The Brooklyn Nets are in the market for a big man to shore up their rotation, and one has recently become available that’s not a free agent, D-Leaguer, or player returning from overseas. 28-year-old forward Glen Davis has come to a buyout agreement with the Orlando Magic, and will have to pass through the waiver process Monday before being signed by another team.
In 45 games in Orlando (43 starts), Davis averaged 12.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 30.1 minutes per game.
To no surprise, the Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly strong frontrunners to sign Davis. Doc Rivers, Davis’s former coach with the Boston Celtics, serves as the Clippers head coach and general manager, and the Clippers could use a third quality big man behind Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. The Nets are also reportedly interested in Davis, who the Magic bought out to give their younger players more playing time.
The Nets have ties to Davis. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, Brooklyn’s starting frontcourt, played with Davis for four seasons from 2007-2008 to 2010-2011. Davis also attended Louisiana State University like new Nets guard Marcus Thornton, but they just missed each other — Davis left LSU after the 2006-2007 season, and Thornton was a freshman the next year.
But despite the Nets’ need for a big man, Davis doesn’t fit the mold of what they’re looking for. General manager Billy King wants to add rebounding and defense, and Davis is neither a staunch defender nor prolific rebounder; his career rebound rate of 12 percent is right around Brook Lopez territory, and he’s never averaged more than 7.2 rebounds per game as a full-time starter. He’d share minutes with Mirza Teletovic (11.4 percent rebounding rate), Andray Blatche (15.2), and Andrei Kirilenko (11.1) off the bench.
Adding Davis would be a lateral move for another player that they’d have to find minutes for, when the Magic released Davis so he could look for more playing time.
Any player the Nets sign at this juncture comes with limitations, and given the other limited options available, Davis might be worth a look if he’s willing to sign for the veteran’s minimum. But Davis wouldn’t improve the team’s 4th-worst rebounding rate, and he’d get more playing time under his former coach Rivers with the Los Angeles Clippers.
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