Netlinked 2/20/14: Nets trade for Marcus Thornton, D-Will beats the Jazz, MarShon traded to Lakers, Armor acquire Ebanks

The Nets needed a scoring shooting guard to come off the bench. In exchange for sending Reggie Evans and Jason Terry to Sacramento, they got exactly that with Marcus Thornton.

After an overall disappointing 24-27 start to the 1st half of the season (until the All-Star break), Brooklyn Nets general manager Billy King knew he had to make at least one move before today's trade deadline to improve his team for the season's stretch run. King, known for elaborate deals, like the one that brought Deron Williams to the Nets, did it again yesterday, by acquiring swingman Marcus Thornton from the Sacramento Kings for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans.

This trade means that rebounding stud and fan sensation–although recent ex-rotation player–Reggie Evans is now gone from the Nets. Reggie was great last year in the regular season and playoffs as a key board-getter for P.J. Carlesimo but has been dreadful on offense for Jason Kidd this year, causing him to cede playing time to Mason Plumlee. Jason Terry, picked up in June's trade with the Celtics, has had a dreadful season in Brooklyn, scoring just 4.5 points in 16.3 minutes per game on career-low 36% shooting from the field.

Thornton, a LSU grad, has had a down year with the Kings, posting career-lows in field goal percentage (38%) and 3-point percentage (32%) in 24.4 minutes per contest. His play has dropped off every year he's been in Sacramento, as he averaged a career-high 21.3 points per game in the 2nd half of the 2010-11 season with the Kings but has seen his scoring numbers fall to 18.7, 12.7, and 8.3 since. Still, though, he's a sharpshooter who can score in bunches and provide instant bench offense, something the Nets weren't able to get from Terry.

Moving on to some on-court issues, the Nets started off their post-ASG break part of the season with a much-needed win over the Jazz, a team they haven't beaten on the road since 2008. Joe Johnson (27 points) and Andray Blatche (25 points) led the way for Brooklyn, who improved to 25-27 on the year with a game on Saturday in Oakland against the Warriors awaiting them, but Deron Williams, played against his old team, looked sharp with 17 points and seven assists. Utah led throughout much of the game, but the Nets fought back in the 3rd quarter en route to victory.

The Nets haven't made any other trades just yet, but a former Net was involved in one of last night's deals. MarShon Brooks, shipped to Boston from Brooklyn in the Garnett, Pierce, and Terry deal and then to the Warriors from the Celtics mid-season, was dealt to the Lakers along with Kent Bazemore for Steve Blake. MarShon didn't get much playing time in Boston or Golden State, but he should see the floor for a banged-up Los Angeles squad going through all sorts of struggles right now. The Lakers are Brooks' 4th team in seven months, if you wanted evidence of the volatility of this league.

Finally, we wrap up this edition of Netlinked with a D-League trade that brings a former college star to the Springfield Armor. Former West Virginia star and Lakers draft pick Devin Ebanks, a Brooklyn native, was sent to Springfield in a three-team trade that gave Dennis Horner, who spent time with the Armor and Nets, and Terrell Harris to the Bakersfield Jam and Damion James, former Net, and James Nunnally to the Texas Legends.