All Love BKN through the ups & downs!! Helluva Ride 🖤🤍9️⃣

— Trendon Watford (@trendonw) July 3, 2025

The Brooklyn Nets have been making plenty of moves during the 2025 NBA offseason as they look to retool the roster after a 2024-25 campaign in which they finished with a 26-56 record. Brooklyn has already shaken up the team with some trades bringing in more talent, but there is one player who left the team in free-agency despite having a pivotal role.

“Pretty much got the call from coach (Nick) Nurse as soon as free agency started,” Watford said during his introductory press conference to the media covering the Philadelphia 76ers, per Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire. Watford signed with the 76ers in free-agency on a two-year, $5.3 million deal after spending the past two seasons in Brooklyn as a backup power forward.

“He said he was a fan of my game and he liked some of the things I can bring to the team and use my versatility so I know he’s a defensive minded coach and a coach that’s won a championship and he’s had a good coaching career in this league,” Watford continued. “So, that’s what drew it to me, and obviously, playing with one of my best friends in Tyrese and knowing each other since we were kids and his family knowing mine and it just worked out perfectly.”

Watford, 24, is coming off the best season of his four-year career since being an undrafted free-agent out of LSU as he averaged 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 46.9% from the field and 33.0% from three-point land. Watford said to the media during his exit interview in April that he wanted to get what he “deserved” in free-agency, but didn’t specify that what he wanted is monetary.

Watford will be earning in his new contract with the 76ers annually around what he made last season with the Nets, $2.7 million, but as HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto noted, the second year of the deal is a team option. Either way, Watford gave a detailed explanation of what motivated him to sign with Philadelphia while also maintaining good feelings towards his time in Brooklyn.

Update: Philadelphia 76ers have a second-year team option on their two-year deal with Trendon Watford, sources told @hoopshype

Daryl Morey: “Trendon is a young, dynamic player with a unique skillset who fits nicely with what we’re trying to accomplish on both sides of the ball.”

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 3, 2025