The Brooklyn Nets were in the conversations for multiple top-named players this free agency period, and they did pretty darn well even before the period even began. It is being reported that the Nets are expected to sign Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan. Durant is expected to officially make the announcement himself on Sunday night, but his contract is on pace to be for four years and worth $164 million. Durant had been in New York for the past week weighing his options between the Nets and the New York Knicks, along with the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors.
Despite the big deal, KD is not expected to play next season after tearing his Achilles in the NBA Finals earlier this month against the Toronto Raptors. It was his first game back at the Scotiabank Arena, as the star went down chasing after a loose ball and came up limping. He was seen leaving the arena on crutches and missed the remaining of the series. That did not stop him from getting big money, despite him turning down a $221 million offer to stay with Golden State. Durant still averaged 32.3 points per game on 51 percent shooting, including 44 percent from three-point range, in the postseason. The 30-year-old is a 10-time All-Star, two time Finals MVP, and one-time NBA MVP. He's also won the Rookie of the Year Award and First-Team All-NBA six times, averaging 27 points per game in his illustrious career, that will now be under the bright lights of New York.
Joining him in Brooklyn is a man with championship experience who will have a more immediate impact on the team, and that's point guard Kyrie Irving. The former Boston Celtic and Cleveland Cavalier was said to be in meetings with the Nets this weekend, and has been expected to sign a four-year, $141 million deal with them for days now. That will become official once the period begins, despite him promising the Celtics crowd less than a year ago that he wanted to re-sign with the Celtics. In an address at the TD Garden, he stated "if you'll have me, I'll re-sign." From there, injuries and turmoil with teammates and the coaching staff haunted the rest of his season, as the Celtics fell short against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Irving struggled in that series, shooting a combined 21-for-65 in the final three games of that series, which were all losses. Despite that, he does have an NBA ring on his finger from his time with LeBron James and the Cavs, averaging 22.2 points per game for his career, and did bounce back from injuries in the regular season this past year, posting 23.8 points per game.
So the Nets got two of the big-named free agents, but they also quietly went down low and got major help in the paint by signing big man DeAndre Jordan. The former Los Angeles Clipper, Dallas Maverick, and New York Knick agreed to sign with the Nets on Sunday as well. This comes one year after he signed a one-year, $22.9 million deal with the Mavs last season, and then was dealt to the Knicks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade mid-season. The 30-year-old has 10 years of NBA experience under his belt, most notably with the Clippers, where they made multiple playoff runs, but fell short in each of them. The center made 50 starts for Dallas before getting traded last season, averaging 11.1 points and 13.7 rebounds, as he is set to turn 31 years old on July 21st. He is a three-time All-NBA player and has averaged 9.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game in his career, while also recording a 66.9 field goal percentage, which ranks first among active players in the NBA.
Despite the big deal, KD is not expected to play next season after tearing his Achilles in the NBA Finals earlier this month against the Toronto Raptors. It was his first game back at the Scotiabank Arena, as the star went down chasing after a loose ball and came up limping. He was seen leaving the arena on crutches and missed the remaining of the series. That did not stop him from getting big money, despite him turning down a $221 million offer to stay with Golden State. Durant still averaged 32.3 points per game on 51 percent shooting, including 44 percent from three-point range, in the postseason. The 30-year-old is a 10-time All-Star, two time Finals MVP, and one-time NBA MVP. He's also won the Rookie of the Year Award and First-Team All-NBA six times, averaging 27 points per game in his illustrious career, that will now be under the bright lights of New York.
Joining him in Brooklyn is a man with championship experience who will have a more immediate impact on the team, and that's point guard Kyrie Irving. The former Boston Celtic and Cleveland Cavalier was said to be in meetings with the Nets this weekend, and has been expected to sign a four-year, $141 million deal with them for days now. That will become official once the period begins, despite him promising the Celtics crowd less than a year ago that he wanted to re-sign with the Celtics. In an address at the TD Garden, he stated "if you'll have me, I'll re-sign." From there, injuries and turmoil with teammates and the coaching staff haunted the rest of his season, as the Celtics fell short against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Irving struggled in that series, shooting a combined 21-for-65 in the final three games of that series, which were all losses. Despite that, he does have an NBA ring on his finger from his time with LeBron James and the Cavs, averaging 22.2 points per game for his career, and did bounce back from injuries in the regular season this past year, posting 23.8 points per game.
So the Nets got two of the big-named free agents, but they also quietly went down low and got major help in the paint by signing big man DeAndre Jordan. The former Los Angeles Clipper, Dallas Maverick, and New York Knick agreed to sign with the Nets on Sunday as well. This comes one year after he signed a one-year, $22.9 million deal with the Mavs last season, and then was dealt to the Knicks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade mid-season. The 30-year-old has 10 years of NBA experience under his belt, most notably with the Clippers, where they made multiple playoff runs, but fell short in each of them. The center made 50 starts for Dallas before getting traded last season, averaging 11.1 points and 13.7 rebounds, as he is set to turn 31 years old on July 21st. He is a three-time All-NBA player and has averaged 9.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game in his career, while also recording a 66.9 field goal percentage, which ranks first among active players in the NBA.
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