Earlier today, we learned Nets backup point guard C.J. Watson will decline his player option for next season, and our Atlantic Division roundup was heavy with news on Brooklyn's team. The Nets continue to make headlines, as we detail:
- Nets GM Billy King attempted to throw some cold water on the idea that his team is still in the mix for Dwight Howard, telling Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News that, "The (team's) core is going to stay intact." King also said that he'll prioritize adding shooting off the bench and more athleticism as he tweaks the roster this summer (Sulia link).
- Though a report prior to Jason Kidd's hiring as Nets coach indicated "the Russians are on board" with the move, Kidd has yet to speak with owner Mikhail Prokhorov, Bondy tweets.
- Most NBA head coaches don't coach in the summer league, but Kidd will do just that next month as he prepares to take over the Nets bench, according to Newsday's Roderick Boone.
- Andray Blatche is hitting free agency after succeeding on his one-year, minimum-salary deal, and it will be hard for the Nets, who only have his Non-Bird rights, to give him much of a raise. Still, teammate Reggie Evans is holding out hope. "In my heart, I'm expecting him to be back," Evans said to Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link).
Can you please do your research! Blatche wants to sign for the minimum so Washington has to pay more of his salary.
The larger the contract Blatche signs, the more money he gets, even though another deal for Blatche could allow the Wizards to defray their debt to him via Set-Off Rights ( link to hoopsrumors.com… ). If he signs a deal for, say, $3MM next season, the set-off formula would allow Washington to withhold $3MM minus $788,872, divided by two, which comes to $1,105,564. In that scenario, Blatche nets $1,894,436. If Blatche signed for the minimum, which for an eight-year veteran like him is $1,265,977, the Wizards could withhold $238,553, giving Blatche a net of $1,027,424, which is less than he would get if he signed the $3MM deal.
So, he still has motivation to seek as lucrative a contract as possible.
–Chuck
Spot on. I would think a player always prefers long term security/large money if it’s available, rather than sticking it to a team that let him go.