The Nets will remain shorthanded on the backcourt for the near future.
While taking a big hit with the trade of Dennis Schroder to the Warriors on Sunday, the Nets are still waiting to have guards Cam Thomas and Ziaire Williams back to health as they both deal with lower body injuries.
Without giving a timeline, head coach Jordi Fernandez said the two are “progressing really well” and have been able to start shooting around at practice while adhering to a no-contact rule.
“They’ve been on the court, and that’s a good sign. It also helps the rest of the group with the energy to see them on the court and to be basketball players again,” Fernandez said after practice Wednesday.
“They’ve been able to shoot, and that’s all they’re doing right now. It’s step by step. You start making sure your body can afford certain things, and you start shooting on the court, because you still need your touch and all those things. … Like I said, they’re progressing. They’re progressing and they’re in good spirits and they’ll keep taking steps.”
Thomas has been out for eight games since suffering a strained left hamstring against the Warriors on Nov. 25.
“I’m just doing whatever the performance team has me doing. It’s still early,” Thomas said on Dec. 5 of his rehab process. “I’m just doing whatever they have me doing, just a little bit here and there. But it’s all right.”
Williams is dealing with a left knee injury and has missed five games.
Trendon Watford has been ruled out for Thursday’s game at Toronto after leaving Monday’s Cleveland loss with a left hamstring injury.
It’s the same hamstring Watford pulled in the preseason that kept him out for 13 games.
Fernandez isn’t sure if a specific moment led to the injury, but said Watford will be evaluated following the Raptors game.
“No, not to my knowledge when it happened. I’m pretty sure our medical team knows but it’s being addressed now. So, we’ll have that evaluation,” Fernandez said.
Without Thomas and Williams, both Keon Johnson and Shake Milton have taken on a larger load for the Nets.
It has grown even more after the loss of Schroder, and Fernandez said the constant adjusting hasn’t been “easy” on the pair, but will be needed as they play alongside Ben Simmons — the new lead point guard.
“I think it’s a work in progress when you have to adjust to a new role and play more minutes,” Fernandez said. “I think Shake has been in that position before but also we’ve been using him as a second side ball handler, and he’s done a good job.
“It’s just now if he has to be point guard, he cannot pass the ball to himself. So, I’m putting them in different spots and it’s not easy. But what I love is they’re trying to do what’s best. They’re trying their best and working at it, and I can only say good things about those two guys.”
