Just some roster-related news, rumors, and other notes pertaining to your Brooklyn Nets at the start of the 2014 offseason:
According to a tweet by TNT’s David Aldridge a few minutes ago, Andrei Kirilenko will opt in to the second year of his $6.5 million contract with the Nets for the 2014-15 season. Reportedly, Brooklyn will owe him just $3.3 million next year, which looks like a bargain for the veteran defensive specialist, who was a crucial piece of Jason Kidd’s defensive scheme this past season when healthy.
AK scored just five points per game in 2013-14, but put up a sparkling defensive rating of 107, which demonstrates all of his value to this team. His long, 6-9 frame gives opponents fits in the passing lane and just disrupts their offensive flow. Locking him in for next year is a big boon for Kidd and his staff, and gives the Nets some more roster stability.
Another veteran Nets forward may opt in for the 2014-15 season with the team very soon. According to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein, Kevin Garnett–now 38 years old–is leaning towards returning to Brooklyn for a possible final season worth around $12 million. After the Nets’ second round postseason defense at the hands of the Miami Heat, there was a lot of talk about a possible retirement for KG.
As Stein mentions, Garnett coming back to Brooklyn would be a major influencing factor on Paul Pierce’s possible return, as he is currently a free agent and has been rumored to be a target of the Clippers, as he is a LA native and played for Clippers coach Doc Rivers in Boston.
We finish up with a rumor that may have seemed legitimate a few days ago but not as much now. On Saturday, a report circulated saying that the Nets and Cavaliers were in talks to swap Marcus Thornton and point guard Jarrett Jack. Thornton was a midseason acquisition of the Nets from the Kings for Reggie Evans and Jason Terry. Jack would possible replace Shaun Livingston, who is a highly-coveted free agent.
However, even though that deal may make sense for the Nets, it appears as if talks have stalled and the Cavaliers are dangling Jack in a new trade offer with the Jazz that may, reportedly, send the #1 overall pick in Thursday’s draft to Utah. Yeah, so much for that trade possibility.
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