#DrayStayed.
Peter Vecsey tweets late Monday night that Andray Blatche has cancelled his meetings with all other teams after meeting with the Brooklyn Nets, indicating that Blatche will stay in Brooklyn:
This just in: Been informed Blatche cancelled meetings with other suitors. Meaning Andray has made commitment to Nets.
— Peter Vecsey (@PeterVecsey1) July 2, 2013
Howard Beck corroborates Vecsey’s report:
Andray Blatche has agreed to re-sign w/Nets, per source. First reported by @PeterVecsey1.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeckNYT) July 2, 2013
Blatche is returning on a one-year, $1.4 million deal.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeckNYT) July 2, 2013
Later, from Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News:
Andray Blatche actually signed a multi-year deal. Second year is a player option at $1.437 million that he almost certainly won't pick up
— Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) July 2, 2013
This is great news for the Nets. Blatche serves as the first big off the bench behind Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez, spelling Garnett to preserve his minutes. At this point, the talent is undeniable: Blatche was the only player in the league to average 19 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block per 36 minutes last year. Defensively, Blatche had some truly awful moments last year, but with a frontcourt mate like Garnett and a coach like Lawrence Frank, he’ll (hopefully) shape up somewhat. We’ll see.
The Nets signed Blatche using his non-bird rights. $1.4 million for Blatche is above the veteran’s minimum, but below the maximum Blatche could have signed with the Nets — the Nets could have signed Blatche for 120% of the veteran’s minimum, or a little over $1.5 million.
Blatche has a unique situation: because of his amnesty from the Washington Wizards, Blatche stands to make at least $8 million per annum for the next two seasons regardless of the contract he signs. The move means the Nets keep the taxpayer midlevel exception. The move also forces Washington to pay more out of pocket to Blatche than if he’d signed a bigger contract, which Blatche gleefully and with great schadenfreude said he’d consider.
Signing a one-year deal also means the Nets will have Blatche’s early bird rights, enabling them to sign him to a four-year deal worth 104.5% of the league average salary in the 2013-14 season, with 4.5% raises. It’s impossible to forecast just exactly what the league average salary will be, but it’s expected to be somewhere in the $5.5-$6.5 million range. If he chooses to exercise the second year of his option, the Nets will hold his full bird rights after the third season, enabling them to sign him to any contract up to the maximum — right when Blatche’s amnesty payments from Washington end.
