SAN FRANCISCO — After a rough half-season with the Kings, Marcus Thornton is looking forward to getting a fresh start with the Nets.
“Yeah, I am,” Thornton said after the Nets finished their Friday morning practice. “I am. Change is always good and I am definitely looking forward to getting out there with the guys.
“I was kind of mad I couldn’t practice [Friday], but I’m definitely looking forward to getting out there with the guys, getting a feel for them and them getting a feel for me.”
The Nets acquired Thornton on Wednesday in exchange for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans, their final move before Thursday’s trade deadline came and went. But because both Terry and Evans haven’t yet completed their physicals — traded players have 48 hours following a trade’s consummation to do so — Thornton was forced to sit in a chair on the baseline during warmups and watch his new teammates work.
Still, Thornton said regardless of the fact he won’t have had a full practice with the Nets before either Saturday’s game against the Warriors or Sunday’s in Los Angeles against the Lakers, he’ll be ready to contribute however he can.
“Anytime you put me out there, I’m just going to do what I have to do to help the team win,” Thornton said. “I haven’t learned the plays yet, and hopefully the guys help me with that.”
What Thornton can do to help the Nets is bring scoring punch off the bench. Although he has struggled so far this season — shooting under 40 percent from the field and under 32 percent from 3-point range — he scored 42 points against the Pacers last month, and is a career 36 percent 3-point shooter who can space the floor and give the Nets the scoring they had thought Terry would be able to provide.
“I definitely think [Thornton] can help us, having an additional scorer off the bench,” Deron Williams said. “He’s a lethal scorer. It’s one of those instant-offense guys. We’re excited to have him on board, and I’m looking forward to playing with him.”
Thornton couldn’t identify why he was having such a rough year in Sacramento, but admitted the amount of change the organization has gone through over the past year made things difficult.
“I can’t just pinpoint it,” he said. “There was a whole bunch of changes, coaching changes. Everybody was new, and we made a couple trades, too. … I wouldn’t say I was on the outside looking in.
“I guess I would just say I wasn’t comfortable in the scheme of things. But that’s done with and I’m a Brooklyn Net now, so I’m ready.”
Thornton was also looking forward to the opportunity to be on a playoff team. After spending the first four years of his career in losing situations in New Orleans and Sacramento, he said the time had come to experience what playing in the postseason felt like.
“This is my fifth year in the league, and I haven’t been in the playoffs yet,” he said. “So to have a chance to be able to go to the playoffs this year, and in years to come, it’s great man. I’m excited.”