Terance Mann opened up about his departure from the Los Angeles Clippers, saying he was ready for a fresh start when he was moved to the Atlanta Hawks at last season’s trade deadline.
In an interview with Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, the 28-year-old guard said he viewed the deal as a needed change after spending five-and-a-half years with the Clippers.
“I was super excited to be traded the first time, I kind of felt like my time in L.A. was up and it was time for me to get out of there,” Mann said. “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.”
Mann played 30 games with the Hawks, averaging 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 22.7 minutes per game. He was efficient offensively, shooting 54.1 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Atlanta, however, used him as a trade chip this summer in a three-team deal that brought Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks, sending Mann and the draft rights to 22nd pick Drake Powell to the Brooklyn Nets.
Mann said the move to Brooklyn did not catch him off guard and sees it as a chance to take on a bigger role. “It didn’t come as a surprise to me,” he said. “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 Florida State product emphasized his readiness to step into that leadership position with the Nets, noting that he has already been working with teammates throughout the offseason.
“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 2025-26 campaign will mark Mann’s seventh NBA season. He enters with career averages of 8.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists across 412 games.
