Nets will kick off preseason shorthanded with injuries

SAN DIEGO — The Nets will be hamstrung to open the preseason, figuratively and literally.

The Nets will be minus at least four players when they tip off the preseason Tuesday against the Clippers, with three of the four sidelined by hamstring injuries.

Starting center Nic Claxton has already been ruled out with what the Nets are terming hamstring soreness.

And even though he did make the trip with them to California and they’re claiming they’re just being cautious with their new $97 million man, Claxton did also miss Thursday’s 36-minute scrimmage.

Meanwhile, Claxton’s presumptive backup Day’Ron Sharpe as well as reserve forward Trendon Watford were both left home altogether with hamstring issues.

They stayed back home in Brooklyn being evaluated by medical staff. The team is expected to update their progress soon.

Veteran Bojan Bogdanovic joined the team in San Diego but has also been ruled out vs. the Clippers.

“We’re pretty close to coming up with an update [on Watford and Sharpe]. But they’re not here. Everybody else is here,” Fernandez said. “Nic is not going to play on Tuesday. But with him, it was just a matter of soreness and having him ready to start the season.”

Bogdanovic is the only current Net on the roster other than Cam Thomas who has ever averaged at least 20 points in a season — 20.2 with Utah in 2019-20 and 21.6 with Detroit in 2022-23.

He was even averaging 20.2 again with the Pistons last season before being shipped to the Knicks at the trade deadline.

After having surgeries on both his left foot and wrist in April, the 35-year-old is still limited to doing individual work and has not been cleared for contact yet.

“He’s doing great. We’re very happy with how the process is going,” Fernandez said of Bogdanovic. “He’s been around the team, because I think it’s very important that he builds the relationship. He works, everybody sees him around. … He’s not going to be ready to start.”

The Nets still have one open two-way spot left. Fernandez was noncommittal about whether they plan to fill it anytime soon, or wait to see what players are cut from other teams at the end of camp.

“It’s a pretty good question. It’ll probably be a question for Sean [Marks] more than me,” said Fernandez of the general manager. “At the same time, we obviously communicate every day, and we have guys fighting for that spot. And we’re very happy with these guys. But ultimately I’d say he would have to answer that question.”

Amari Bailey, Tyrese Martin and Killian Hayes are on Exhibit 10 deals — i.e., training camp invites — but Hayes isn’t eligible for the open two-way spot.

Fernandez was spotted doing push-ups near the end of practice.

“It’s just having fun. We’re working hard every single day, but you’ve got to enjoy this,” said Dennis Schroder. “Sometimes, you play a little players against coaches about shooting. When we win, they have to do push-ups. If we lose, we’re doing push-ups.”