Brooklyn Nets to Re-Sign Andray Blatche for $1.4 Million

Free agent big man Andray Blatche is staying in Brooklyn, having agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million deal with the Nets. Per the NY Post: “Retaining Blatche, which won’t be official until July 10, was crucial for the Nets, who need depth behind newly acquired power forward Kevin Garnett. Blatche, the 6-foot-11 big man who is capable of playing power forward and center, had a terrific 2012-13, proving to be one of the biggest bargain signings in the league after he was amnestied by the Wizards last summer. Blatche averaged 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds coming off the bench for much of the season and pairing with Brook Lopez to give the Nets the NBA’s highest-scoring 1-2 combination at center. ‘Of course,’ Deron Williams said during his exit interview, when asked if he wanted the Nets to retain Blatche. ‘Dray was a big part of what we did this year. He’s so talented. He’s unbelievably talented. It’s just a matter of consistency and him bringing it every night.’ Because Blatche still is owed more than $16 million over the next two seasons by the Wizards, he said repeatedly during and after the season that he would consider taking less money from the Nets in order to stay with the team that helped him resuscitate his career. ‘Yeah, I thought about that idea,’ Blatche said in May. ‘I got my second chance here, and I’m loyal to being here. We just have to see what happens. With the money situation, that makes it easier for me to stay here. I don’t have to take nothing huge. I can take less. It’s going to be based on what’s best for me.’ Due to the NBA’s complicated formula for players who have been amnestied, Blatche will make roughly $8.9 million dollars this season by staying with the Nets, who will also own his Early Bird rights going into next offseason.”