February 23, 2014 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Nets sign Jason Collins to 10-day contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed center Jason Collins to a 10-day contract, General Manager Billy King announced today.

“The decision to sign Jason was a basketball decision,” said King. ” We needed to increase our depth inside, and with his experience and size, we felt he was the right choice for a 10-day contract.”

Collins is an openly gay player, and this is the first time in NBA history that an openly gay player has been active in the league. That’s a much bigger story than his basketball ability at this point, which has always been mostly limited to defense, hustling and being a big body.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement today regarding the Collins signing: “Jason told us that his goal was to earn another contract with an NBA team. Today, I want to commend him on achieving his goal. I know everyone in the NBA family is excited for him and proud that our league fosters an inclusive and respectful environment.”

A 12-year NBA veteran, Collins rejoins the Nets after spending the first six and a half seasons of his NBA career with the franchise. Selected with the 18th pick in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, the Stanford product was acquired by the Nets as part of a multi-player draft night trade. In 510 games, including 404 starts, with the Nets from 2001-08, Collins averaged 4.4 points and 4.5 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game. He also appeared in 75 playoff games with the Nets, amassing playoff averages of 3.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game and helping the Nets reach back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. Collins is tied for third in Nets history in games played (510), ranks eighth in minutes played (12,493), ninth in offensive rebounds (782) and is tied for 10th in total rebounds (2,304). He holds NBA career averages of 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 20.8 minutes per game through 713 contests, including 476 starts, after spending time with the Memphis Grizzlies (2008), Minnesota Timberwolves (2008-09), Atlanta Hawks (2009-12), Boston Celtics (2012-13) and Washington Wizards (2013).

Collins will be available for tonight’s game versus the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jason Collins to join Nets

Here’s ESPN New York reporting that veteran center Jason Collins will soon sign a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets:

Jason Collins will become the first openly gay athlete in North America’s four major professional sports when he signs a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets and plays against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday evening at Staples Center, sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN

The Nets moved quickly to make the historic signing of the 35-year-old free agent center to have another big body available against the Lakers. Brooklyn had been contemplating signing Collins for the past week and the need for Collins became greater after the Nets dealt rebounding specialist Reggie Evans to the Sacramento Kings last week.

ESPN.com reported that the Nets quietly auditioned Collins last week in Los Angeles, paving the way from him to rejoin the franchise he spent his first six-plus seasons in the league.

The Nets were in the running to land Glen Davis but Davis opted to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers and informed teams of his decision. Davis is set to officially become an unrestricted free agent Sunday at 5 p.m. ET if, as expected, he is not claimed off waivers by another team.

Glen Davis will likely join Clippers

Here’s ESPN Los Angeles reporting that free agent power forward Glen “Big Baby” Davis will likely soon join the Clippers:

Glen Davis will sign with the Los Angeles Clippers when he clears waivers and becomes a free agent at 5 p.m. ET, sources told ESPN.

Davis, 28, reached a buyout with the Orlando Magic on Friday and was waived. The Brooklyn Nets had also shown interest in Davis, but sources tell ESPN that they have decided to sign Jason Collins, feeling that they are out of the running on Davis.

Davis, averaging 12.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 45 games this season, was making $6 million this season and was due to make about $6.6 million next season.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers was hoping to sign Davis, who negotiated a buyout with Orlando. Davis played for Rivers with the Boston Celtics from 2007 to 2011, winning a championship in 2008. Davis would be the only player on the Clippers roster to have won an NBA title.

Utah Jazz struggle badly when Derrick Favors is out

Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune highlighting the importance of Derrick Favors to the Utah Jazz this season:

Derrick Favors’ injury has changed a few times over the season. It’s been a hip sprain, a sore hip, an inflamed hip and, most recently, a sprained hip.

But one thing has remained constant: the Jazz are winless when he doesn’t play. With Favors missing his seventh game in the Jazz’s last 13 on Saturday, Utah fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves and dropped to 0-9 on the year in games without Favors.

“I think everyone is confident in each other’s abilities but what Derrick brings to the table, this team really misses when he’s not here,” said forward Marvin Williams. “He’s an anchor. He’s a great rebounder. He’s a great one-on-one defender. He’s also a great help-side defender. Derrick has always been there to save the day. But, obviously, when he’s not back there, it’s been difficult.”