Nets shut down Young, Lopez for rest of season

The Brooklyn Nets will shut down veterans Thaddeus Young and Brook Lopez for the remaining six games of their lost season.

Interim head coach Tony Brown told reporters prior to Sunday's match-up with the New Orleans Pelicans that their two top players will be given additional time to recover after a difficult year.

"We’re going to shut those guys down, obviously get them to recover from the long, grueling season, get that process started early," Brown said.

In an otherwise miserable campaign for the Nets, Young and Lopez tried valiantly to carry the franchise. Prior to the shutdown, both players only missed three games each and served as pillars for a tattered roster.

Young put up 15.1 points along with a career-high nine rebounds per game, while Lopez posted a stellar line of 20.6 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Despite their best efforts, the Nets have just 21 wins to show for their year, but that speaks far more to the failures of the previous management team than it does to Young and Lopez.

"To be honest with you, I haven’t had that conversation with Brook and Thad, I would throw that back at (general manager) Sean (Marks),” Brown added. “I’m sure he’s had some contact with their representation. But I think they do understand. Like I said, I haven’t talked to them. We’re just trying to be proactive. It’s a chance to get some other guys on the floor that normally probably wouldn’t play as much."