Sergey Karasev says Nets told him priority is on youth in "restructuring"

In an interview with TASS, the Russian news service, Sergey Karasev reiterated he hopes to play for Team Russia and said the Nets have told him that the off-season priority is adding youth to the roster. Karasev is currently the team's youngest player at 21. He told TASS he hopes within the "restructuring," he'll have a starting role.

The TASS article, which Karasev posted to his Russian social media site, quoted the second year player as saying the team planned "restructuring." The priority will be on "youth," he said and the team planned to add "several high-profile players." Karssev who's rehabbing from surgery in New Jersey, didn't offer any specifics.

Regarding his own situation with the Nets, Karasev said that in conversations with Lionel Hollins, the coach said he doesn't play favorites, "and I have to keep progressing.  I hope next season to gain a foothold on the first team, " Karasev started 16 games last season before he went down in March

On playing in FIBA Eurobasket, which takes place in France this September, Karasev still wouldn't commit, noting he isn't even running yet."

In early June, the head coach Evgeny Pashutin posted the preliminary roster of Russian players who'll soon begin preparing for the tournament. Karasev wasn't on it because of injury, although national teams have plenty of time to come up with a final roster.

"Recovery is well under way, although the specific dates it's too early to speak of dates for a return," said Karasev. - "That's why I can not say whether I will play for the national team. I always want to help the national team bu playing for it ... If the knee permits, I hope to play at Eurobasket. But so far I have not even run."

Asked who he's rooting for in the Finals, Karasev said the choice was easy.  The Cavs are his former team, Timofey Mozgov is a friend and David Blatt coached him in the 2012 Olympics, where he won a bronze medal at age 18.