The Nets’ youth movement was in full swing, with first-round pick Caris LeVert getting his first NBA start on Friday night. He was in the lineup with fellow rookie Isaiah Whitehead and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but all three had nights to forget.
Whitehead played just 14 scoreless minutes, shooting 0-for-4 before leaving with a shoulder injury. LeVert had four points on 1-of-9 shooting and finished minus-24 while Indiana’s Paul George scored a game-high 24 points. Hollis-Jefferson also had four points, committing four turnovers in a 106-97 loss to the Pacers.
“Getting three young guys going against veteran guys, they’re a physical team. I don’t think we handled their physicality well,’’ coach Kenny Atkinson said.
“That’s where Caris is going to learn he’s got to get stronger this summer, Rondae’s got to get stronger, we’ve got to learn how to play through contact a little better. They did a good job of getting into us. They see some young guys out there and say we’re really going to get physical. Good job by [Indiana].”
And it started early, the Nets falling into a 14-4 hole just four minutes in.
“Offensively sure they’re young guys and they try to do too much,’’ Atkinson said. “I think that’s our job, we’ve got to reign them in a little bit, improve our execution and help them making the simpler play and keep defending their roles and what we’re looking for from them offensively.”
For his part, Whitehead said his shoulder was fine. LeVert took little solace afterward in having made his first start.
“It was OK. We should’ve got the win, obviously,’’ LeVert said. “I didn’t play my best game.”
All sources indicate that despite the Nets’ NBA-worst 9-41 mark and the trade deadline approaching on Feb. 23, Brooklyn is not actively shopping Brook Lopez.
But Nets play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle specified on a podcast what he believed to be the asking price: A lottery pick this year and another first-rounder next year.
“They’re not giving him away. They’re not going to make a deal for the sake of saying they’re making moves. Brook Lopez is one of the major assets, and unless somebody is willing give up what I believe Nets think they need — which is a lottery pick — Brook Lopez could be a part of this next year,’’ Eagle said.
“I think a future first-round pick is something they desire as well … They [don’t have one] and want to make sure they’re not scrambling a year from now to get into the first round.”
Eagle also said Whitehead, LeVert and Jeremy Lin are the only untouchables.
“Those two picks they want to see develop,” Eagle told the Glue Guys of Nets Daily. “Jeremy Lin is obviously in it for the long haul. They’d love to see him healthy. … After that, I think everybody’s available.”
Bojan Bogdanovic was the only Net to have played every single game this season before being rested Friday.
Hawks forward Taurean Prince has been assigned to the Long Island Nets.
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