C.J. Watson to opt out of contract with Nets, become free agent

Watson had a great season with Brooklyn, but with just $1.1 million waiting for him in 2013-14 if he exercised his player option, the move to opt-out was a no-brainer

It was expected to happen, but it appears that Brooklyn Nets' back-up point guard C.J. Watson will opt out of the second-year of his deal with the team and move into the offseason as a free agent, as reported by the Post's Peter Vecsey. Coming over to Brooklyn this past July after two years with the Bulls, Watson posted 12.9 points and 3.8 assists per 36 minutes in 80 games coming off the bench to replace Deron Williams and even starting a few when D-Will was injured.

Only making a shade under $1 million, Watson was a cheap and effective cog in the Nets lineup who had a great regular season but faded in the postseason as he missed a few key three-pointers that could have been the difference in some of Brooklyn's losses to Chicago. But overall, a solid move by Billy King who filled in a hole on the roster without breaking the bank.

However, the deal he signed was for just two seasons, with the second dependent on him exercising a player option for roughly $1.1 million, a figure he is likely to see exceeded on the open market. That's why it made sense for him to forgo the additional season on his contract with Brooklyn, meaning that he probably will play in a different uniform in the fall.

I'll miss C.J., and the energy and hustly he provided off the bench for the Nets, as well as the knockdown three-point shooting he exhibited for much of the season. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't perfect, but for the money he made and role he was given, Watson was just what the Nets needed. As a positive, though, his imminent departure could mean an increased role for rising sophomore Tyshawn Taylor, who showed flashes of talent in the 2012-13 season but needs much more NBA experience.