Without a pick in this month’s draft — 4 fewer than he loved final season — Nets basic supervisor Sean Marks goes to should be artistic in filling out his roster.
Bringing again Mike James for a Brooklyn encore might be one risk.
James — who performed for the Nets down the stretch of the 2020-21 season, earlier than heading again to Europe, and maintains an excellent relationship with Kevin Durant — needs to return to the NBA, and want to play alongside Durant once more.
The 31-year-old combo guard performed for Monaco within the French League and Euroleague this season. After the Nets’ first-round playoff sweep by the hands of the Boston Celtics, Durant really flew to look at James play video games in France and Greece, and caught round to occasion together with his good friend in Athens.
When attempting to gage future Brooklyn additions, figuring out pals of Durant is an effective place to start out. NetsDaily was the primary to report his curiosity in returning.
“Idk easy methods to even take this rumor. Would i prefer to play alongside my good friend Kevin? Sure,” James tweeted. “However I’d additionally prefer to play alongside my 10 different of my shut pals. Some play within the NBA, Europe and a few don’t play skilled.”
James might present backup level guard play and on the spot offense off the bench for a top-heavy Nets group in want of depth behind Ben Simmons and presumably Kyrie Irving, each All-Stars. Goran Dragic is an unrestricted free agent whereas Patty Mills can grow to be one if he declines his participant possibility.
The Nets have been a prime vacation spot for ring-chasing veterans keen to play for league minimums (Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, and so forth.).
James joined the Nets in April 2021 following a dispute with CSKA Moscow coach Dimitris Itoudis that acquired him launched. He ended up averaging 7.7 factors and 4.2 assists in 13 video games (one begin). James made 9 extra appearances within the playoffs, earlier than not being re-signed within the offseason.
However the Nets did preserve a $1.8 million cap maintain on James to make sure they retained his NBA rights. They might signal him to a veteran’s minimal if he’s keen, or even perhaps one thing extra exterior the cap.
