Category: Brooklyn Nets Blog

The Nets today signed free agent forward Chase Budinger and guard Jorge Gutierrez.

Budinger (6-7, 215) has appeared in 407 career NBA games (50 starts) with Phoenix (2015-16), Indiana (2015-16), Minnesota (2012-15) and Houston (2009-12) and holds averages of 7.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 19.7 minutes per contest. The California native was selected 44th overall out of the University of Arizona in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons before being traded on draft night to the Rockets.

Gutierrez (6-3, 195) most recently suited up for the Charlotte Hornets during the 2015-16 season, and has also had NBA stints with the Milwaukee Bucks (2014-15) and the Nets (2013-15). In 47 total NBA games, the Mexico native holds averages of 2.9 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 10.3 minutes per contest.

Gutierrez, who began his professional career playing for Pioneros de Quintana Roo in Mexico (2012-13), has had four stints in the NBA D-League over the past four seasons, all with the Canton Charge. In 2014 he was named to the All-NBA D-League Second Team and was twice named to the league’s all-defensive team (2013, 2014).

The Long Island Nets, the Brooklyn Nets’ D-League affiliate, have hired Ryan Gomes and Pat Rafferty as assistant coaches on the staff of head coach Ronald Nored.

Gomes enters his first year on the sidelines after finishing up an eight-year NBA career. Originally selected with the 50th overall pick in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, Gomes appeared in 482 games with Boston, Minnesota, L.A. Clippers and Oklahoma City, registering career averages of 10.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 27.9 minutes per game. The Waterbury, Conn., native also had brief stints with clubs in Spain and Germany and was most recently with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League for the second half of the 2015-16 season. Along with helping lead the D-Fenders to the D-League Finals, Gomes was named the 2015-16 NBA Development League Impact Player of the Year and received 2015-16 All-NBA D-League Third Team honors. The former Providence College standout was a two-time All-Big East First Team selection and garnered consensus First Team All-American honors in 2004.

Rafferty joins the Long Island Nets after spending the past three seasons as head coach at Central Wyoming College. Prior to his stint with the Rustlers, he served as the director of basketball operations for UT Arlington (2012-13) and was the head coach at Grayson College for nine seasons (2003-12). At Grayson, Rafferty guided the Vikings to the NJCAA Region V Tournament six times. In addition to junior college coaching stints at Midland and Casper colleges, Rafferty has previously served as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville and as both an assistant coach and head coach at Northern Arizona University. He also spent two seasons as a scout for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Nets on Monday named Gianluca Pascucci as director of global scouting and BJ Johnson as coordinator of player evaluation.

“We are thrilled to add Gianluca and BJ to our front office,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “Collectively, they bring valuable experiences that cross many platforms and their extensive knowledge of both the NBA and the global game will be tremendous assets to our scouting department. Both will be excellent additions to our culture and we are excited about welcoming them to Brooklyn.”

Pascucci joins the Nets after spending the past four years as vice president of player personnel for the Houston Rockets. During his time in Houston, he also served as the general manager of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the D-League affiliate of the Rockets. It marked Pascucci’s second stint in Houston, as he previously served as the team’s international scout for six seasons (2002-08).

William “BJ” Johnson joins Brooklyn’s staff after spending the past six years as USA Basketball’s assistant men’s national team director. Johnson worked with all levels of USA Basketball men’s teams, with his primary focus on developing the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team program. Johnson began his career with USA Basketball in 2005 as manager of competitive programs, where he was involved with all facets of the men’s and women’s programs, including player personnel and basketball operations during trials, training camps and competitions.

The Nets have signed guard/forward Beau Beech, guard Yogi Ferrell and center Egidijus Mockevicius.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume these are training camp signings that give these players a chance to compete for a regular-season contract.

Beech, Ferrell and Mockevicius were all members of Brooklyn’s 2016 NBA Summer League team in Las Vegas.

Beech (6’9”, 215) joins the Nets out of the University of North Florida. In four seasons with the Ospreys, Beech played in 133 games (129 starts) and recorded averages of 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 28.7 minutes per game while shooting .423 from the field and .393 from three-point range. The Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. native was named to the All-Atlantic Sun First Team in both his junior and senior seasons and was also named to the Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team. Along with leading North Florida all-time in games played and starts, Beech ranks first in steals (147) and tied for first in three-pointers made (302).

Ferrell (6’0”, 180) joins the Nets after a four-year career at Indiana University. Ferrell was named to the All-Big Ten First Team twice (2015 and 2016) and garnered second-team honors as a sophomore (2014). As a senior, Ferrell averaged 17.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 34.7 minutes per game, earning Associated Press Third Team All-America honors and capping his career as Indiana’s all-time assists leader with 633. Ferrell also led Indiana to three NCAA Tournament appearances and helped the Hoosiers advance to the Sweet 16 twice. In 137 career games (all starts) at IU, the Indianapolis, Ind., native averaged 14.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 32.8 minutes per game.

Mockevicius (6’10”, 237) joins Brooklyn following a four-year career at the University of Evansville. Mockevicius was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team as both a junior and senior (2015 and 2016) and was the conference’s defensive player of the year as a senior. The native of Lithuania was also the nation’s leading rebounder this past season, averaging 14.0 boards per game, to go along with 15.7 points and 2.8 blocks in 31.8 minutes per contest. In 136 career games with the Purple Aces, Mockevicius averaged 11.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 25.7 minutes per game.

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent guard Joe Harris to a multi-year contract.

“We are pleased to welcome Joe to the Nets family,” said General Manager Sean Marks. “We are confident that Kenny and his staff will continue to create an environment in which Joe and our other young players will develop and thrive.”

Harris (6’6”, 219) has appeared in 56 games in two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2014-16), averaging 2.5 points in 9.1 minutes per game. He also appeared in six games during the 2015 postseason. This past season, Harris saw action in five games with the Cavs and 10 games with Cleveland’s D-League affiliate, the Canton Charge, registering averages of 16.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 33.1 minutes per game with Canton. The 24-year-old underwent right foot surgery in January before being traded to Orlando and waived by the Magic. Harris was originally selected with the 33rd pick (second round) in the 2014 NBA Draft by Cleveland after a four-year career at the University of Virginia. At UVA, the Chelan, Wash. native earned All-ACC first-team honors as a junior and helped lead Virginia to two NCAA Tournament appearances. As a senior, Harris garnered All-ACC third-team recognition while leading the Cavaliers to their first ACC tournament title since 1976, first outright ACC regular season title since 1981 and first Sweet 16 appearance since 1995. He finished his collegiate career second in school history in three-pointers made (263) and three-point percentage (.407).

The Nets have signed rookie guard/forward Caris LeVert to a multi-year contract.

Selected with the 20th pick in the first round of the 2016 Draft, LeVert’s draft rights were acquired by Brooklyn in a trade with the Pacers.

All players selected in the first round of the Draft are guaranteed to receive a contract, assuming they want to begin their NBA career right away.

LeVert (6’7”, 205) played four seasons at Michigan and helped the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the National Championship game in 2013 and the Elite Eight in 2014. In 103 career games (70 starts) for the Wolverines, LeVert averaged 10.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 26.4 minutes per game. As a senior, the Pickerington, Ohio, native posted averages of 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 30.9 minutes per game while shooting .506 from the field and .446 from 3-point range in 15 games (14 starts) during an injury-shortened season. He earned 2014 All-Big Ten second-team and 2014 NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament team honors following his sophomore season, when he averaged 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 34.0 minutes per game in 37 games.