Terrance Mann was running his annual basketball camp in Lowell, Mass. this week when he spoke with Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe about both his past in the former industrial center and his future in Brooklyn, where it should be noted he was born.
“It didn’t come as a surprise to me,” Mann told Washburn. “It’s going to be crazy to play in an environment like that, something new. I’m one of the oldest guys on the team, want to be a leader, show those guys what it takes to win.”
The 6’6” wing is of course referring to the Brooklyn Nets five first round draft picks: Egor Demin, Victor Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, all but Wolf 19 years old. The Nets could have other rookies in camp on an Exhibit 10 or two-way deal so there’s going to be plenty of work for the roster’s two 28-year-olds, Mann and Haywood Highsmith and 27-year-old Michael Porter Jr.
Mann said positive things about what he’s seen so far from the Flatbush 5.
“I’ve been with those guys a ton this summer and they’re super hungry, willing to learn basketball. It’s going to be fun. I’m excited for the challenge and I feel like I was built for this. I’m in my prime right now and ready to show the world what I’ve really got outside this role I’ve been playing for the last six seasons,” Mann said.
The three-way trade that brought Mann to Brooklyn from Atlanta took place the night before the NBA Draft. At the center of the deal, Kristaps Porzingis, went from Boston to Atlanta In return, Boston got Georges Niang and the two sides exchanged second rounders. The Nets also got the Hawks first rounder which became Drake Powell.
It was also the second trade for Mann since the February 2025 trade deadline. He was dealt from the Clippers where he had spent the first six years of his NBA career.
“I did six seasons there as a second-round pick and a lot of guys don’t get to do that so, I really felt excited to get traded to the East Coast and to an organization like Atlanta,” he told the Globe in between running drills for local kids.
Mann appeared in 30 games, all but one off the bench, averaging 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 22.7 minutes per game.
The basketball camp is an annual event for Mann and combines basketball, community and education…
Mann is one of several Nets players to run camps this summer, including Nic Claxton, Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin and Cam Thomas at least.