the rotation is going to be tough with a fairly set top-seven.
For that, Walker will have to show well on both ends of the floor.
“I think overall he’s still trying to feel how he fits in, first group [or] second group,” coach Jacque Vaughn said. “[He] can do a little bit of everything. I think, for me, the ability to give him simple tasks on both ends of the floor will allow him to flourish.
“He has ability to get to the rim. We want him to emphasize that first, then the ability to stretch the floor for us, so we want those quality shots on the offensive end. And then he’s got to be a guy that’s detailed on the defensive end, can’t miss the box out, has to have great closeouts, has to be a great team defender.”
Walker, 24, said his fellow Nets’ defense has been infectious.
“Excitement. The more you have your teammates egging you on and seeing you play defense and they’re playing defense, it only makes you want to work harder and play harder,” Walker said. “So having these players who just have that competitiveness has only been improved in my game as I’ve been trying to figure out my rhythm. So, it’s great to have a group set of guys who really just want to prove to the world what they’re capable of doing.”
Vaughn and several players attended Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the Liberty and Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena. The Liberty, who lost 99-82, are also owned by Nets team owner Joe Tsai.
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