Brooklyn Nets: Why Re-Signing Andray Blatche Was Key
By Pete Schauer
The re-signing of Andray Blatche provides the Brooklyn Nets with depth at center. (NBA.com photo)
After watching C.J. Watson leave the Brooklyn Nets in favor of the Indiana Pacers, the Nets couldn’t afford to miss out on another free agent in Andray Blatche.
While the deal can’t be made official until the NBA’s annual moratorium is lifted on July 10, multiple sources, including ESPN New York’s Mike Mazzeo, are reporting that Brooklyn has re-signed Blatche.
Multiple sources confirm @PeterVecsey1 report. Andray Blatche re-signing with the #Nets for one-year, $1.4 million.
— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzNYC) July 2, 2013
Blatche had a resurgent season in his first year with the Nets after seven tumultuous seasons with the Washington Wizards, averaging 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds to go with a .512 shooting mark from the field.
The 26-year-old center provided huge depth for Brooklyn off the bench behind starter Brook Lopez, posting a 22.0 player efficiency rating (PER), which ranked second on the team (Lopez was No. 1).
Heading into the 2013 NBA Draft, the center position was one of concern for the Nets—or for me, at least. If the Nets lost out on Blatche, the roster showed practically no depth at the 5, meaning the Nets would have to look toward a rookie to backup Lopez.
Furthermore, Lopez recently underwent an operation to replace a bent screw in his surgically repaired right foot. While there’s no reason to think that he won’t be the same dominant player that he was in 2012-13, the Nets needed some assurance at center and they certainly got it by re-signing Blatche.
The Brooklyn Nets made center Mason Plumlee the No. 22 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. (Mason Plumlee feature image)
Brooklyn further bolstered its center spot by drafting former Duke Blue Devil Mason Plumlee. Plumlee spent four quality seasons under Mike Krzyzewski, none better than his senior campaign, when he averaged 17.1 points, 10 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game to go with a .599 shooting mark.
Not only does the re-signing of Blatche bring depth to the Nets’ bench, but it also gives Plumlee some more time to develop and understand the game at the NBA level before being counted upon in a larger capacity for Brooklyn.
Now with three quality centers on the roster, coach Jason Kidd has plenty of offensive options in the paint, especially with newly acquired Kevin Garnett playing the 4 in Brooklyn.
The Nets lost a lot of bench scoring with Watson moving to Indiana, but retaining Blatche was key for what will be Brooklyn’s attempt at a championship while Garnett and Paul Pierce still have something left in the tank.
Welcome back, Andray.