Report: Trendon Watford signs with Brooklyn Nets

Trendon Watford has found a new home in the NBA. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the former Portland Trail Blazers forward has signed with the Brooklyn Nets.

Watford spent the first two years of his professional career in Portland. During the 2022-23 season, the former LSU star averaged 7.4 points and 3.8 rebounds. He also logged more than 19 minutes per game and dished out 2.1 assists per game.

During his rookie campaign in 2021-22, Watford averaged 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest.

Brooklyn signed F Trendon Watford, who averaged 7.4 points and 3.8 rebounds for Portland last season.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 3, 2023

A former LSU star, Watford was not selected in the 2021 NBA Draft. Still, he was able to carve out a significant role for himself in Portland as a rookie. He signed with Brooklyn on a “standard deal.”

Watford earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2021 and was named to the conference’s All-Freshman team in 2020. Prior to his college career, he was a two-time winner of the Alabama Mr. Basketball Award and earned McDonald’s All-American honors in 2019.

The forward joins a Nets team that finished 45-37 in 2022-23. The team’s postseason run was nothing short of disappointing, getting swept by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

What should we expect from the Nets in 2023-24?

The 2023-24 NBA season is still months away, but with rosters getting filled out, it’s fair to start looking ahead. There’s not exactly an optimistic outlook for the Nets entering next season. That’s not exactly shocking with Kevin Durant now in Phoenix.

Per ESPN’s power rankings, Brooklyn comes in at No. 19. This projection comes after the Nets earned the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference last year.

With Portland, Watford took on more of a reserve role, averaging fewer than 20 minutes on the floor per game. Still, he found a way to make an impact. With the Nets going a new direction post-Durant, could the former LSU star take on a bigger role in the Eastern Conference?

This would serve as an opportunity for Watford to prove himself on the floor. It will be interesting to see how the Nets incorporate the third-year player into their rotation for the upcoming season.