Nets Notebook: Keita Bates-Diop trade, Spencer Dinwiddie Lakers join

Keita Bates-Diop asks about the cost of living in New York after being traded to the Nets. He's excited for the opportunity.

Keita Bates-Diop recently joined the Nets after being traded last Thursday. One of his first questions was about the cost of living in New York compared to Phoenix. He was surprised to find out that New York is much more expensive, and as he is on an expiring, veteran-minimum deal, it means his paychecks will be lighter. Nevertheless, Bates-Diop is excited about his new opportunity in Brooklyn.

He mentioned that the transition has been a blur, from when it happened to flying out to New York, adjusting to the time change, and going through media day and practice. Despite the whirlwind of changes, Bates-Diop is looking forward to the game as it is the only thing that feels normal to him.

Bates-Diop, along with Dennis Schröder, made their Nets debuts on Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs. Schröder had his introductory news conference following Thursday's game, and it was Bates-Diop's turn to share his perspective on the trade and explain what he brings to the team.

He expressed that his conversations with the Nets' front office have been positive and focused on integrating himself with the team and understanding schemes and plays. Bates-Diop believes that his versatility, especially on defense, will be a significant asset for the team.

The Nets' head coach, Jacque Vaughn, emphasized that Bates-Diop brings high IQ and intellect to the team and that he is still getting better. He also mentioned that Bates-Diop's ability to fit into systems and space the floor while being a traditional big is a testament to his high IQ.

However, Bates-Diop and Schröder will not be heavily featured in the Nets' rotation until they can get up to speed, given their lack of practice time with the team. The team is scheduled to practice fully on Monday ahead of their game against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.

In other news, Spencer Dinwiddie, who was traded from Brooklyn to Toronto, has signed a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for the remainder of the season. This move reunites him with former teammates and gives the Lakers more depth.

The Nets also had players returning from injuries, which offered more depth to the team. However, the coach mentioned the challenge of managing minutes and forming a strategy to maximize the team's performance. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic and looks forward to having all players healthy and available to play.