Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 40 – NBA Blog

Brooklyn Nets sign guard Donald Sloan

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Donald Sloan, General Manager Billy King announced today.

The point guard position is a weak spot on the Nets. With Deron Williams gone, the team’s starter at the position is likely Jarrett Jack. Sloan helps add a bit of depth.

Sloan (6’3”, 205) has appeared in 157 games (33 starts) in four seasons with the Atlanta Hawks (2011-12), New Orleans Hornets (2011-12, 2012-13), Cleveland Cavaliers (2011-13) and Indiana Pacers (2013-15), registering averages of 4.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 15.5 minutes per game. Sloan also saw action in four playoff games with the Pacers during the 2014 postseason. The 27-year-old Sloan put together his best professional season in 2014-15 with Indiana, posting career-highs in games played (53), starts (21), points per game (7.4), rebounds per game (2.7) and assists per game (3.6). Sloan has also spent time in the D-League and has had brief stints in China and the Philippines.

Originally undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft, the native of Shreveport, La. began his pro career after four years at Texas A&M. Sloan helped lead the Aggies to four NCAA Tournament appearances and was named All-Big 12 First Team following his senior season. He finished his collegiate career eighth on the school’s all-time points and assists lists.

Nets will host Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul in October for preseason game

The Brooklyn Nets will host Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul of the Turkish Basketball League for a preseason game on October 5, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. at Barclays Center, General Manager Billy King announced today.

“We are excited to be hosting Fenerbahce, as it will be a reunion for Bojan Bogdanovic with his former team,” said King. “Our fans will have an opportunity to see one of the best coached teams in all of Europe when they come to Brooklyn.”

As a member of Fenerbahce, Nets guard/forward Bojan Bogdanovic led the team to the Turkish Basketball League Championship in 2013-14. This past season, the club reached the finals of the Turkish Cup and the final four in the Euroleague.

Nets announce staff promotions

Brooklyn Nets General Manager Billy King announced today the promotions of Steve Jones to assistant coach for player development, Mike Jones to manager of video operations, Nick Resavy to video coordinator and Trevor St. Agathe to strength and conditioning coach/nutritional director. In addition, the Nets have named Brett Levy as video assistant.

Steve Jones will begin his second season with the Nets and first as an assistant coach for player development after serving as the team’s manager of video operations during the 2014-15 season. Prior to joining the Nets, Steve served in a variety of capacities with the Memphis Grizzlies, including video intern, video associate and video coordinator/player development from 2011-14. A native of Portland, Ore., Steve was a walk-on for the men’s basketball team at Arizona State for three years (2005-08) before transferring and completing his collegiate career as a walk-on at UNLV (2008-10), where he earned a B.A. in Communication Studies.

Mike Jones enters his second season with the Nets and first as manager of video operations after serving as the team’s video coordinator during the 2014-15 season. Mike played professionally for 11 years in France, Iran, Poland and Turkey, as well as in the CBA, after a standout collegiate career at Texas Christian University. Mike spent two years at TCU (1996-98) after spending his first two collegiate seasons at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, earning Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American honors and WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior. He was also a two-time All-WAC First Team performer. Prior to joining the Nets, the Oklahoma City native spent four years at Perry Street Prep in Washington D.C., eventually rising to the roles of dean of students and head boys’ basketball coach.

St. Agathe joined the Nets as a strength and conditioning intern for the team’s inaugural season in Brooklyn in 2012-13 and was elevated to the role of assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2013-14 before landing his current role as strength and conditioning coach/nutritional director. A native of Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, St. Agathe earned a B.S. in Health and Wellness with a concentration in adult fitness from Buffalo State in 2008 and a Master’s in Exercise Science with a concentration in strength and conditioning from Long Island University in 2014. He has completed internships with the Buffalo State athletic department and Sports Focus Physical Therapy in Buffalo and worked with the football program at his alma mater, James Madison High School, in the Midwood section of Brooklyn.

Resavy enters his new role of video coordinator after serving as the team’s video assistant during the 2014-15 season. Prior to joining the Nets, Resavy served as a graduate assistant for the Syracuse University Men’s Basketball Team for two seasons. The West Milford, NJ native played three years as a walk-on at Syracuse, where he earned a B.S. in Sports Management.

Levy enters his first season as a video assistant for the Nets. A 2015 graduate of the David B. Falk School of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University, Levy spent the second half of the 2014-15 NBA season working in the Philadelphia 76ers’ sales department and also previously served as an intern for three summers at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Nets sign Andrea Bargnani

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward/center Andrea Bargnani, General Manager Billy King announced today. The agreemeent for this deal was announced days ago, but the signing is now official.

“Andrea will give us the ability to space the floor and complement our other front court players,” said King.

According to ESPN.com, “the Nets are basically taking a $1.4 million gamble on Bargnani (and also giving him a second-year player option) in hopes that he’s able to revive his career. Low risk, potentially high reward.”

Bargnani (7’0”, 245) has appeared in 504 games (377 starts) in nine seasons with the Toronto Raptors (2006-13) and New York Knicks (2013-15), recording averages of 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 30.1 minutes per game. He’s shot .438 from the field, including .346 from three-point range, and .824 from the free throw line. Bargnani has also appeared in 11 career postseason games (eight starts), posting averages of 8.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in 25.9 minutes per game. During the 2014-15 season, the 29-year-old Bargnani appeared in 29 games (22 starts) with the Knicks, averaging 14.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 27.1 minutes per game.

Originally selected with the first pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by Toronto, the native of Rome, Italy earned All-Rookie First Team honors after averaging 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 25.1 minutes per game in 65 games (two starts) during the 2006-07 season. Prior to entering the NBA Draft, Bargnani played professionally for four years in Italy with Stella Azzurra Roma in Serie B (2002-03) and Benetton Treviso in Serie A (2003-06). In his final season in Italy, Bargnani led Benetton Treviso to the 2006 Serie A championship.

Will Nets bring Joe Johnson off bench?

Here’s ESPN NY reporting on a mere possibility for the Brooklyn Nets. For now, it’s assumed Joe Johnson will continue to start. But as his age advances, perhaps the team will manage his minutes a bit more closely. For now, we’ll assume he’ll keep starting. But, read:

Will the Brooklyn Nets bring veteran Joe Johnson off the bench next season?

Play-by-play man Ian Eagle, who is as plugged in on the Nets as anyone given that he’s been around the organization for several years, mentioned the possibility during his appearance on a YES Network podcast.

“I wouldn’t be shocked if he came off the bench this year,” Eagle said. “That would not shock me in the least bit.”

In that role, Johnson, 34, could anchor the second unit — coming in fresh against the opponent’s reserves — while still closing out games as the team’s go-to guy late in the fourth quarter.

Nets trade Steve Blake to Pistons

In return, Pistons send Quincy Miller to Nets

The Detroit Pistons have acquired guard Steve Blake from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for forward Quincy Miller.

Blake, 35, has appeared in 812 career games (345 starts) in 12 seasons with Washington, Portland, Milwaukee, Denver, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State and holds career averages of 6.7 points and 4.0 assists in 24.4 minutes per game. He was originally selected with the 38th pick of the 2003 NBA Draft by Washington Wizards and was acquired by Brooklyn from the Portland Trail Blazers on June 25.

Miller, 22, appeared in 10 games with Sacramento and Detroit last season and averaged 2.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 12.0 minutes per game. The 6-foot-9, 210-pound forward signed the first of two 10-day contracts on February 21 and was signed for the remainder of the season on March 13. Miller recorded season highs in points (13), rebounds (6), blocks (2) and minutes (34) at Golden State (1/23) and tied a career-high three assists vs. Charlotte (4/12). In three games with the Grand Rapids Drive, the Pistons’ NBA D-League affiliate, he averaged 16.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

Nets waive Cory Jefferson

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on forward Cory Jefferson, General Manager Billy King announced today.

Jefferson (6’9”, 220) was originally selected with the 60th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs and was traded to the Nets (via Philadelphia) on draft night in exchange for cash considerations. In 50 games (one start) in his rookie season, Jefferson averaged 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per game.

Nets waive Deron Williams in buyout agreement

Thanks to a buyout agreement, Deron Williams’ time as a Net has come to an end.

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on Williams, General Manager Billy King announced today.

“I would like to thank Deron for everything he gave the organization over the past 4 ½ years,” said King. “I would like to wish Deron and his family good luck in the future.”

What Williams gave the Nets was above-average play, while being paid like a superstar. Williams was generally less effective as his time on the team progressed.

Williams (6’3”, 200) appeared in 277 games (258 starts) with the Nets after joining the team via trade from Utah on February 23, 2011. He registered averages of 16.6 points and 7.5 assists in 34.2 minutes per game and was named an All-Star in 2012, his first full season with the Nets. In 2014-15, Williams appeared in 68 games (55 starts), recording averages of 13.0 points and 6.6 assists in 31.1 minutes per game. Williams also saw action in 25 playoff games with Brooklyn, averaging 15.6 points and 6.5 assists in 36.5 minutes per game.

In 716 career games (664 starts) split between the Nets and Jazz, the 31-year-old Williams has averaged 17.0 points and 8.5 assists in 35.1 minutes per game.

Here’s the New York Post reporting:

Williams and the Nets reached a sudden and stunning conclusion to their four-plus seasons together by agreeing to a buyout of the final two years and $43 million remaining on the five-year, $99 million contract Williams signed in July 2012, a deal that made him the face of the team’s move to Brooklyn.

The agreement, sources said, will give Williams $27.5 million of the $43 million he was set to receive on his contract. Once he presumably clears waivers, he will return to his hometown of Dallas to sign a two-year deal with the Mavericks to make up most of the difference.

Nets sign Wayne Ellington

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Wayne Ellington, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

“Wayne is a proven shooter who will give us added depth on the wing,” said King.

Ellington (6’4”, 200) has appeared in 377 career games (71 starts) with Minnesota (2009-12), Memphis (2012-13), Cleveland (2013), Dallas (2013-14) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2014-15), posting averages of 7.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19.3 minutes per game while shooting .416 from the field and .382 from three-point range. In 2014-15 with the Lakers, Ellington appeared in 65 games, averaging 10.0 points per game and recording single-season career-highs for starts (36), rebounds per game (3.2) and assists per game (1.6) in 25.8 minutes per game. He has also seen action in two career postseason games, both with Dallas during the 2013-14 season.

A native of Wynnewood, PA, the 27-year-old Ellington was originally selected with the 28th pick of the 2009 NBA Draft by Minnesota after spending three years at North Carolina. At UNC, Ellington registered career averages of 14.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 115 games. In his third and final season, Ellington averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game and helped the Tar Heels capture the 2009 National Championship. He was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Nets sign Willie Reed

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward/center Willie Reed, Nets General Manager Billy King announced yesterday. He’ll add depth to the frontcourt as a reserve.

Reed (6’10”, 235) joins the Nets after spending the 2014-15 season in the NBA Development League with the Grand Rapids Drive and Iowa Energy. He posted averages of 16.4 points, 12.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 33.7 minutes per game, earning All-NBA D-League First Team honors and All-Defensive First Team honors. The 25-year-old Reed, who has also spent time with the D-League’s Reno Bighorns and Springfield Armor, has appeared in 144 career D-League games (101 starts) in three seasons, recording averages of 15.3 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 31.4 minutes per game. Reed has also earned call-ups to the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings, but has yet to appear in an NBA game.

A native of Kansas City, MO, Reed spent two seasons at Saint Louis University, appearing in 67 games with career averages of 10.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. In his second and final season, Reed averaged 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.