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2018 NBA free agency grades: Nets will add Ed Davis

By Kane Pitman

BROOKLYN, NY - JANUARY 15 : Ed Davis #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers waits for the rebound against the Brooklyn Nets on January 15, 2015 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JANUARY 15 : Ed Davis #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers waits for the rebound against the Brooklyn Nets on January 15, 2015 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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In a soft free agency market for big men, the Brooklyn Nets were able to strike a midnight bargain basement deal with former Blazer Ed Davis.

According to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, 29-year-old free agent center Ed Davis has agreed to terms with the Brooklyn Nets. A one-year, $4.4 million deal is the reported terms, per Woj.

Davis has been a staple in the Portland Trail Blazers’ rotation for the past three seasons, soaking up 19.2 minutes per game over 205 appearances. The move came as a major surprise on Portland’s end, as many questioned why they would choose not to re-sign their reserve big man.

As is the way in 2018, franchise stars Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum were quick to express their thoughts on the deal via Twitter.

https://twitter.com/CJMcCollum/status/1013296735915999232

Their pain will only deepen when they catch wind of Portland insider Jason Quick’s tweet that came not long after.

For Brooklyn, the Nets have acquired a more than solid reserve big man that will bolster their young, rebuilding roster without causing any negative effect on the salary cap. Of all the deals agreed upon on the opening night of free agency, this one is right up there in value.

Always aggressive on the boards, it has long been questioned why Davis could never lock down a permanent starting role. In 18.9 minutes per game in 2017-18, Davis reeled in 7.4 boards, which led the league for players averaging less than 20 minutes per contest.

The Nets will open up a position at the 5 once a buyout is negotiated with the Net that never will be, Dwight Howard.

Davis now appears likely to form a partnership with the guy fostering the sweetest fro in the NBA, Jarrett Allen. The soon-to-be NBA sophomore will benefit greatly from playing beside Davis, an eight-year veteran in the league.

It’s the latest in a slew of clever moves from Nets general manager Sean Marks, who continues to rebuild the franchise from the lowest of lows of a few years ago. The infamous Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett trade derailed the last few seasons for Brooklyn, but there is now light at the end of the tunnel. With room to potentially add two max players next summer, they are in the mix to undermine the cross-town New York Knicks’ attempts at ruling the Big Apple.

Davis is a hard-nosed and athletic big man that will likely come off the bench and continue to do what he does best: rebound the ball and finish plays.

Its hard to fathom why the Blazers would let Davis go for such a low cost, but Portland’s loss is Brooklyn’s gain. This is a deal that really has zero negative aspects to it, so bravo, Brooklyn.

Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far

Grade: A

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