Good morning, Nets fans and friends alike. Here's the latest on all things Brooklyn Nets from around the internets.... MORE →
C.J. Watson
Keep up with the pace!!!! ✔
— cj watson (@quietstorm_32) July 1, 2013
Alex Kennedy of HOOPSWORLD (a great follow at this time of year) confirms that C.J. Watson is close to signing a contract with the Indiana Pacers. The terms of the contract are not clear, but the Pacers are able to offer Watson any contract up to four years long starting at $5.15 million per year with 4.5% raises. He probably won't command that much money and the Pacers aren't the type of team to overspend, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a contract similar to what they gave Gerald Green last season of three years and $10 million.
From the Pacers' perspective, Watson significantly improves their backup point guard situation, giving them a better shooter and more impactful player than last year's backup, D.J. Augustin.
The Nets have already begun looking for Watson's replacement. Jason Terry (if the Nets hold on to him) will fill many of the same duties Watson did (off-ball shooting and occasional facilitating), but they've also inquired about free agent and Brooklyn-born Sebastian Telfair.
C.J. Watson (AP)
The move was expected on Watson's part.
The player option in Watson's contract was worth slightly over $1.1 million. After a mostly effective season in which Watson shot a career-high 41.1% from three-point range, he'll command more on the open market.
The most the Nets could offer him is their mini mid-level exception, worth about $10 million over three years, but they'll likely offer that to Kyle Korver, Bojan Bogdanovic, or Andray Blatche.
King, Kidd. (AP)
"You'd have to ask Billy that," Kidd responded, referring to Nets general manager Billy King. So I did.... MORE →
C.J. Watson (AP)
At Brooklyn's press conference introducing Jason Kidd yesterday, I asked King what pieces he felt the Nets needed to add to improve, and the first priority he listed was shooting to space the floor. That answer would seem to indicate that King believes Watson, who shot a career-high 41.1% from three-point range this season, is moving on, and that Nets rookie Tyshawn Taylor isn't quite ready for the second-string point guard position heading into his second season.
King added that he and Kidd have already discussed potential replacements for Watson. No, Kidd is not one of them.
Kidd also said at yesterday's press conference that he's interested in exploring offensive sets with Deron Williams off the ball and either Gerald Wallace or Joe Johnson playing "point forward," skillsets both players have.
Peter Vecsey reports via twitter that Nets guard C.J. Watson will opt-out of his contract for the 2013-2014 season:
C.J. Watson plans 2 opt out of contract (1.1M) 2 become UFA. Meaning Nets in market 4 point able 2 get shots 4 Deron when they team up...
— Peter Vecsey (@PeterVecsey1) June 9, 2013
Watson had a player option of $1,106,942 (the minimum salary) for next season. On May 21st, it was reported that Watson was switching agents to Excel Sports (the Nets player rep of choice).
Likely, Watson and his new agency feel the backup point guard would garner a larger contract than the minimum salary next season, and will likely scan the market this summer for a larger contract.
It is still possible that Watson could re-sign with Brooklyn: the Nets hold Watson's non-bird rights, meaning that the most they could retain him for would be 120% of the minimum salary in 13'-14'.
Watson, whose missed dunk in game 4 vs. the Chicago Bulls was the beginning of the end for the Nets in the playoffs last season, averaged 6.8 points in 19 minutes per game during the regular season, shooting a career high 41.1% from three-point range.
If Watson signs elsewhere, it leaves the Nets with just one backup point guard for next season: 2nd year man Tyshawn Taylor. Though some mock drafts have had the Nets taking University of Miami point guard Shane Larkin with the 22nd overall pick in this year's draft, it's likely that the Nets will attempt to find another veteran for the minimum salary.
via Stefan Bondy:
Just got off phone with CJ Watson's former agent, Jared Karnes, who says Watson switched to the Nets players' rep of choice, Excel Sports
— Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) May 21, 2013
Brooklyn Nets backup guard C.J. Watson has left Jared Karnes's a3 Agency and joined Excel Sports, which also represents Brooklyn Nets players Mirza Teletovic, Tyshawn Taylor, and Deron Williams (as well as free agent Jerry Stackhouse).
Watson has a player option for the 2013-14 season worth a little over $1 million. According to a3, Ramon Sessions is now the only NBA player they represent.
Watson averaged 6.8 points and 2.0 assists in 19.0 minutes per game this season, shooting 41.8% from the field and 41.1% from three-point range.
It's #QuietStormDay. Check out Brooklyn Nets guard C.J. Watson's top 10 plays of the 2012-13 season... MORE →
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C.J. WATSON LOOKING LIKE E.T., GOLLUM:
By The Numbers: 80 G, 8 GS, 19 MPG, 6.8 PTS, 1.8 RPG, .2.0 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.2 BLK,418 FG%, .780 FT%, 544 TS%, .514 eFG%
Advanced: 13.9 PER, 113 ORtg, 107 DRtg, 17.2 USG%, 2.9 ORB%, 8.4 DRB%, 5.6 TRB%, 17.2 AST%, 2.3 STL%, 0.6 BLK%, 3.8 estimated wins added
C.J. Watson is an unsolvable riddle. All year, I've tried to decipher the veteran PG, figure out exactly how much value he had to this Brooklyn team. Is he reliable? Is he unreliable? Should he take important shots that could make or break a game? After 89 games, I still don't have an answer.... MORE →
