Brooklyn has more new faces to work in. Michael Porter Jr. is back after averaging 24.7 points for the Nets last season, and Julius Randle came over in the offseason and walked into camp as the biggest addition. A week of practice at HSS Training Center wraps Monday, October 5, so Tuesday is the first real look at those 2 sharing the floor.
For the Nets, the injury to watch is Mikel Brown Jr. He rolled his ankle the week before camp. Sean Marks said at the time they didn't expect him to miss much, but as of October 2 he still hadn't been cleared for contact and had no timetable, per the New York Post. Don't expect him on a preseason floor in Charlotte.
The young guys are the reason to tune in. Nolan Traore showed up to camp about an inch taller and 10 pounds heavier, and he's in the mix with Egor Dëmin and Danny Wolf for real minutes on a roster that suddenly has veterans in the way. NetsDaily's media day recap called some of the optimism around this team "delusional," and practice has already turned into a fight for spots.
Charlotte's hopeful version of the season is depth and shooting, and one local preview thinks the Hornets will surprise people. Without Knueppel, Williams or PJ Hall, Tuesday tests exactly that depth. Tip is 7:00 PM ET at Spectrum Center. Watch the rotations, not the score, and look at who's still out there late.