The Houston Rockets have discussed trading the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft with both the Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies.

The Rockets' target in trade talks with the Nets is Mikal Bridges. However, Brooklyn is seeking players to add around Bridges in any deals they make.

The Grizzlies are reportedly attempting to move up to be in range to draft center Donovan Clingan. Memphis has a need for a long-term center to add to their core. Clingan isn't expected to be available when the Grizzlies select with the ninth overall pick.

The Detroit Pistons will hire J.R. Holden as part of their new front office under Trajan Langdon.

Holden was a teammate with Langdon for CSKA Moscow.

Holden most recently was director of player personnel for the Brooklyn Nets.

The Brooklyn Nets unveiled nine assistant coaches to Jordi Fernandez's staff for the 2024-25 season.

They include: Steve Hetzel, Juwan Howard, Jay Hernandez, Adam Caporn, Deividas Dulkys, Ryan Forehan-Kelly, Connor Griffin, Corey Vinson, and Travis Bader.

The 41-year-old Fernandez spent the last two seasons as the associate head coach of the Kings. 

The Brooklyn Nets have named Steve Hetzel, Juwan Howard, Deividas Dulkys, Connor Griffin and Travis Bader as assistant coaches on Jordi Fernandez’s staff. They join Jay Hernandez, Adam Caporn, Ryan Forehan-Kelly and Corey Vinson on Brooklyn’s bench.

Hetzel comes to Brooklyn from Portland, where he was an assistant coach on the Trail Blazers’ staff for the past three seasons (2021-24). He previously served as an assistant coach for three seasons (2018-21) with the Orlando Magic following a four-year stint (2014-18) as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets. Hetzel was also the head coach of the Canton Charge in the NBA G League for one season (2013-14) while Fernandez served as his lead assistant coach. 

Howard joins the Nets’ staff after serving as the head coach of his alma mater, the University of Michigan, for the past five seasons (2019-24). While at the helm in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines compiled an 87-72 record, which included trips to the Sweet 16 (2022) and Elite Eight (2021) in the NCAA Tournament and a regular season Big Ten Conference championship. At the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, Howard earned National Coach of the Year honors. Before his stint leading Michigan, Howard spent six seasons (2013-19) as an assistant coach with the Miami Heat. 

Dulkys joins Brooklyn’s bench after spending the last two seasons (2022-24) as an assistant and player development coach for the Sacramento Kings. 

Griffin arrives in Brooklyn after three seasons (2021-24) with the Denver Nuggets. He spent the last two seasons (2022-24) as head video coordinator/player development while assisting a postseason run in 2023 that resulted in the Nuggets’ first NBA championship. Griffin originally joined Denver ahead of the 2021-22 season as an assistant video coordinator. 

Bader begins his fifth season as part of the Nets organization and his first as an assistant coach. He spent the last two seasons (2022-24) as the team’s head video coordinator following a two-year stint (2020-22) as a video seasonal assistant. 

Brooklyn Nets governor Joe Tsai owned that his team didn't perform as hoped for last season. Tsai also said, "In New York, the Brooklyn Nets is at a crossroads in a way."

Tsai went on to explain that the Nets are trying to build a team that can compete long-term. That's guiding decision-making instead of short-term thinking designed around winning immediately.

"We didn’t do as well as we expected last season. We didn’t make the playoffs," Tsai said. "But we hope to revamp the team and make sure that we can compete in the long run… There’s a difference between I want to win, versus I want to build a winning mentality and culture that’s sustainable. Those two are very different things. If you just want to be win-now you could ruin your future by trading away all of your assets, but I think what I want to do with the Brooklyn Nets is take a longer-term approach and build a winning sustainable culture"

The Brooklyn Nets added Connor Griffin and Deividas Dulkys to Jordi Fernandez's coaching staff.

Griffin comes from the Nuggets, with Dulkys last with the Kings.

Adam Caporn, Ryan Forehan-Kelly and Corey Vinson will be retained from last season's staff.

The Brooklyn Nets announced they will retire the No. 15 jersey of Vince Carter.

Carter will be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame this summer.

Carter played 4 1/2 seasons with the Nets while they were in New Jersey, averaging 23.6 points. 

Carter will become the seventh Nets player with a retired jersey. Along with Kidd, the others are Julius Erving, Buck Williams, Drazen Petrovic, "Super" John Williamson and Bill Melchionni.

Donovan Mitchell faces a big decision this offseason when the Cleveland Cavaliers offer him a contract extension. If Mitchell chooses not to extend, a trade becomes possible and there are already several teams closely monitoring the situation due to their interest in acquiring him.

"The NBA, especially beginning with what Donovan says at the end of the season, is paying very close attention because multiple teams would love to make a huge offer to the Cavs if Donovan does not choose to extend his contract," said Brian Windhorst.

Mitchell has been non-committal on his future with the Cavaliers when asked about it during the season. Windhorst added that he doesn't expect Mitchell to explicitly indicate he would prefer to be traded.

The Cavaliers traded for Mitchell before the 21-22 season with the Utah Jazz also receiving interest at that time from teams such as the New York Knicks and Miami Heat. Mitchell can become a free agent in 2024.

"There is an optimism within that organization that they're going to sign him," said Windhorst of the Cavaliers. 

"There are a number of teams that have their offers ready," said Windhorst.

"Are the Lakers one?" asked Andraya Carter.

"They're ready, of course," said Windhorst.

"The Knicks?" asked Mike Greenberg.

"I don't think... the Knicks are trying win the Eastern Conference," replied Windhorst. "Certainly across the river there in Brooklyn."

While the Houston Rockets were linked with a trade pursuit of Mikal Bridges back in January, they were also seeking a way to convert some of their future picks into picks that stretch further out into the future.

During that trade discussion, the Rockets offered the Brooklyn Nets their own first round picks back to them in exchange for the picks from the Phoenix Suns.

The Nets declined that scenario as they were pursuing a spot in the playoffs last season.

The Rockets ultimately held onto Brooklyn's pick in the 2024 draft and it moved up in the lottery to No. 3. 

Houston could reach out to other teams with a similar stockpile of picks such as the Utah Jazz or the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Rockets traded James Harden to the Nets in 2021 for unprotected first round picks in 2022, 2024 and 2026, along with pick swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027. Brooklyn subsequently traded Kevin Durant to the Suns in 2023 for first round picks in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029, as well as a pick swap in 2028.

Juwan Howard will be an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets next season, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Howard was most recently fired by Michigan after five seasons with the program.

Howard joins Steve Hetzel on Jordi Fernandez's staff.