Mikal Bridges Trade, Nets Tank, Extension, Ben Simmons

Cam Thomas: Keeping what I did last year but expanding it a lot. I want to step into a leadership role. I was in the group that slept second behind Nic Claxton. I will enter my fourth year, he has just completed five years. A lot of that leadership role trying to lead guys.

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CT: It was good. You are very smart. You are very detailed. I think he will be a good fit for our young team. I think we're going in a small way, so that's going to be good for us because he's knowledgeable about the details and he's pushing us to be bigger. I can't wait to start working with him.

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CT: Having more opportunity to play with the ball in my hand and show that I can do that. A lot of people saw the second half of the year that I was a completely different player with my play, rebounding, and defense. I try to maintain that throughout the year because I will have the opportunity to do that and have that stability throughout the year. It will be good.

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CT: Showing that I could do that helped me a lot and showed me that I'm not just a goal scorer. I feel like stepping into that role to start the year will be a lot better because I can do that all season long.

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CT: You're definitely thinking about it, but it's not something I'm pushing. Whatever happens with the organization happens. I can't control that. The only thing I can control is going out there and playing the best basketball I can. Whatever happens will happen. I'm not really pressured into it. Whatever happens will happen. You never know what can happen. Right now, I'm not really pressured into it. I want to continue improving my game to be ready for next season.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

CT: I think a lot of people saw what Noah could bring last year late in the year with his defense, being a lob threat, opening up 3s if we could kick it to him. I think Dariq is still trying to find his footing in the league. He hasn't played in a while. She is seriously injured. You have time. He is very young. The power is there. With Jalen Wilson, everyone saw him smash the glass, bring energy, and he can hit an open 3 if you kick it to him. He is a very efficient person. He can definitely help us.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

CT: Good. It gives us stability as a team. We have the same team, except Mikal (Bridges), and we added three players. It's good to have that continuity and that stability because the last few years, I've had a different team every year. It's crazy.

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CT: We will not consider this a reconstruction as people say we do. We will go out there and compete and try to win every game. If we lose, we lose. We will not throw away the games. We will compete hard. It will be fun and exciting with the new Nets basketball. I can't wait to see you.

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CT: I wouldn't say it's encouraging. I would say it's more than what we have to show at the end of the day. I don't think anyone in the locker room is going to lose every game. If they do that is a big problem. The way I am built, I go out and win every game. Teams should beat us. We will not roll over and let teams beat us by 30 because we are small. We played a lot of close games last year, especially towards the end of the year when we played a lot of good teams.

The team we have now as we stand is the same team. Kam Johnson. Me. Dorian Finney-Smith. Nic Claxton. Ben Simmons. Dennis Schroder.

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CT: I count on him every year he's been on the team. I expect him to be healthy and ready to play. I don't come in every year and say he's not going to play. Never. He's on the team, and I think he'll be healthy enough to start the year. Whatever happens during the year happens. To start the year, I feel like he will be ready to play.

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