Key Nets reserve could benefit from Ben Simmons buyout ahead of looming free agency
Ben Simmons’ buyout left a hole at backup point guard for the Brooklyn Nets. While D’Angelo Russell will continue to man the point in the starting unit, someone must step up to fill the void behind him. The Nets’ players already have an idea of who that player will be.
“Trendon Watford [will step up],” Day’Ron Sharpe said. “Since Ben’s gone, I see T [in that role]. He’s a big forward, plays one-through-five, plays defense, can shoot, initiate the offense. T-Wat’s going to have a big jump for us. He’s going to be a big part for us.”
Watford is in his second season with the Nets after joining the team on a minimum contract during the 2023 offseason. After playing his first two NBA seasons as a small-ball five with the Portland Trail Blazers, Brooklyn has utilized him as a point-forward. At 6-foot-8 with natural ball-handling ability, the 24-year-old has begun to feel more comfortable in the role.
“I’ve been having the ball in my hands a lot. Last year, I got a lot of reps at the one. It was my first time getting a lot of reps at the one in the league. I got comfortable with it,” Watford said. “I enjoy being out there on the floor, period. Whether it’s at the one or the five or the three or whatever it is, I just enjoy being out there.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73266271/2139239770.0.jpg)
“Just growing game by game. Getting more comfortable having the ball in my hands. Getting more comfortable watching film. I just think it was a part of growth from year three to year four. It hasn’t been a lot of minutes, but it’s a good sample size right now. I think just watching the film and getting better and seeing passes I should make and times I should be aggressive.”
After missing the first six weeks of the season with a hamstring injury, Watford has been impactful off the bench. He’s averaged 24.9 points per 36 minutes, the Nets’ fourth-highest mark behind Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson and Russell. The LSU product can score in a variety of ways, slashing to the basket, posting up, or pulling up for the occasional three.
Defensively, he’s been comfortable guarding across multiple positions using his length and strong frame. Opponents are scoring 7.5 fewer points per 100 possessions with Watford on the floor, placing him in the 95th percentile among NBA forwards, per CleaningTheGlass.
He’ll need to build upon that two-way success in an expanded role if the Nets hope to remain competitive following Simmons’ departure.
