Brooklyn Nets center-forward Andray Blatche has been fined $15,000 for making an obscene gesture during the Nets 101-100 win over the Heat on Friday, Nov. 1, at Barclays Center, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

Blatche’s actions occurred with 2:40 remaining in the 4th quarter of the game.

The Miami Heat are still considered the best team in the East — and the league. But on paper, the Brooklyn Nets look able to at least compete with the champs. And Shaquille O’Neal agrees. Here’s the New York Daily News:

The big-name acquisitions made over the summer by GM Billy King have the Nets talking NBA title contention. But the championship rhetoric isn’t contained within the confines of the Barclays Center or the team’s training site in East Rutherford.

Some believe the Nets have what it takes to knock LeBron James and the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat from their perch. Former NBA great and current TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal is one of them. He feels Brooklyn’s title aspirations are legitimate, provided its star players can stay on the court and build chemistry.

“If they can stay healthy, I think they can give Miami a run,” O’Neal said Monday at a TNT luncheon in New York, according to SI’s Richard Deitsch. “If they come together, I think they can take Miami.”

The consensus at Nets practice Monday was they were appreciative of his comments and agree with his qualifier regarding the team’s health.

It’s “get rid of extra players” time in the NBA, as teams need to trim their rosters to 15 players or less by the start of the NBA regular season, which tips off Tuesday.

And so, the Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard Jorge Gutierrez and forwards Chris Johnson and Adonis Thomas, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Gutierrez, who was signed to the training camp roster on September 30, appeared in five preseason games, averaging 1.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

Johnson, who was also signed to the training camp roster on September 30, played in seven preseason games, averaging 5.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.

Thomas, who was signed to the training camp roster on October 18, did not appear in any preseason games for the Nets.

The Nets roster now stands at 15 players.

It definitely would have helped the new Brooklyn Nets players had point guard Deron Williams been healthy in training camp and preseason. Team chemistry takes a while. But long-term health is way more important than a quick start. Here’s Tim Bontemps of the New York Post:

Deron Williams didn’t play again in Boston on Wednesday, just as he didn’t in the five previous preseason games for the Nets. Though he and the Nets have been very pleased with his progression over the past several days from a sprained right ankle that he suffered last month, Williams admitted it could be “tough” to make it back in time for next Wednesday’s regular-season opener in Cleveland because of how little he has done on the court so far this preseason.

While it would be a disappointment for Williams, there’s no reason for the Nets to rush their star point guard back so he can play one game in October. The Nets haven’t put together a team with a payroll of over $100 million — that will cost, including luxury taxes, near $190 million — to win their season opener. They did so to compete for a championship, and they only will be able to do that if Williams is healthy and playing the way he did in the second half of last season.

Injured Nets guard Deron Williams won’t play in Wednesday’s preseason game at Boston, and neither will ex-Celtics Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Brooklyn hasn’t had all its pieces together this preseason, but according to Pierce, health is more important than quick cohesion, the second half more important than the opener…

“Truthfully, if Deron is there at the beginning or not, the most important time is after All-Star break, anyway, to start peaking,’’ Pierce said. “We’re not going to reach our potential in the first week, second week of the season. I don’t think any team is. The only team that is [are] teams that’s already there, like the Heat. It’s important for us to just get healthy right now, and peak at the right time.’’

Reported by Brian Lewis of the New York Post

The Brooklyn Nets are undergoing an attitude adjustment, with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett overseeing the transformation.

On Thursday against the defending champion Miami Heat, Pierce delivered a hard foul to longtime rival LeBron James in the first quarter of the Nets’ 86-62 win. Pierce said the playoff-type body check was “a message to the league” of what the Nets’ identity will be this season.

Garnett then delivered a stern postgame message to James by telling the Heat star to mind his own business after James commented about how Ray Allen was criticized for leaving Boston when discussing the trade that sent Garnett, Pierce and Jason Terry to Brooklyn earlier this week.

“He’s entitled to his own opinion,” Terry said about James on Friday, “which we don’t care about.”

Jason Kidd has to be smiling about not just the tough rhetoric but the more physical play. Upon taking over as Brooklyn’s rookie head coach, Kidd made it crystal clear that he wants his team to have a tougher, more physical and defensive-minded identity this season.

Reported by Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN New York

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Adonis Thomas to the training camp roster, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Thomas, a 6’7” forward out of the University of Memphis, went undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft. He was signed to the Atlanta Hawks’ training camp roster on Sept. 30, where he appeared in one game before being waived on Oct. 14. Thomas averaged 11.7 points and 4.5 rebounds for Memphis during the 2012-13 season.

The Nets roster now stands at 18 players.

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on forward Gary Forbes, Nets General Manager Billy King announced tonight. Forbes, who was signed to the training camp roster on September 30, appeared in four preseason games, averaging 6.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.

The Nets roster now stands at 17 players.

There are more cuts to come, both on the Nets and around the league, as teams have to trim their rosters down to 15 players by the start of the regular season.

Nets fans can remember: MarShon Brooks was once part of the future.

He was an All-Rookie selection and one of a few reasons to feel good about a terrible team in New Jersey, a smooth scorer who was talking about winning Sixth Man of the Year. Then it all fell apart in Year 2, and the divorce was finalized on draft day when he was dealt to Boston.

According to multiple sources, Brooks had communicated to the Nets that he wanted to be dealt. Brooks didn’t go that far while opening up in an interview with the Daily News on Tuesday, but he outlined some of his frustrations under Avery Johnson and PJ Carlesimo.

“I wasn’t really sure with (Jason Kidd becoming coach). I didn’t know what to expect. Last year obviously we knew what was going on, it was so rocky, I didn’t know if I was playing. There just wasn’t any structure to any of my minutes,” Brooks said. “So it was kind of hard for me to perform under those circumstances and obviously I didn’t want to be in that situation next year.”

Reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard Marko Jaric, Nets General Manager Billy King announced tonight.  Jaric, who was signed to the training camp roster on September 30, appeared in two preseason games, totaling three points and seven assists.

The Nets roster now stands at 18 players.

The Brooklyn Nets will be without Deron Williams (right ankle sprain), Kevin Garnett (rest), Andrei Kirilenko (back spasms), Jason Terry (left knee rehab) and Tyshawn Taylor (right ankle sprain) when they play the Boston Celtics in Tuesday night’s preseason game, according to the team’s official media game notes.

Reggie Evans is the probable starter in place of Garnett. Paul Pierce, who took Monday night off to rest and did not travel to Philadelphia, will play against his former team.

Reported by Mike Mazzeo of ESPN New York

Madison Square Garden today unveiled new construction photos of their new Chase Bridges, which will debut later this month as part of the third and final phase of the unprecedented $1 billion, top-to-bottom Arena Transformation project. The two first-of-their-kind sky bridges will offer a premium experience for fans with one of the most unique seats in any sports arena.

In a nod to New York City’s many renowned suspension bridges, the bridges are suspended from The Garden’s iconic ceiling by 24 (north bridge) and 26 (south bridge) steel tube hangers. First-class food and beverage options are steps away from the seats, including MSG Signature Collection offerings from top New York chefs and restaurateurs. The two bridges have a combined 430 seats. Here’s a photo:

Deron Williams was cutting on the court, stepping back on his jumper and elevating. For about 20 minutes Saturday night at the Barclays Center, everything seemed normal with Williams’ game, as if that left ankle wasn’t an ongoing issue.

Then the preseason home opener tipped off with Williams again on the inactive list, reduced to 48 minutes in warmup gear while the Nets put forth a sloppy, defensively challenged effort in a 99-88 defeat to the Pistons.

About five weeks after he suffered a sprain and bone bruise to his left ankle, Williams still hasn’t practiced or played a game with his new teammates. Officially, he is day-to-day but has been ruled out of the next two games — Monday at Philadelphia and Tuesday at home against the Celtics.

The stated goal has always been to have Williams ready for the season opener on Oct. 30 at Cleveland. That hasn’t changed. But Jason Kidd added Saturday that the Nets would be “comfortable” if Williams skipped the remaining five preseason games, while raising the possibility of his point guard missing the opener.

Reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams said Thursday that he’ll miss the team’s next three preseason games as he continues to recover from a sprained right ankle.

Williams said he will not play against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday and the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.

Williams could make his preseason debut Oct. 17 against the Miami Heat. The Nets open the regular season on Oct. 30 in Cleveland.

Reported by Mike Mazzeo of ESPN New York

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd isn’t starting his coaching career on a high note.

Kidd has been suspended for two games for pleading guilty to driving while ability impaired, in violation of the law of the State of New York, the NBA announced today.

Kidd will be suspended for the first two games of the 2013-14 NBA regular season.

Brooklyn Nets General Manager Billy King issued the following statement on this news: “The decision is consistent with what the league has done in the past and we look forward to Jason leading our team versus Orlando and the rest of the year.”

Kevin Garnett Tends to be vocal

It didn’t take more than a couple of minutes watching the opening practice of Nets training camp Tuesday at Duke University to see the impact Kevin Garnett is already having on the team.

Within moments of the media being let into the gym, Garnett could be overheard saying, “If you cheat the drill, you cheat yourself.” He was constantly talking throughout the fast-paced practice, as the coaching staff kept things moving with the mostly veteran group.

“That’s all he does,” Deron Williams said of Garnett’s chatter, laughing. “That’s it. He’s gonna tell you that, as well. That’s good, though, because guys are going to see him talking and it’s contagious. When teams are talking and communicating, that’s the first key to having a successful defense.”

Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post

Brook Lopez has some good news for Brooklyn Nets fans.

With training camp a little over a week away, Lopez says his surgically repaired right foot is 100 percent healthy.

“It’s great, it’s back to 100 percent,” Lopez told ESPNNewYork.com Saturday from an NBA Cares event. “I’m out there doing everything.”

That’s great news for the Nets, who are expecting big things from Lopez and the rest of their star-studded starting five.

Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

One of the biggest moves the Nets made was convincing Andrei Kirilenko – one of the linchpins of those Utah teams alongside [Deron] Williams and [Carlos] Boozer – to sign for one year at the mini-midlevel exception, giving the Nets one of the league’s most versatile players as well as an excellent perimeter defender. Having Kirilenko will allow coach Jason Kidd to deploy all kinds of different and creative lineup combinations.

And Williams, who has remained friendly with Kirilenko since being traded from the Jazz in 2011, did his part to recruit his old running mate to Brooklyn.

“Once I saw that he had opted out and free agency was kind of drying up,” Williams said, “I was like, ‘Man, just come play for us for one year, and you can make more next year [in free agency].’

“[Kirilenko] has made a lot of money in his career, so it wasn’t about money. He wants to come to a team where he gets to have fun and has a chance to win, and I think he’s going to have a chance to play here and we’re excited about that addition. That’s as big of an addition as [Pierce and Garnett], if you ask me. “

Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post

Deron Williams will start this year’s training camp like the last — returning from an ankle injury.

The star point guard suffered a right ankle sprain and a bone bruise while working out recently in Utah — where he maintains a home — leaving Williams in a walking boot. He should be ready for training camp, which starts Oct. 1 at Duke University.

But you can’t blame Williams if he takes a cautious approach.

Most of his last season was sabotaged by ankle pain. Williams’ left ankle swelled up during the 2012 Olympics, and he soon began experiencing pain in his right ankle.

Reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (Blog)

“It’s all about timing. (Kidd) never had experience coaching. I actually had experience,” said the 69-year-old, Barry, who played two seasons with the New York Nets of the ABA. “I actually was a head coach in the minor leagues and I couldn’t even get an assistants job. He’s a very lucky young man to get a head coaching job for a team with that kind of talent on it, in that market. So he’s very fortunate. But I’m happy to see them get new blood in there. I’m so tired of these guys recycling guys. They go from one team to another. The guy loses, he gets fired, he gets hired someplace else by one of his buddies that’s a GM or something.

“Jason’s been there. He’s been there out on the floor and knows the things that has to be done. I think it gives him a tremendous advantage. I don’t care how much a guy has watched the game, studied the game, been around the game. If you haven’t played the game at that level, there are things about the game that you really don’t know.”

Barry said he was talked with former Nets coach Butch Beard about joining his staff in the 90s, but ownership nixed the idea. The New Jersey native (Elizabeth) never cracked the coaching ranks in the NBA. Always outspoken and often controversial, he has held several jobs in television and radio broadcasting – giving off the vibe that he’s either been blackballed, or he suffers from a persecution complex.

Reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (Blog)