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Sean Marks, Kenny Atkinson Talk Brooklyn Nets’ Culture, Free Agency

By Charles Daye

May 16, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks listens to Brooklyn Nets new head coach Kenny Atkinson answer questions from media during press conference at HSS Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks listens to Brooklyn Nets new head coach Kenny Atkinson answer questions from media during press conference at HSS Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sean Marks and Kenny Atkinson sat down with Evan Roberts of WFAN, in front of fans, to answer questions about the Brooklyn Nets.

Brooklyn Nets GM Sean Marks and head coach Kenny Atkinson sat down with WFAN’s Evan Roberts (who is a Nets fan) in front of a small gathering of fans, to be interviewed and answer questions. The entire interview runs just short of an hour and can be viewed here.

Atkinson admitted the head coaching experience has been a lot more difficult than he thought it would be. However, at the same time, it’s been an enjoyable experience on a day-to-day basis due to the character of the team and organization. Marks noted his head coach’s “humble nature” and how honesty are important to a successful culture.

"“We are not going to sugar coat it and tell people this is cake. We’re going to roll through here and in six months it’s going to be turned around and be completely different. By being honest not only with our players but with our fan base, with everybody that we work for, everybody is on the same page.”–Sean Marks"

RELATED STORY: Nets’ Small Ball Beginning to Match Atkinson’s Vision

Has the culture changed?

"“Well, it certainly has changed from what I had witnessed but that doesn’t go on, just what I’ve done or just what Kenny has done. Again that’s every single person has been pushing that culture. And I think the minute you think “hey our culture has arrived” that’s when you’re in trouble. The culture has got to be continuously progressing forward and so forth. So, we are always looking to push the boundaries.  We are always looking to make sure the players know it’s a player driven culture. It’s them first, they can come up and they can go into either one of our offices anytime they want, vent to us, talk to us, come up with ideas and so forth and it’s a big collaboration.”–Sean Marks on the Nets’ culture"

Atkinson added that they both bring what they’ve learned from Atlanta and San Antonio to create a unique culture in Brooklyn. He admitted that Jeremy Lin going down definitely hurt the team. However, he quickly noted the positive of rookie Isaiah Whitehead and the 22-year-old’s progression over the season. From questioning if Whitehead was really an NBA player to knowing the rookie is, Atkinson cited experience being of utmost importance.

RELATED STORY: Whitehead, Dinwiddie Helped Solve Nets’ PG Dilemma

The first-year Nets head coach also noted the coach-ability of Brook Lopez, since the starting center went through so many head coaching changes in his nine-year career with the team.

"“Absolute pleasure, I can’t imagine being around a better guy, he’s a great teammate, he’s smart guy, he comes to practice every day and works and plays hard. I just think I enjoy being around the person. I challenge him in a different way. Sometimes I get on him pretty hard, he accepts coaching. My concern … was like you’re going to get this guy he’s going be so jaded and so cynical ‘like okay here comes another (coach).’”–Kenny Atkinson on Brook Lopez"

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Atkinson added that getting to know Lopez and building trust was key, and that Lopez also played a part in free agency during the offseason. Marks added that Lopez is “the fabric” of the team, largely due to his long tenure as a Net.

The Nets GM is currently scouting players in Europe and admitted that going after restricted free agents is “one of many” routes the Nets can take. He wants to be “creative” with the two first-round draft picks, but also wants to be “strategic” about who the Nets go after. After all, they’re not “going to spend money for the sake of spending money.”

RELATED STORY: Ranking Sean Marks’ Free Agent Signings

"“Well I think if a guy comes in (just for the money) he’s probably not going to be here. That’s not part of what we’re trying to build here. We want people, as Kenny said, guys who are all in. We are passionate about turning this thing around. That’s from a staff perspective, that’s also from the player perspective.You hope that we have done our due diligence over the course of time and found out as much intel as we can on what makes that guy tick. Does he really want to be here? When he is sitting across the table (from Kenny and I) is he telling us the truth? Does he really want to play that position? Is he okay with those many minutes? Is he actually going to take a discount or is he just coming here for the money? Those are all things we weigh out.”–Sean Marks on the Nets’ plans for free agency"

The D-League is another avenue Marks and Atkinson will use to improve the team. The Long Island Nets run the same exact system that Atkinson runs in Brooklyn, so Marks and Atkinson are able to put D-League players in similar positions if they were called up and signed to a 10-day contract.

Next: Nets' Rebuild in Early Stages of The Process

It’s clear that Marks, Atkinson and the Nets organization are constantly evaluating the team, free agents, draft prospects and the D-League to better the future of the franchise.