The Brooklyn Nets have signed veteran Luis Scola, 36, to a one-year deal, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. With that, the Nets have their third power forward, joining Trevor Booker and Chris McCullough on the roster.
Free agent forward Luis Scola has agreed to a one-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets, league sources told @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 12, 2016
While it’s unlikely that Scola will use much of the younger players’ rotation time, he represents the particular culture change that general manager Sean Marks has talked about for months. Scola has played nine seasons in the NBA, following stints in Houston, Phoenix, Indiana, and Toronto, averaging 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds over his career.
However, in a slightly reduced role with the Raptors in 2015-2016, Scola’s numbers dropped a bit, only reaching 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds over 76 games at a 21-minute per game clip. While his statistical contributions may not be as large as many hoped, he and Greivis Vasquez, signed on Sunday, should help usher in a hard-working, professional atmosphere in Brooklyn — something the Nets have distinctly lacked.
In an article on The New York Post by Brian Lewis, head coach Kenny Atkinson outlined Scola’s importance and forthcoming role for the Nets:
“In terms of work ethic and how he prepares for games is impeccable, tops in the league I’ve ever seen. That’s going to be great for our guys, great for Rondae [Hollis-Jefferson], great for Chris, just watching how this guy prepares for a game, and how competitive he is. Coaches can talk about it, but when you have a guy who can show it every day it’s great.
[. . .]
Because he’s a smart player. He realizes how the NBA is going, how it can help Toronto and it’ll definitely be a weapon for us,’’ Atkinson said. “It’s not the only thing he’s going to do; he’s not going to shoot six 3s a game. But he’s just an overall good player and he moves the ball on offense, moves on defense, rebounds. We’re happy. And most important is his leadership ability.”
Scola is the fifth — Lin, Hamilton, Booker, and Vasquez — free agent the Nets have signed this summer.
