Sergey Karasev undergoes season-ending knee surgery

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Sergey Karasev underwent successful surgery on his right knee on Thursday, March 12, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. The surgery was performed by Nets’ Medical Director Dr. Riley Williams III along with Dr. David Altchek.

Statement from Dr. Riley Williams III:
“Sergey underwent successful right knee surgery to repair damage that occurred in association with a patellar dislocation on Thursday night. The surgery included the removal of several loose bodies as well as the repair of the medial patella femoral ligament and the medial collateral ligament. A full recovery is anticipated, and he is expected to be ready for training camp next season.”

Karasev played in 33 games (16 starts) for Brooklyn this season, posting averages of 4.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per game.

Nets fall short vs Rockets

Here’s the New York Post with an update on the Brooklyn Nets, whose despite tonight’s loss should be proud of the basketball they’ve played lately:

The Nets are only a few possessions away from being 4-0 since the All-Star break. But when you’re playing on the road in the Western Conference, it only takes a couple of possessions to separate wins and losses, and that’s why the Nets find themselves 2-2 since the break after falling 102-98 to the Rockets at Toyota Center on Friday night.

The combination of the Nets, Hornets and Pistons losing and the Celtics and Pacers winning means five teams — the Pacers, who are eighth, the Nets, Hornets and Celtics, who are tied for ninth, and the Pistons, who are 12th — are within a game of one another for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Nets (23-33) led for the vast majority of the game and had the ball with a 95-90 lead and just more than two minutes remaining.

Mason Plumlee getting less playing time lately

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the 23-32 Brooklyn Nets, who are mostly trading wins with losses lately and have won five of their last ten games:

When the Nets acquired Thaddeus Young last week, coach Lionel Hollins switched to a smaller, quicker lineup.

While that decision made sense on several levels, and seems as if it’s going to benefit most of his roster, Hollins basically decided Brook Lopez and Mason Plumlee will not play together anymore. So the two big men are splitting the 48 available minutes at center while surrounded by perimeter threats.

So far, Plumlee has found himself on the short end of that equation. Such was the case in Wednesday’s loss to the Pelicans, when he finished scoreless and with just three rebounds in 13:37, while Lopez finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots in 34:23.

Here’s the New York Post reporting on a guy at the end of the Nets bench getting to stand up, leave the bench and play some basketball:

Everyone on the Nets has gotten an extended shot at playing time at some point this season.

Everyone, that is, except for Markel Brown.

The rookie guard, taken by the Nets with the 44th pick in last year’s draft out of Oklahoma State, has spent most of the season watching from the sidelines. Before Friday’s game against the Lakers, Brown had played in just 17 of the first 51 games — and had played more than 10 minutes just three times, all in blowout losses.

But after the Nets traded Kevin Garnett for Thaddeus Young at Thursday’s trade deadline and coach Lionel Hollins opted to go to a smaller lineup, Brown played 15 minutes in Friday’s win, finishing with nine points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal in 15 minutes, a performance that could lead to more playing time.

Deron Williams struggling for Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are 21-31 this season and getting 12.9 points (38.4% FG) and 6.1 assists in 30.7 minutes per game from point guard Deron Williams, though the veteran’s contributions have been less than that lately. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

Though fans have been down on Williams for a long time, he was playing well early in the season, and the team was performing significantly better with him on the court than off it.

But after coming back from fractured rib cartilage that kept him out for virtually all of January, Williams has been a shell of himself, averaging 7.3 points in 28 minutes per game in the final six games before the break. He was shooting 15-for-51 (29.4 percent) and 4-for-17 (23.4 percent) from 3-point range in that span, and ducked out of the locker room in Memphis without speaking to reporters in the final game before the break.

If the Nets are going to make a run at a playoff spot, they absolutely have to get Williams going again. He’s easily the best 3-point shooter on a team without many options from deep, and gives the Nets another creator and scorer on the perimeter. But when he’s playing as he is now, he doesn’t give them much of anything.

Detroit Pistons have interest in Joe Johnson, who makes a ton of money

Here’s ESPN New York reporting discussion between the Pistons and Nets:

The Detroit Pistons reached out to the Brooklyn Nets, inquiring about swingman Joe Johnson, league sources told ESPNNewYork.com’s Ohm Youngmisuk Tuesday.

Nothing is imminent, but the Pistons talked to the Nets about a package involving injured point guard Brandon Jennings and expiring contracts, league sources said.

The Nets continue to field inquiries from other teams.

Johnson is making $23.2 million this season and is due $24.9 million next season, the final year of his deal. The 33-year-old veteran is averaging 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on a fun New York police vs fire department basketball game that took place during All-Star weekend:

Boomer Esiason, head coach of the FDNY’s basketball team, let it be known that he was concerned about his rivals offering Police Benevolent Association cards to the officials prior to tipoff of the game against the NYPD at the Barclay’s Center Sunday.

As it turned out, it was the police officers’ quick hands that proved more problematic.

New York’s Finest downed the Bravest, 40-33, in the New York Heroes Game. Guard Kenyatta Brown from the Housing Authority Police Service Area 3 led the cops with 11 points, and guard Joseph Alohan, from the 70th Precinct, employed aggressive defense to limit Muggsy Bogues, a hydrant-size former NBA guard, as he probed the police’s defense.

The Brooklyn Nets have been in need of a serious boost, and they got one in the form of Deron Williams Monday. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

Deron Williams made his return for the Nets on Monday night, coming off the bench after missing almost the entire month of January with fractured rib cartilage.

Williams played for the first time since playing just a few minutes against the Celtics. Jan. 7, before missing the next 11 games as the Nets went a dismal 3-12 in January.

But despite the lengthy layoff, it looked as if Williams had never left the court, as he finished with 15 points, three rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes off the bench, giving the Nets another creator on the perimeter and, more importantly, another 3-point threat for a team lacking them.

“It was good to be out there, but it was better to get a win,” Williams said after the 102-100 victory over the Clippers. “We didn’t get a win in all of January at home, so this one felt really good.”

The Brooklyn Nets are 18-28, have won just 2 of their last 10 games, and are on a 4-game losing streak. Center Brook Lopez, playing just 26.9 minutes per game, is averaging 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Those stats look good when taking the court time into account. But his actual impact has been limited. And when you factor in Brook’s massive contract, things get bleak. Changes are being discussed. Here’s ESPN.com reporting the latest:

The Brooklyn Nets continue to explore the possibility of trading center Brook Lopez but to date have resisted a serious push from the Denver Nuggets, according to league sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Nuggets have offered big men JaVale McGee and J.J. Hickson, as well as one of the two draft picks Denver recently acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers for center Timofey Mozgov, in exchange for the Lopez.

But Brooklyn, sources say, has rebuffed those advances so far.

Mirza Teletovic health update

The following is a statement from Brooklyn Nets team physician Dr. Michael Farber:

“Mirza was diagnosed with pulmonary embolus on January 22 and started on the appropriate medications for this condition. Diagnostic testing was arranged and he was then observed until testing showed that he reached the expected therapeutic range. We are pleased to say that he reports no symptoms at this time and that he will be discharged to return home today.”

“This was a true collaborative effort between our medical team and training staff and the local physicians at the Los Angeles hospital where Mirza was treated. I am really pleased with how Mirza has progressed. We will evaluate him upon return, personally review all of the testing he had done, and arrange for further testing if necessary.”

The National Basketball Association has announced that tonight’s Portland Trail Blazers at Brooklyn Nets game, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Barclays Center, has been postponed due to severe weather conditions. The game has been rescheduled for Monday, April 6, at 7:00 p.m.

All tickets for tonight’s game will be honored on the rescheduled date, April 6.

Brooklyn Nets forward Mirza Teletovic was taken to a local Los Angeles hospital after experiencing shortness of breath during last night’s game versus the Clippers. Following a series of tests including a CT scan, Teletovic was diagnosed with bilateral pulmonary embolus (multiple blood clots in the lungs). He will remain hospitalized in Los Angeles to undergo further diagnostic testing and to begin treatment, which includes blood thinners being administered. Due to the nature of blood thinners, Teletovic will be unable to play for the remainder of the season. Once he is cleared for travel, he will return to Brooklyn. Further updates on his condition will be provided as necessary.

In 40 games this season, Teletovic posted averages of 8.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 22.3 minutes per game. Over 165 career games (11 starts), the third-year pro holds averages of 7.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 16.9 minutes per game.

Here’s TMZ reporting that, if you were wondering if Donald Trump might happen to want to buy the Brooklyn Nets, you can stop wondering. The answer is no. Or so he says. Of course, if he was thinking of exploring it, there’s no reason for him to necessarily admit it at this time. Still, here’s the report:

Donald Trump is taking himself out of the running to buy the Brooklyn Nets … telling TMZ Sports he won’t even consider making a bid for the NBA team now that they’re up for sale.

Of course, Trump flirted with the idea of buying the Buffalo Bills last year … and it seemed like the guy was pretty serious about adding a major professional sports team to his portfolio.

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Garnett has been suspended one game without pay for initiating an altercation with Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard and headbutting him. Howard was fined $15,000 for pushing Garnett in the neck area. The penalties were announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 7:53 remaining in the first quarter of the Rockets’ 113-99 win over the Nets on Monday, Jan. 12, at Barclays Center.

Garnett will serve his suspension on Wednesday, Jan. 14, when the Nets host the Memphis Grizzlies at Barclays Center.

To view the play, click on this link.

Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams has been diagnosed with a fracture of the cartilage portion of the left 12th rib following an MRI today, General Manager Billy King announced.

Statement from Nets Medical Director Dr. Riley Williams III

“Deron reported some soreness above this area over the weekend and as a result underwent imaging studies on Monday, which were negative. Yesterday during the game he reported a new onset of symptoms below the prior area of soreness. New imaging studies done today demonstrated the fracture. There is no timetable for his return. He will be re-assessed in one week.”

Williams has appeared in 32 games (25 starts) this season, averaging 13.9 points, 6.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 31.3 minutes per game. He ranks 14th in the NBA in assists per game.

According to New York Newsday, “Williams’ diagnosis caps a rollercoaster last few days. After Sunday’s game, he said his left side locked up and he was told he had something akin to a severe cramp and that electrolytes would help. He was listed as probable leading into Monday’s loss to the Mavericks, but word came down before tipoff that he was instead out.”

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on forward Brandon Davies, General Manager Billy King announced today.

Davies was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers on December 11, 2014. In seven appearances for the Nets, Davies posted averages of 2.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 6.3 minutes per game.

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on the Nets, who are 16-16 for the season and on a three-game winning streak:

Much ballyhooed rookie Bojan Bogdanovic has fallen out of the rotation. In fact, he received his first DNP-coach’s decision Friday night. Granted, he didn’t play until garbage time in Chicago Tuesday night. He shot 38.8 percent in December. Hollins told reporters in Orlando: “It’s not what Bogie’s done, it’s what he’s not done. You’ve got to play and compete and go out and play well, and (Sergey) Karasev has shown me a lot in practice. We were struggling, I just gave (Sergey) a shot and he played well. It’s also a product of Bogie just hitting a wall and not being aggressive.” As a starter, Karasev is averaging 8.3 points on 41.7 percent shooting. His basketball IQ has been excellent, his defense competent.

The Brooklyn Nets have assigned Markel Brown and Cory Jefferson to the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League, pursuant to the flexible assignment rule, General Manager Billy King announced today. The flexible assignment rule was used because the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Nets’ D-League affiliate, had four players on assignment at the time the Nets initiated Brown and Jefferson’s assignments to the D-League.

Brown, a 6’3” rookie guard, has appeared in seven games with the Nets this season, averaging 1.9 points in 5.4 minutes per game. He was selected with the 44th pick of this year’s NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves and traded to the Nets in exchange for cash considerations.

Jefferson, a 6’9” rookie forward, has appeared in 15 games (one start) with the Nets this season, averaging 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 9.9 minutes per game. He was selected with the 60th pick of this year’s NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and traded to the Nets in exchange for cash considerations.

These will be the first D-League assignments of Brown and Jefferson’s careers and the first D-League assignments the Nets have made this season.

Here’s ESPN New York reporting some hard truths about several key Brooklyn Nets players:

They might be making a combined $432,604 per game, but Deron Williams and Brook Lopez are nothing more than sixth and seventh men right now, two max reserves coming back from injury and struggling to adapt to their new roles for the Brooklyn Nets.

On Saturday night at Barclays Center, Williams and Lopez looked like shells of their former All-Star selves. Williams shot 2-for-7 from the field and had three turnovers in 20 minutes off the bench, while Lopez missed all five of his field-goal attempts in 15 minutes and was held scoreless for the first time since Nov. 8, 2010 — the sixth game of his career.

“There are no excuses,” Nets coach Lionel Hollins said after his team was pounded by the Indiana Pacers 110-85. “[Deron and Brook] didn’t play very well, and they have to play better for us to be better or for them to get more playing time and more consistent playing time.”

You want a strong statement from a head coach of a 13-15 team that is only alive and well because it plays its games in the Eastern Conference? Try that one.

Here’s ESPN.com reporting an update on trade talks between the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings, which focused on Deron Williams but also talented athletic young big-man Mason Plumlee:

Talks between the Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets about a trade involving Nets star Deron Williams have cooled, according to league sources.

Sacramento had recently initiated talks with the Nets, proposing a deal for Williams and second-year forward Mason Plumlee, who was actually the Kings’ main target, sources said.

With Plumlee struggling and clashing a bit with new Nets coach Lionel Hollins over the first month of the season, the Kings were hoping he might be available. To compel the Nets into moving Plumlee, they considered taking on Williams, whose contract and history of injuries has scared off many clubs.