It’s hard to analyze the current state of the Brooklyn Nets. Once again they were unlucky in the draft lottery — they landed at No. 6 in 2026 to select Mikel Brown Jr. — and they don’t have that foundational piece to build around. However, that doesn’t mean they throw in the towel or stop making decisions, such as the move made by Jordi Fernández with Terance Mann.
Although at the start of summer there was plenty of talk that the guard could be traded as part of a rebuilding process that still looms long, the front office ultimately chose to keep him with a clear objective: to continue leading a group filled with young players. Mann concedes that it’s a new role for him, but at 29 he sees himself as more than ready.
«Without a doubt, it was an adjustment at first, but as the year progressed it got easier. I took the young guys under my wing, showed them what to do and what not to do in the league. They’re growing and I love seeing it. We’ve already done a few things this summer to get to know each other better. We’re on the right track to feel comfortable», the guard said in remarks collected by Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe.
Beyond that clearly defined role, Mann believes that during the summer they are doing what is necessary — both technically and at the front office level — to take a step forward and have the team’s improvement become noticeable from the very start of the 2026-27 season.
«It’s incredible to be part of this, to be at the forefront of helping an organization pivot like this. That really is my goal, to try to be a key piece on that path. At other times in my career it has been very different. This is a different situation from what I experienced in Los Angeles with the Clippers or even in Atlanta with the Hawks. We’re ready to face this year», he states.
